("Good, lad. Now give the man his meat and you've served your first customer," instructed Mr. Porsh.
Landon handed the man his meat and got some coins back. He put them in the money jar and went to the back to start chopping more meat. He chopped and chopped and soon his mind began to wonder. I wonder how Chrissy and the others are doing? I've been gone for almost a month now, it seems like it's been years. Thought Landon. Once I have enough earnings I can go back to Payettin and get Chrissy and together we can explore the world. He smiled at the thought. Just him and Chrissy. "I miss her, so," he said out loud with out realizing it.
"Miss, who, me boy?" asked Mr. Porsh, his boss. Looking up from the meat he was chopping Landon answered
"'Tis no one, master," Hoping his master would understand that Landon did not want him prying into his business. He didn't.
"So, you miss no one? Come boy, surely you did not just blurt out you missed someone, because you felt like it. Tell me her name at least," he pleaded.
Landon shrugged. I guess it couldn't hurt. He thought. "Her Name is Christabella," He said.
"What, she doesn't have a last name?" asked the man. Landon knew it was gonna lead to this. He didn't want the man to get into his personal business, but it looked like he'd be getting in it anyway.
"She was an orphan, like me. So, no one knows her last name. Other than her parents, of course," Stated Landon
"You love this girl then?" asked the man. Landon grunted. Will his questions never cease? Wondered Landon. He didn't answer the butcher's question because a customer started yelling angrily in the next room about how slow the service was. "Excuse me boy, I've got an angry customer to deal with. You can go ahead and go home if you'd like. It's just bout closing time, anyway," said Mr Porsh before he went to attend the customer.
Landon didn't so much as nod and he took of his apron and quickly walked out the door. He was so relieved to finally be rid of the man even if it was only for a few minutes. Landon would much rather sit through one of Chrissy's book reading sessions that the kids so much enjoyed and he so much despised, than hear one more word from that man. As his master, Landon had to at least pretend he liked him, but all the fellow ever did was talk and pry into other peoples affairs. Landon had heard enough rumors about the towns folk to last him a life time. "I wish I hadn't of left Payettin," thought Landon out loud. "I think I'm getting homesick," He frowned. "Why do I feel like something isn't right?" He pondered the question all the way to the butcher's house, which he was staying at.
It was a nice house. Two stories and five bed rooms. Landon was lucky. Most of the towns people could barely afford the cloths on their back and he was staying in a two story house with plenty of food and warm water. He walked into the house and threw his coat on the couch and kicked his shoes off. "Ahh," He said "I've been working all day and now finally time to rest with out that nosy old man bothering me." he ran down the hall to his room and leaped onto the bed. He grabbed the pillow nearest him and cradled it then squeezed it. Then fell backward and lay down on the bed staring at the ceiling. He would never of let anyone see him act in such a way, but since he was alone he now had a chance to just be himself and forget about what everyone else thought. It was nice. He rolled over onto his stomach and buried his face in his pillow. Who am I kidding, this isn't where I want to be. Well, it is, but not without Chrissy. He sighed and rolled over onto his back again. He stared at the ceiling trying to make out different shapes from the tiling. He had found a frog, half of a fish and an open book. Immediately he thought of Chrissy. )