2 O N E

"I'm so cold."

"My feet hurt."

"These bags are too heavy."

"It's so cloudy."

"It smells."

"Alright, enough," I cut them off, turning around to give them warning stares. "We're on our own, I was lucky enough to get us a place without paying upfront first. Now you both take the bags to the house while I go fine a job, yeah?"

The two look down in somewhat shame and both nod their heads obediently while waking in another direction, nothing but silence following them.

I shake my head in annoyance, I close my eyes and face up towards the sky. I take a big gulp of air to try and calm down from the little moment I had.

I begin to walk around and look for any signs that possible hint at a possible job, I walk up to a wooden pole that has a wanted barmaid sign. I sigh in relief, glad to have a break for once.

I walk into the pub to see a man sweeping at the door. I knock on the wooden table to get his attention.

"I'm here for the barmaid job," I say.

"Are you mad?" He asks taking me off guard.

"Am I what?" I question.

"You know about this place?"

I hesitate for second trying to get at what he's trying to hint at. "I saw the advertisement."

He gives me a half smile, probably noticing my hesitance. "Job's been filled."

"But it looked like it's been barely put up, no one has had a grab at it as far as I've seen," I respond.

He grabs his broom again and begins to bust himself with sweeping up cigarette ends. "Believe me love, I'm doing you a favor."

"I'm not asking for favors, I'm asking for employment," I retort."

"You're too nice."

"How can you know? You barely met me."

"And too pretty. They'd have you up against a wall," he ignores my previous statement.

"I can handle myself plus I really need this. Please, it's just me and my other sisters, I'm all they have and they're all I have. I need this job," I beg.

He leans against his broom and peers at me, assessing me. He lets out a tiny sigh and shakes his head. "Too pretty."

"Watch..."I trail as I grab a spittoon from the bad of the bar. "And listen..."

I begin to sing a beautiful ballad that my mother taught me when I was just a little girl. I pick up the two other spittoons, I clutch all three in one hand the swirl them around. I sing with a strong and soothing voice as I pour the slimy, disgusting contents of one spittoon into the other then that one into the third one.

"Green I want you green. Green wind, green boughs. Ship on the sea and horse on the mountain," I sing.

I keep my face neutral as I brandish the fully charged spittoon then I head for the back of the bar. I swiftly unlatch the bar divided and empties the spittoon into the sink. I pour water from a jug into the spittoon and return to systematically half full and swill the other two spittoons. I then pour the dirty water into one spittoon and take it back to the sink and pour it away.

"With shadow at her waist, she dreams at her railing, green flesh, green hair, and eyes of cold silver."

I place the three spittoons back in place with a clatter, handles facing outward. I begin to finish the shortened ballad as I see the amazed look on his face.

"Green I want you green. Under the gypsy moon things are looking at her, and she cannot return their gaze."

I bow gracefully the straighten up. He stares at me in utter shock causing a smile to fall upon my face as I glance at the freshly fixed glass panes.

"My mother taught me that ballad, said I could make any who hear cry or melt at the sound of my voice," I explain.

He takes a deep breath, studying me again like before. He begins to look around his pub as if to finally make his decision.

"I hope your mother taught you a lot of songs," he jokes causing me to chuckle with a smile.

All of a sudden a short haired blonde walks in, looking very businesslike. She takes off her hat and places it on the bar.

"I'm here for the job as the barmaid," she mutters.

"Sorry sweetheart, that place is taken by her," Harry replies.

"But I have references and I can sing," she smiles sweetly.

"She can sing too," he retorts.

I lay a hand on Harry's shoulder causing me to glance at me in confusion. "Why not two barmaids. Twice the help and twice the voice. We can draw in a lot of customers."

He pauses for a moment, contemplating on what his next move should be. "All right, but no funny business."

This made the women smile triumphantly for some reason. "I'm Grace."

"Harry," he mumbles then goes back behind the bar to finish some sweeping.

"Irene," I introduce myself with a small smile and hold out my hand which she gives a small shake.