1924, november, same day
- Hey, boy! You alright?
Credence woke up to someone vilolently shaking his shoulders, and the heavy smell of cigarette hit his nose. As he slowly opened his eyes, the black shadows were still dancing before his sight, but he could see, that a bearded, older man in grungy clothes is looking to his face from a few inches. Suddenly he did not know where he is, how did he end up here, and he thrilled with fear under the man's grip. He closed his eyes, then opened again after a few seconds, in the hope of shuffle the black spots out of his sight.
- Are you deaf, boy? I just asked, what is your name? – grabbed strongly the man's fingers his shoulders.
Credence wanted to answer, but a single word did not come out of his mouth, he could just form the words silently.
- I, I…- he tried to say something.
- Step aside, dont you hear me? Dont you see, you scared him? – suddenly a woman's voice interrupted him.
- Excuse me, ma'am, I just helped him! – muttered the man offended, but his grip loosened around Credence's shoulder.
- Let me here! - said the woman, and as she crouched next to Credence, he could see her face. She was middle-aged, with a kind smile on her face, and her clothes were covered in flour, like she came from a bakery. As she looked to Credence, he peered to the ground shyly. The woman sent the fidgety man away, then turned back to Credence.
- Do you know, what has happened? – she asked gently.
Credence shaked his head. He still didnt understand, how did he get on the cold, cobble street. He tried to stand up, but the shadows appeared in front of his eyes again, and he felt, that a sharp pain stab into his head.
- Careful, dont do anything quickly! You must hit your head, when you fainted – she sighed, while shaking her head.
She raised her arm towards him, which made Credence wince. As the woman's warm hands slipped under his armpits, he froze.
- Dont be afraid, I just try to help you up – she smiled at him kindly. Credence loosened his body a bit, and he glanced at her. He didnt expect help from anyone, and this caring voice was also unusual for him. As he felt, she held him strong, he tried to lean to his legs. Although he still felt dizzy, he pushed himself to a sitting position, then slowly crouched to the ground. As he looked down to his feet, he groaned frightened. On the ground there laid his leaflets, wet and dirty from the rain on the previous day. He lifted his sight up, and he faced with the rest of the leaflets covering the whole road in front of him. The cars without slowing down drove off next to them, creasing with their wheels the leaflets even more. He tried to gather the barely entire ones around him desultorily. The woman looked at him doubiously.
- Dont care about those, come with me to my shop, its right on the other side of the road – she said concerned.
Credence barely heard it, his mind was already racing around his punishment. If Ma finds this out…He could lie, that he handed out the rest of them… No, no she would find it out eventually, like she finds out everything else, and then he would get in a much bigger trouble. He always, always has to say the truth. He winced, as he felt a hand on his shoulder.
- I, I cant. I have to hand these out, then I need to go home – he spit it out finally broken.
- You cant go on like this. Come, sit down in my place for a while – she sounded determined. Credence didnt dare to resist anymore, he just nodded. Perhaps, he can sit down for a short while… That cant get him in such a big trouble. As he carefully stood up, he tried not to pay attention to the splitting headache, and he followed the woman to the other side of the road. He glanced back, and he felt a tug at his heart, as he saw the damaged leaflets again.
Credence was right, she worked in a bakery. She waited for him at the entrace, then guided Credence to the store, and showed him to sit down. As Credence took a deep breath, and sniffed to the air, his stomach rumbled loudly. The woman looked at him with knitted eyebrows, then turned to the counter, and took out a pastry. She placed it to a napkin, then offered it to Credence. He didnt dare to take it, he just stared to the sweet-smelling bake good, while swallowing hard.
- Do you get enough food at home? – the woman asked, still with a careworn look.
Credence didnt answer. How could he tell this stranger, that he hasnt got food since six days? She would just misunderstand it, and she would blame his mother for it.
- You arent much of a talker – she broke into a smile. – Anyway, I want you to eat it. It would not look so well, if you would faint again in my bakery – she added, and she shaked her head.
Credence slowly raised his hand, and wrapped his fingers around the pastry. It was still hot, and looked so delicious. He started to eat it slowly, with small bites, and he felt, that the warmth filled his body. He has never tasted anything like this before. It was soft, and sweet. His mother didnt allow anything sweet to them. When he finished, he felt himself much better, but also guily, for accepting the food. The woman smiled to him.
- How are you? –she asked. – Do you feel dizzy? Or hurt?
- I am much better now, thank you. – answered Credence. This caring was very unususal for him, and he was sure, the woman helped to him only because she felt pity for him.
- Im glad – she said, still with a smile on her face. – You know, you scared me, when you fainted, and the cars almost hit you. My son is around your age, and he usually doesnt pay attention. I always worry, that something happens to him – she sighed concerned. – But what matter is, that you are better now – she smiled again to him. Credence nodded, not sure what to say.
- Thomas! – she shouted suddenly. A beefy, cheerful fellow showed up behind her. – Thomas, please take care of the store, I escort this boy home – she turned to her coworker.
- Ah, so you are the one, who got almost hit by a car! – he grinned to Credence. Credence peered to the ground. – You scared the hell out of Miss Beth!
The woman – who turned out to be called Beth, – wagged her head.
- Well, I got scared, thats true. Oh, by the way I didnt even introduce myself. My name is Elizabeth Wilson. – she offered her hand to Credence. He barely touched, and shaked it.
- Credence Barebone.
- Come, Credence, I escort you home – answered Elizabeth.
- You dont have to, ma'am, thank you. Please, you dont need to bother – said Credence quickly. He wouldnt like to cause much more inconvenience to this kind woman.
- Trust me, I would feel myself much worse, if I wouldnt know, that you got home in safe – said Elizabeth in an authoritative voice. It looked like, Credence's protests didnt have any use against her, altough he got used to it. He nodded.
Elizabeth stepped to him, and helped him up from the chair. Altough he felt himself stronger, his head still ached. As she guided him out of the bakery, she turned to him.
- Where do you live, Credence?
- Pike street, in the Second Salemer church – he answered quietly. – But you really dont have to walk home with me, ma'am.
- Nonsense, I want to be sure, that you'll be fine. And its not so far away. – she ended the conversation.
With Elizabeth's help, Credence could walk enough steady, and it didnt take much time, they were standing in front of the church.
- Thank you for everything, ma'am! – Credence turned to her. – And I will pay for the pastry, as soon as I can – he added, altough he didnt know, how he will get the money.
- Dont be silly, it was a gift – answered Elizabeth smiling.
A small smile appeared in the corner of Credence's mouth. They were standing in front of the church for a while, but she didnt leave his side. Credence looked at her questioningly.
- I wont leave, Credence. Not until I am sure, that you'll be okay – answered Elizabeth to his look, then she knocked on the door. Credence's eyes widened. He couldnt tell, whats going to happen, if his mother finds out, that he came home with a stranger.
After a few seconds, Chastity's face appeared at the entrance. Elizabeth smiled at her with the same warmth, as she smiled to Credence before.
- Hello, dear. Is your mother at home? Can I speak with her? – she asked. Chastity looked at her suprised, then her gaze fell to Credence, and to the creased leaflets in his hands. Credence looked back at her with fear.
- Yes, she is at home. Please, come in – she said eventually well-mannered, and stepped aside from their way.
Elizabeth marched confidently to the house, and Credence followed her, his eyes trained on the floor. As Mary Lou heard the voices, she stepped out of the kitchen. She didnt expect any guests, so she looked at Elizabeth quite suprised. When she saw Credence behind her, she snorted nervously.
- Good day, madam! What did my son do? Did he cause any problem to you? – she looked to Elizabeth.
- No, of course not, Credence didnt do anything bad. And he seems to be a very polite boy – she raised her eyebrow. - I escorted him home, after he fainted on the street.
Mary Lou shot a furious look in Credence's way, as she heard it. The boy lowered his head, and a frightened whimper left his mouth. But Elizabeth wasnt done yet.
- I just couldnt not notice, how skinny he is. I can almost see his bones! Im sure, that he fainted because of the hunger. He refused to tell me, when was the last time, he ate, but I think he didnt get any food in days! And you force him to work in this condition! What kind of mother are you? Dont you care about your child? – she sounded very angry, as she stared to Mary Lou.
- Please madam, calm down – Mary Lou tried to look peaceful. – Credence wanted to fast from his own choice. He wanted to get closer to God this way. I suppose, he orverdone it. But I can assure you, that he will eat now – she said, while she looked to Elizabeth's eyes.
- Is it true, Credence? – Elizabeth turned to him. – Did you fast from your own choice? – she asked concerned.
Credence tried to nod as quickly as he can, and he prayed for her to leave. Maybe its not too late. Maybe he wont get much worse punishment, as usually. Elizabeth didnt seem like she completly believed it, but she nodded.
- Alright. Then I am leaving – she said, and she glanced to Credence once again, then turned around, and walked out of the house. As the door closed behind her, Credence knew, that he is going to pay for everything.
Mary Lou stepped closer to him, and stared to her shivering son.
- So, are you hungry? – she asked coldly. – Dont be afraid, I will make sure you to eat. Follow me - she said, and started to walk to the other side of the house.
Credence didnt know what is going to happen next. Does he really get some food? Or just a beating? Perhaps she locks him in somewhere. He winced at this thought. He hated the small, dark places, and when his mother locked him in the basement some days, he was completly alone with his demons.
But his mother didnt go to the basement, she turned to the kitchen, where their lunch was boiling in a big pot. As Credence trailed behind her, his eyes widened from wondering. For a moment, he started to hope, that a miracle is happening, and he gets from the soup. His mother closed the door behind him, and she pointed to a chair. Credence sat down quickly, and he put the leaflets carefully to the table beside him.
- Credence – his mother turned to him. Her voice sent down a shiver on his spine. – Gluttony is a sin, and you know it very well. Despite of it, you wanted to eat, when you knew, it wasnt allowed – she sounded cold, and threatening. Credence tried to pull himself together on the chair.
- I, I didnt, please, Ma… - he shaked his head. He felt, that tears started to burn his eyes.
- Dont you dare lie to me! – Mary Lou couldnt hold her anger back anymore. - But now your wish comes true, because you will eat – she said, and took a slice of bread from the counter. She suddenly moved to Credence, grabbed his hair, and pulled his head backwards. Credence's mouth opened from the suprise, and his mother stuffed the slice in it. As the harsh crust of the bread slipped to his throat, Credence started to choke. His mother looked at him without any emotion on her face, then she released his hair, and covered his nose. With her other hand, she kept pushing the slice. As she cut him off from the rest of the air, Credence gasped. The bread scratched his throat, and he felt like he could vomit to the floor, and at the same time he suffocate. Warm tears poured down on his face. In the meantime she pressed down the whole slice to his throat, and cramped his mouth, to kept him from spitting it out.
- Eat! – she ordered.
Credence tried to chew the bread, but he could only rattle from the lack of air. For a few seconds, he thought, that his mother will let him suffocate, when he felt, that the bread started to dissolve from his saliva, so he could chew on it. His air lessened more and more, but he forced himself to eat. When finally he could swallow the most of it, his moher suddenly released him. His head falled forward. He gasped, while he tired to swallow the rest of the bread, and he didnt dare to look up. He felt his mother's look burning him. The tears kept falling from his eyes.
- I hope, you have had enough, and you arent hungry anymore – she said, and Credence heard on her voice, that she is smiling. – Now, lets see how many leaflets handed you out – she turned to the leaflets on the table. Credence, still gasping, slowly lifted his gaze up, and watched his mother in silence, who started to count the papers.
- Its only eighteen. You had much more at the morning. What did you do with the rest of them? – her mouth narrowed into a thin line.
- I-I los…- he muttered. He could almost feel the belt strike on him.
- Speak up, when I ask you – his mother hissed.
- I lost them. They falled out of my hands. – he blurted out finally.
- You lost them? – his mother sounded stern again. – You lost them? - she repeated. – So you are wasting my money? I feed you, dress you, giving you a place to live, and thats what you do in return? Throw away the leaflets, which were printed from my hardly earned money? – Mary Lou's voice quivered from the anger.
Credence didnt respond, but he knew what his duty is. His hands mechanically moved to his belt. He undid it with shaking hands, and placed it to his mother's outstretched palm.
- Take it off – she pointed to his shirt.
- What? – he mumbled. She rarely beat his back. Usually his pain was focused to his hands. Mary Lou didnt repeat her request. Credence took off his jacket, and unbuttoned his shirt. He placed the clothes beside him.
- Lean on it – said Mary Lou icily.
Crendence didnt say a word, he obeyed, and with outstreched arms he bend forward to the table. The fist whip suprised him, and he groaned in pain. He didnt see his mother's hand, he pressed his face to the table. The first lash was soon followed by more. The iron buckle bited to his back, and tore up his flesh. Credence clenched his teeth, and tried not to say a word, or let a whimper out. His mother didnt like when he begged. But he couldnt command to his tears. The pain was almost unbareable. It seemed like, his mother's intention was not to leave an unharmed section of skin on his back. Credence didnt even groan anymore, he just let the tears fall down from his eyes in silence. The only sound heard in the kitchen was the strike of the belt on his skin. He felt, his blood flow down warmly on his back. After long mintes – which seemed like hours for him – his mother stopped the beating, and placed the belt next to him to the table.
- Clean up the mess, then go to your room – he heard his mother's voice. – And if you dare to complain again, or you bring home a miscreant woman like that, I wont have such a mercy – she added, and left the kitchen.
Credence couldnt move for a while. He felt, like the beltbuckle reached to his spine, and tore his flesh from his back. The pain was so overwhelming, that he was afraid of fainting again. His head was still splitting, but it was nothing compared to the aching in his back. He slowly raised his head, and tried to carefully sit up. He gasped, as the burning feeling spread in his body. His blood were all over on the floor, painting red flowers to the ground. He knew, his mother will return soon to the soup, so he needed to hurry. He tried not to pay attention to the pain, as he stood up. He stumbled to the sink, watered a rag and returned to the table. He cramped his mouth, as he crouched and wiped up his blood. He tried to finish quickly, despite every movement caused horrible pain. When the blood disappeared from the floor, he washed the rag, then reached for his clothes. As he pulled on the shirt, it scrubbed his scars, and he whimpered from the pain. He took the rest of the clothes and left the kitchen. In the dining room he saw Chastity, who was busy patching one of her dress. Mary Lou and Modesty werent downstairs. His sister looked up, as she heard his steps.
- Credence…- she turned to him. Credence shaked his head, swallowed his tears, and turned to the stairs. Her voice sounded pitiful, and he wouldnt like to hear that. He didnt deal with the pain, as he walked upstairs, and entered to his room. He sat down to his bed, and as he pressed his face to a pillow, he started to cry.