Hey sorry this took so long but I hope it's worth it! Thanks to all of you that's been reading! You all rock! HockeyKid6622
They walked along the dirty streets, their heads filling up with memories from what seemed to be another life. Todd strutted forward determined while Tanya looked around as if looking for the long dead Cassidy Rite.
"You know there's a chance they won't be there right?" She whispered. Todd glared at her with his black eyes filled with anger and a hint of fear.
"Yes I know that!" He spat and continued walking in his brisk pace until they reached a building with 'Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pies" written on a red banner.
Todd couldn't help but smile he missed Mrs. Lovett's joyful outlook on life. She was always there for them, for the Barkers and the Rites they were one big family.
"Do you remember Mrs. Lovett?" he asked the silent Tanya. She tilted her head as she thought. She did remember a crazy, red haired lady that was widowed. She was always looking at life as the glass half full and liked Benjamin… a lot. She gave a slow nod and stared at the house.
"I think so." Todd laughed.
"If you don't you will. She leaves quite an impression."
It was dark and dusty with big windows revealing a vacant store with the exception of Mrs. Lovett. It was Todd's old home and it had changed, it aged. It looked sad and he couldn't help but remember all those wonderful memories that it once held but now it just looked like an empty house and that could only change if Lucy was there.
Taking a breath in he took a step forward and walking into the house with Tanya at his heels wondering if Lucy was there or Johanna.
They stepped into the shop to see a woman with very red hair and sunken eyes wearing a red and black dress cutting something making meat pies. She felt the wind on her arms and as she looked up she gasped.
"Customers! Wait! What's your rush? What's your hurry? Gave me such a fright I thought you was a ghost! Half a minute, cant'tcher sit down. Sit you down, sit!" She almost ran forward and tapped Todd on the shoulders to make him sit at the table. She motioned for Tanya to do the same then continued with her amusing, slightly disturbing little song.
"All I meant is I haven't seen some customers for weeks! Did you come here for a pie sir? Do forgive me if my head's a little vague." She picked up a bug. "Ugh! What is that?" She shrugged and dropped the bug to the floor and squished it twice.
They both looked at her workplace and gaged. There were bugs squirming around everywhere, crawling in the meat and through the dough. They were on the floor too! Tanya held back a laugh: she wondered why business wasn't good?
"But you'd think we had the plague! From the way people keep avoiding- no you don't. Heaven knows I try, sir! But there's no one comes in even to inhale! Right you are, sir would you like a drop of ale?" She picked a pie up and blew an inch of dust off and dropped it on an even dustier plate. She pushed the plate to Todd.
They both inspected it. It looked to be several centuries old with what looked like fur growing on the side. It looked crusty with patches of blue and green. Tanya thought sailor food was bad! She gave a polite smile and waved her pie away.
"Mind you I can hardly blame them. These are probably the worst pies in London! I know why nobody cares to take them, I should know! I make them! But good? No!" She walked back to her workplace and dumped a pile of bug infested meat into a bug infested pie. Yummy!
"The worst pies in London, even that's polite! The worst pies in London." She glanced at Tanya and gave an amused smile. "If you doubt it take a bite!" Todd smelled it then took a bite and man! Was it revolting, chewed up cud would taste better!
"Is that disgusting? You have to concede it! It's nothing but crusting! Here, drink this, you'll need it!" She handed Todd a cup of ale as he spat the 'pie' out. The ale looked gritty and black, not something you wanted to drink, especially if it was to rid your mouth of another bad taste.
"The worst pie in London! And no wonder the price of meat- when you get it- Never, thought I'd live to see the day men'd think it was a treat. Findin poor animals wot dying in the street!" She sang strong and nonchalant as she made a pie in the worst manner possible.
"Mrs. Mooney has a pie shop! Does her business but I noticed something weird. Lately all the neighbors' cats have disappeared! Have to hand it to her. Wot I calls 'enterprise'! Popping pussies into pies! Wouldn't do in my shop! Just the thought of it's enough to make you sick. And I'm tellin you, them pussycats is quick!" Todd opened his mouth to say something but was hut as he watched a bug crawl out of his pie. At least, half of it. Tanya held back a laugh and held back her lunch as she felt it rise to her throat.
"No denying times is hard, sir! Even harder than the worst pies in London! Only lard and nothing more! Is that just revolting? All greasy and gritty!" She asked putting some more pies in an oven and as Todd took a drink of that stuff she called ale.
"It looks like it's molting and tastes like… Well pity. A woman alone, with limited wind and the worst pies in London!" Todd forced the ale down his throat as the taste was something close to what sewage would taste like he imagined.
"Oh, sir," she sighed taking a moment to relax and leaned against her workplace, "times is hard. Times is hard!" Her voice like a lion continued on as she eyed a bug crawling around. As she held the note she grabbed her rolling pin and squished the bug and ended the note. She disregarded the bug guts on her rolling pin and turned to Todd.
"It's going to take a lot more than ale to wash that taste out dearie. Come with me, I'll get you a nice cup of gin." She walked away and brushed the remaining flour off her gloved hands as they both followed her.
Todd turned to Tanya and mouthed, "See what I mean?" Tanya nodded slowly. Oh yes did Mrs. Lovett leave an impression.