The Several Fails in the Tales of Lucy Gale pt. 3

Every day, young miss Gale would take a walk amongst her fair city. No one else knew why she called the city fair, most people were scared by the town's reputation and some even cringed at the name, but she loved it there. Every night the rivers brought a breeze through town so even though it was exhaustively hot during the summer days, you could always throw open your windows at night and enjoy the cool moisture. It was an old place too so every few blocks you had a change of scenery. Every building was unique and every street seemed to have a different style, a different purpose. Even today, as she walks or feels a particularly pleasant rush of air, she thinks back on this home often.

On one particular day Lucy had the lovely chance to go walking for a couple hours before lunch. Her time was almost spent though and she was heading home. Lucy loved walking with a companion and had one with her that day. Her companion was not having a good day and really wanted to get home for lunch so Lucy was doing her best to accommodate her friend by traveling swiftly. Except, Lucy had a wonderfully terrible (or maybe terribly wonderful) habit of talking to strangers on all these walks of hers and today was no different.

To get to her friends house they would have to travel over a small bridge. It traversed a small, man-made creek. During the night, with the darkness and local ruffians, it was a seemingly creepy place, but during the day it was peaceful. It was small, covered, and provided a nice view of the creek which often housed a heron and some fish.

The most important part of this tale happened right before the bridge on this particular day though. As Lucy companion was trying to hurry home, Lucy spotted a woman on the other side of the road and just instantly wanted to meet her. No rationale, she just thought it would be nice to talk. As she started to cross the street she started thinking about her friend who was very hungry and she hesitated. Then the road was filled with carriages. Then she worried if it would make the other woman uncomfortable. Then she made another excuse. Then another. Then...she was too far away to do anything but watch the next event.

It was not just a woman walking on the other side of the street. She was dragging a little girl (they bore a striking resemblance) and some luggage (which looked a little haphazard and hurriedly packed). Then the large man rode up alongside her in his carriage. He shot his head out the window and started screaming at her. Lucy could not really hear what was being said except, "Get in!" being yelled by the man. Lucy was stunned. Hundreds of what ifs flooded her mind. Even more were the questions about why. What if she had talked to this woman when she first felt she should. Why was she leaving her husband and taking her daughter. Why did he want them back. Would anything last. How long until the next fight. What could she have done for her. Would it have helped.

Then her companion turned around and got frustrated at her for slowing down. So, they hurried home and didn't talk to anyone else until after lunch.