Grete's Hope
A/N: This was part of an English assignment. One of our options for our project was to write a missing scene for the novel that you read. Of course, I immediately jumped on that. No one else did it, but you know what? I don't care. The moral of the story? Fanfiction is completely underrated. Oh, the novel: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. If this doesn't seem like my writing, it is because I was instructed to imitate the author's style. Happy reading!
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It was another busy day at the store. Grete ran to and fro, fetching things for customers. Being a cashier wasn't easy, especially after being unemployed for one's life. She had only been trained to be a girl, a lady, and a wife. The skills to work hadn't been introduced to her. It had been assumed that Gregor would work for the family. He had been the only provider and rising so far in his job that the Samsas had assumed that they would not have to face real work. Now that their only well had run dry, her family was forced into occupation.
She had hoped, foolishly, that her proficiency in violin would lead to an opportunity to play for a living. She always cherished the idea that she might be able to go to the Conservatory, despite the great expense. She and Gregor had often talked about it when he was still human. He always had a twinkle in his eye when they spoke about it, and Grete took it as a sign that he had plans for her. But, perhaps, she was wrong.
"Miss Samsa!" The manager called, catching her in a slight pause as she thought about the school. She searched for him in the store, finally finding his face in the back, peering over to her. "Get me a camisole!"
She hurried into the back room, grasping one and rushing it to her boss, always willing to please. "Here it is, sir."
"Samsa, this is not what I asked for."
She looked in wonder at it. "It is not, sir?"
"Samsa, this garment does not lace in the back. This is a camisole, not a corset."
"But that is--"
Her boss's face was plum. "Do not inform me of your mistakes, only correct them! Have you learned nothing?"
"I am sorry, sir. I will try harder next time."
"Don't give me your apologies! Go!"
Grete once again scurried back into the store room, bringing out a corset and giving it to him.
"Good. Now make haste and help all the other personnel you've left without supplies."
"Yes, sir."
As the manager sent her away, all thoughts of the Conservatory had left. If she was lucky, she'd last long enough in this job to make decent pay. She sighed and wiped a stray tear.
Gregor could not help her now. He had abandoned them. She could not hold hope in her violin. She must only hold hope in her work skills, trying as hard as she could to please her superiors.
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A/N: Information included again: The second part of this option (the downside, in my opinion) was to write an explanation of how your scene could've changed the outcome of the novel. I figured I'd include it for you in case you cared. If you don't, skip this and get to the reviewing.
If this scene was inserted in the novel, Grete's apathetic, and sometimes resentful, nature in cleaning Gregor's room and feeding him would be further explained. While she loses more hope for her own dreams, as shown in this scene, it would make sense that she would lose more hope for Gregor's mind and the presence of human thoughts in him. This scene also explains Grete's sadness in playing the violin for the boarders. The thought that she once might have considered violin a profession and now finds it is a useless hobby would make her melancholy while playing it.