Chapter 19: 19.Stuff

She left the house in a hurry and was at home quite fast. She went to the kitchen and put fire on. She planned to cook breakfast. First, she put the milk to get cooked. On the side, she took a pan and fried cut sausage pieces.

She waited till milk boiled and put it on the side. She let the sausage in open oven to keep them warm. Luckily she didn't make big fire so soon the fire will turn off soon.

She went to wake up Isaa.''This sister of mine is sleeping like a pig.''Taught Kendra while pulling down the shirt that rose up, almost to her neck. While ago she made undies for them.Simple ones.Just ones that had laces on the side and could be worn like that. She saw something like that once one some advertisement for beach gear.

It was easy to make and wear so both of them felt now more comfortable. When she saw that shirt was all up it seemed that the child was too hot. It seems she got used to having cold water of the sea more than sunshine. Sigh.

''Isaa, wake up. We need to eat and go,'' she said to the sleepy child. Isaa opened eyes and quickly stood up.

''Sorry brother. But this bed is so comfortable,'' she said while caressing the sheets.

Kendra touched the bed and sheets and realized they were of better quality than their own clothes. She turned around and saw one of those bed boxes she saw in old movies. They didn't have closets before. They had everything in bed boxes under their feet.

She opened the box and saw cloth's. In various colors. She touched it and it was the same quality as the bed covers. It seems they left this as well. This is strange. This quality seemed fine. Is the capital so rich that this kind of cloth is mediocre?

''Isaa. I will make later the night shirts for us. But we can use it only here. If we take it outside someone might rob us.''Isaa nodded. It is better to use it here. she didn't want such good cloth to get dirty outside.''Let us eat and then we can check what we have in other room and in the garden.'' said Kendra putting on Isaa the straw shoes.

It was time to buy new ones. They both almost broke these three pairs and it seems in the last few weeks they grew a bit so the shoes seemed to be smaller. Maybe because of the water or the good food, but both children grew.

They went to the kitchen and ate. Then washed everything a Kendra spilled the washing water in the sewer on another side of the street. At least it is not directly near them. Their house seemed to be a bit higher than other houses so in case of big rain all the water will flow there.

She came back and saw Isaa in the garden playing with rabbits. They seemed to grow quite a bit. Should she sell them or eat them? When they go again to the seaside they won't have anyone to take care of them.

''Isaa. We will leave tonight and stay at the strawberry house for the next few days. But when we come back we will have full hands with our produce. Who will feed rabbits till then?''

''Brother, I am not that foolish. If we can't eat them then we sell it. Is the market is over?'' she asked while holding rabbit that grew in last ten days quite big and fat.

''We can sell them to the cook. I can't kill those that we fed. And you probably would feel bad if you ate them, right?''Kendra patted child's head knowing her. Isaa nodded. Even if she knows that rabbits will be killed and eaten, but the same could happen in the forest as well. So at least they will sell them.

They packed their baskets with bread and sausage that was left over and put them ready as they went first to the other room to see what's there.

There were two beds in the corner. One big table and four chairs. And two more boxes had big fat quilts for winter, pair of pillows and clean pair of bedclothes. Kendra was relieved that there was nothing more. But beds had blankets and pillows with bed cloth as well. She guessed they couldn't take that with them as well as it didn't seem to be new.

This room will be used in winter as it will be the warmest with the door toward the kitchen.

She took Isaa's hand and they went to explore the garden. There seem to be ripe plums. And apricots. There is an apple tree as well as pear tree. They were in the front house behind was a little vegetable garden. If you can call it that way.

There are just about three square meters of garden. Few eggplants, few beets or maybe turnips. On sides, some leek, onion, garlic and one row as it seems to be carrots. Then a few cabbage seedlings. and next to the tress she saw something like gourds.

It's good enough for them to eat fresh. But not enough for winter. So she will buy and dry many.Here.As it seems to have lots of suns and she can put it near walls that would give up some heat as well.

She will need to water it well before they go. She opened door to the well and started gathering bucket after bucket of water and spilling at all plants. Even Isaa tried to help her. She asked her to gather some grapes for them to have for later. The plums are too high for her but it was fine with grapes.

Then she gathered some plums from near branches and apricots. The rabbits went into her basket and the fruits and sausage and bread into Isaa's basket. They didn't take a lot because they had other things they can find in the forest.

They had to pass the market and saw that it still didn't end. They found the children that sold shoes and bought new straw shoes for both of self. This time only one pair each as they could buy it in three days again if they need. They still had one pair on their feet.

Kendra bought at cloth maker again simple linen and asked a nearby seamstress to make new clothes for them. Just simple boy and girl clothes. The seamstress took the order and told them to come back the next day as she had many orders. Kendra told her she will come next market day so seamstress had some time to finish clothes.

She didn't spend much money on the linen and seamstress. All together it was 30 coins. It would take her a couple of days to do something like pants and both clothes. It was easier for Isaa. But for her...sigh.She has no time for that.

Then they went to the inner city. On gates was an officer and he stopped her. When she explained that she just needs to bring order to the nearby house he nodded and let her in.So simple? Is it because she is a child or is security lacking?

They went again to the side gate and knocked at the servant's door. One young man in a neat uniform opened and smiled at her.

''Oh little girl. Cook told me when I see you I should just let you in.'' and he opened the door.

They entered into always busy kitchen as it was time to prepare for lunch. The cook came out of his office to greet them.

''Sir I might not have any fish but I had these two rabbits. If you want to buy them,'' said Kendra while showing big fat rabbits in her basket.

''Oh my. They seemed to be well fed. I will buy them.''He gave them money and went into the kitchen to give to personal that had to kill and clean the rabbits.

The children left as they saw him raising his sleeves and getting ready to cook.

They left the city and passed elder Goluk. They needed those pots for jam. Kendra's basket was anyway empty so she put six in the basket and she and Isaa had one each in their hands.

When they came back to their house they didn't seem to be tired. With time these two children seem to become stronger.

It was not even midday yet. Kendra chooses to fry some vegetables and what's left of the sausage and eat it with some bread. They choose to go to the stream and put the traps in the water . Then they went to the forest to set traps and on way back, they checked the meadow with strawberries.

There was more now than before. They got surprised as they saw the amount of it. But the sun started shining to strong so they went back home to rest a bit as they got used to and later they will gather a lot of them.

Kendra planned to make the bigger basket for herself as it seems that the one she wore was too small.

Isaa as well taught that hers is too small so she took Isaa's but it was too big. So Kendra made one bigger than before one and smaller than her own.

They went to the stream and took a long bath and then went into the shade to sleep. It was anyway to hot to have a blanket.

After they woke up the sun was still high but not as bright. Kendra chooses that as long is still hot they will gather in shadows and later in the middle of the meadow. So they did. They started at the corner of the meadow. But they progressed quite fast. They gathered full baskets and it was not even late afternoon.

Kendra taught about it. She took strawberries, put on flat baskets near a stream where there is still a bit cooler and went to gather more strawberries. She did that few times and when she saw that it's already afternoon she took a big pot and started making jam. Till evening she made three pots of jam.

It seems ten baskets of strawberries are 3 big pots of jam. And one big pot is three small pots of jam.

So all pots are already full.

Kendra sighed. She needs more small pots. Much more.

They went to the traps and saw them full. With few of those before and now all together again almost two dozen of fishes. She put them again with others in the hole. She can take them tomorrow to the cook. And some jam. They do not have to wait for the market day to sell these. The traps she let dry for tomorrow.

They looked at forest traps and found two pheasants. She chooses to take jam tomorrow and on the market day these pheasants. She put them in the rabbit cage and feed them some grass and water. Isaa was not interested in them. She chooses to make some porridge with vegetables and some baked fish.

She taught about it. There seem to be a few brooks nearby. She will check them when they come back from the city.

Next morning they woke up early. This time even Isaa was early. She as usually put fishes into leaves and then into her own and Isaa's basket. Then they put the traps back into the water for later use.

They arrived ta the city at the time the doors opened. They went straight to the inner city and the guard let them in as he remembered them from the day before.

Again at gate and servants door. Even if it was early in the morning the servants seem to be quite busy. The young man called the cook as he saw that they had full hands. When he saw them his eyes shines, he knew that this kid wouldn't come with empty baskets.

''What do you have now?''He asked as he took the two pots from their hands. His eyes shone as he looked at the baskets on their backs.

''I have two dozen of fishes. And two pots of jam,'' said Kendra.

''Let me get the money. Are you hungry do you need anything?'' he asked waiting at the door.

''If you give me some eggs I would be grateful.I couldn't find any yesterday. Take the cost of the amount.''she said while looking at the young man that stared at her with wide open eyes as he saw the neatly covered fishes.

''This...this...'' he started stuttering while holding the fishes.

''Its called fish not this,'' she said calmly.

''You...you...'' he continued to stare at the fish.

''Yes...I found it,'' she said while she started feeling uncomfortable.

He saw that her face became serious and put back the fish in cask. Then went into the kitchen and took his own basket to transport it. In the meantime, the cook came back with money. He gave her quite a bit as it seems this time. She looked it him questioningly.

''I know its weird, but today we have a visit of his family and we already were thinking what to make for them. These fishes came just in time. And jam will be perfect when I make a cake.''

''If I knew, I would have brought some fresh strawberries.'' she looked at the sun as it was still early morning.

''Do you want me to go and bring you fresh ones. You can put it inside the cake and outside as decoration.'' she taught about that. She can come back to lunch.

He looked at her in surprise.

''Is it possible?'' he asked.

''If I go now and just gather small basket it is possible.''

''If you do that I will pay you 5 silver coins. You just need to be here before lunch.''

Kendra looked at him with a shiny smile. Money!!! She will run and it is possible now to do that if she takes a smaller basket. Then she looked at Isaa.

She will take her with her and then just come back to the city alone fast. There and back alone won't be a problem.

Isaa saw her face and knew already what she will ask her.

''Brother. I will go and stay and you can just run back. I am sure you are faster alone.'' she said while looking at Kendra with her trusting eyes. Her brother will not leave her alone.

''Good let's run.''

They took their baskets and walked calmly to the gates. Then they fastened and passed Goluk.

''Goluk do you have some more of small pots?'' asked Kendra hoping that he had as she needs them for jam.

''I have few more made. If you want them.'' he showed about the mountain of small and big pots.

Kendra got stunned by the amount.

''I made more because lately, I get more requests. So I make more just in case someone needs something urgently.''

Kendra paid for ten pots put them in their baskets and walked as fast as she could back home. Then she took a small basket and went with Isaa to gather. They gathered quite fast full small basket and she remembered peasants. She closed the baskets tightly took peasants into hands and run as fast she could.

When she came to the gate it was still early enough. She runs toward the inner gate and was just let through. She runs towards the house and could see the young man waiting all ready for her.

She gave him the peasants so she could take off the basket of her back.

Cook came back and was stunned by the sight of peasants.

''I had a good catch and I taught you might have an even better meal if you have these two on the table.'' she said smugly. She knew even if peasant are kind of plague for villagers but they were quite fast so it was quite hard catching them.

''This child...'' he was speechless. He took the money out and taught about that. He gave her ten silver coins. She looked at him with the risen eyebrow.

''Peasants...are...expensive.'' said the cook while already in taught what he will make with them.

''Give me sugar,'' said Kendra.

''Hm?'' he was already somewhere in his cookbook.

''Sir do you have some sugar for sale? I couldn't find it in the market.'' she knew that the cake must have been made with sugar. He sobered up and looked at her laughing.

''Of course, you can't find it on market. It's only in the seasonings market. As it's too expensive.Hmm.One pound cost about five silvers. Are you sure you want to buy it?''

Kendra got shocked. She backed a few steps and just gave up for now. He started laughing.

''It is ok I can give you some as you gave me such nice surprise.''

He went into the kitchen and brought her cloth with sugar. It was at least half a pound.

''This is too much ''she tried to give back.

''Go now. I need to cook,'' he went in and left her outside. Free?Yesssss!!!

In late life, she liked freebies but as serious businesswoman who everyone knew she couldn't ask for any. But now she is getting so many of them. Nice!

She quickly runs to the city house and left it in the pantry. Then she took again one sausage and put in a small basket. She forgot to ask him about eggs. Oh never mind. She has other things to eat.

She runs back home where Isaa was waiting for her. When she saw her, she runs to her and jumped into her arms.

''I was brave. I didn't cry. I knew you would come back.'' she said while cuddling in Kendra's hands. My brother is my sister, but who cares. I have someone. They had almost the same taught as the sun shined upon them. They are not alone...