"May I be excused?" Clarissa asked placing her fork down on the plate in front of her. The woman at the other end of the table looked up at Clarissa.
"Yes, be home by nightfall." The woman said knowing exactly where Clarissa was going. Clarissa smiled and stood up. She walked to the other side of the table where Alina was sitting. Clarissa bent down and kissed her cheek.
"See you later Alina." Clarissa said.
"Hurry and get your face away from me." Her mother growled. Clarissa nodded and bowed her head to her.
"Of course Mrs. Lilith, I will return by nightfall." Clarissa deadpanned. Her mother, Mrs. Lilith, nodded and looked down to her plate. "Make sure to bug your sister, Alless." Clarissa said to the little girl sitting across from Alina. Allessandra smiled and raised a thumb.
"Go!" Mrs. Lilith called.
"Yes, sorry." Clarissa said rushed then she ran to the front door and picked up her bag that was sitting beside it. She turned around and waved to her sisters before she left the house. Outside the midday sun was shining down on the streets.
The sun was a grim reminder that she was late for the lunch rush. That was one meal's worth of money she missed out on. Her cheerful smile faded into an deadpan expression, close to a scowl. She began to run. She wasn't going to be late for the after lunch rush. Yes, that was a thing.
Clarissa hurried around the corner to a busy market street. She was dodging people as she ran. Her hair was getting all over her face. She stopped in front of a small cafe. The door was wide open welcoming anyone who walked by. Clarissa walked in and like always the piano in the corner was empty for her to play. There was maybe ten people in the cafe. Half of them were regulars that came just to hear her play.
"Clarissa Everdeen, you are late." Dillian, the man that owned the place, said as he wiped down the counter.
"Sorry! My mother made me clean up after lunch. I will repay you." Clarissa said walking up to counter. Dillian smiled and shook his head.
"I already don't pay you." He said throwing the old rag into the sink behind him. Clarissa smiled and nodded.
"I better get playing. People are waiting!" Clarissa said with a smile. Dillian smiled and motioned over to the piano. Clarissa nodded and walked over to the piano. Dillian never payed her because she got a lot of money worth of tips. In turn for bringing customers in Dillian would give her groceries for one meal.
Clarissa took an empty cup out of the bag and placed it on the stool beside the piano. She opened up the piano and almost the whole room went quiet. She cleared her throat, and pressed one key. She took a deep breath before she started to play.
You tell me that I'm crazy
Doing this alone
You don't need to save me
Oh, how I've grown
I am capable of everything you can see
But now I want to change
The whole cafe went silence as she sang. Most of them had heard her sing this song many many times before. But it still brought them in everyday.
Just blow out the candles
Oh little boy, when will you learn?
You don't play with fire unless you wanna get burned
Wanna get burned
Just blow out the candles
Oh, how the tables they've turned
You don't play with fire
Unless you wanna get burned
You wanna get burned
Something's just sound crazy
Things you'll never know
There's always that one maybe
That keeps stringing you along
'Cause I am capable of everything you can see
But now I want to change
Just blow out the candles
Oh, little boy, when will you learn?
You don't play with fire
Unless you wanna get burned
Wanna get burned
Blow out the candles
Oh, how the tables they've turned
You don't play with fire
Unless you wanna get burned
Wanna get burned
People from the street began to walk into the cafe to watch. Clarissa's back was facing the crowd so she could see, but she new the routine. She played, brought in customers, got payed in a meal. That is all she cared about.
What is that, that I see
Floating right in front of me
Lock the door, try to leave
But now it's clear to me
You didn't blow out the candles
Oh, little boy, you'll never learn
You don't play with fire
But you're already burned
You're already burned
Blow out the candles
Oh, little boy, you'll never learn
You don't play with fire
But you're already burned
You're already burned
When she finished playing her first song she went on with the other songs in her routine. She always played the same ten songs every day. She played them once. Had an hour break then went at it again. When she finished her round of songs she stood.
There was no applause, no obvious praise, but the same person that was there everyday walked up to her. "As good as always." She said. She was sweet old lady. She had brought her grandchildren a couple of times in hopes that they would make friends with Clarissa. It didn't work out in the end.
"Here, you look starving. Buy yourself something." The woman said holding out a satchel. It clinked with the sound of coins.
"Are you sure you don't need it?" Clarissa asked. The woman smiled.
"I am on my last year of life, dear. I don't need lots of money anyway." The woman said holding the satchel out further. Clarissa grabbed onto it and held it in her hands. She looked down at it and smiled.
"Thank you so much. I will find someway to repay you." Clarissa said with a wide smile.
"No need dear, your music is enough." She said then she sat. Clarissa smiled and picked up her bag and put the money in it.
"I am going for a walk, I will be back within the hour." Clarissa said to Dillian. He nodded. Too busy with customers to answer with words. Clarissa walked out of the cafe and walked around the market looking over everything.