Chapter 16
Sat in his own appointed corner, counting and logging all the treasures he had to his name, Fagin was the only person in the den. While deeply admiring a piece of jewellery he heard the door go and the person entering uttering a hushed curse.
Fagin stood up, hiding the jewellery, he readied himself to face the intruder but then he melted back down to his seat having recognised the familiar voice and joined the curse as a memorable quote from the six year old version of this character.
"How can I help you my dear?" Fagin asked emerging fully into the room.
"I've missed him haven't I?" Alice replied.
She walked closer to the old man so he could hear her better.
"Who? Dodger?" Fagin feigned innocence to who it possibly could be that Alice had wanted to see.
Alice didn't dignify him with a response but gave him a knowing stare, disappointed that he had even tried.
"Yes my dear, they left about half an hour ago…shouldn't be back till late tonight." Fagin gave her the information she had wanted to hear.
Alice sighed "Oh well…" she turned to leave but Fagin stopped her.
"Don't leave just yet, come…sit." Fagin tugged Alice's arm and guided her to a chair. Making sure she was seated before he disappeared to fetch a beverage.
"I'm afraid we only have ale, will that be alright?" Fagin asked bringing the tankard out anyway.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Alice snapped.
"Well, because, well, you know because of the unborn child." Fagin stammered out finding the topic a little awkward to converse easily about.
"Drink doesn't affect it; crikey, if it did I'm sure there wouldn't be a single child in the world!" Alice laughed. Despite that Fagin was still hesitant.
"Oh for heaven's sake, give it 'ere!" Alice cried snatching the tankard from Fagin's hands. She took a long sip from it and closed her eyes.
"Now that is what you call a good drink!" She exclaimed downing the rest of the ale and handing the empty tankard back to Fagin.
"Don't yer get ale at the Toff's house?" Fagin asked placing the tankard on the table to clear up later.
Alice shook her head. "No, it's all wine and other fancy drinks like that, no proper ale, not as nice as that!"
Fagin chuckled at her comment, noting the irony of her tastes.
"Anyway, when the boys get back can you tell Jack not to come tonight, my Uncle has something planned for tonight involves visiting a relative for dinner not sure when we'd get back." Alice conveyed her message before she went out the door and forgot.
Fagin promised he would give the message to Jack, all the while smiling at the use of the Dodger's real name, it was odd how it only seemed right and proper for Alice to say it and in that second of thought he realized how many little things he missed now that Alice no longer lived with them.
Knowing that he uncle would be expecting her back anytime soon, Alice took her leave, reluctantly. She paused when she reached the edge of the stairs and reached into her pocket.
"Here have this, money isn't so important now." Alice chucked Fagin a shining silver shilling which he scrambled to retrieve, as it hit the ground.
"Besides it pays for the ale!" Alice added laughing at Fagin's predictable reaction.
She swiftly descended the stairs and began to dawdle her way home. Her disappointment in not seeing Jack was soon compensated by the retracing and memories of familiar haunts which she purposely went down on her way. Eventually when the shops were closing and the people returning to their homes, Alice reached the Brownlow residence and entered quietly and reflectively.
Only a short chapter this time but hopefully just as good!