By Elaine Dawkins
December 3, 1828As I made my way through the dark, I fumbled in my pocket. I pulled out a piece of paper and squinted so that I could read it. The Three cripples, London was all that was written on it. It had taken me a week to locate the actual area referred to. So, tonight I was able to make the journey.
I put the note back in my pocket and went on.
After traversing several different streets and alleys, I finally found the place. It was a dingy, old building with three stories. The windows were fogged, thanks to the mist that had settled, and the light that escaped through was opaque. I advanced and noticed that the shadows of several men could be seen inside. Hoping the note was not a joke, I went in.
"It just came to me that the person reading may wonder how I came into this slum area without much worry or trouble. Well, I forgot to mention that in preparation for this assignment I had visited about a dozen garbage cans in search of some good garb. Luckily, I found a pair of old, ripped trousers, a moth-eaten great coat, and an old hat with the lining missing. In this way I was able to look just as bad as everyone else in these parts."
To continue……I stepped in and paused long enough to accustom my eyes to the light. As my sight adjusted, I noted that there were exactly seven men in the bar. One- the barman, and the others sitting together at the same table. At this point four of the men at the table had finished their drinks and were now leaving. I crossed over to the other side of the room and sat down. I took out a pad of paper and began to write. This was done so that I would look nonchalant. After a while, I began to wonder whether nothing would happen when I began to get the feeling that some one was steadily looking at me. Gazing up, I realized that the two gentlemen (If I could call them that!) were whispering to each other and taking glances in my direction. Now I was getting nervous.
One of the men now made directly for me. He strode over with the air of a man who owned the world. I looked up at him, but did not smile. I simply eyed him and tucked my pad and pen into my coat pocket. The man stopped a few paces away and gave a sight nod of the head as a courtesy. I did the same and he, recognizing the invitation, sat down across from me.
"I see that you are a writer, my dear?"
"Not really," I was not expecting that question and it quite startled me. I could not show the writing to him because I had been using it to take note of the bar and of the people in it. I imagined that this man's friend, who was much younger, would have caused me pain beyond mentioning. Luckily, the question was asked to introduce conversation so it did not matter…..
Sorry about the long wait. College takes up time along with a sister who takes up the computer! Ha, Ha, Ha!
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