37. Cabbages(150)
"Why do I have to do this?"
His father's lips twisted into a snarl; his callused hand streaked across the boy's cheek. "There's a war going on, boy. If you're not going to fight, then at least make yourself useful selling cabbages."
At seventeen years old, lacking other occupational skills, he left the village, peddling cabbages in war camps near home. People started calling him "the cabbage man." Twice in one year, he got robbed on the road and had to return to his father to beg for money.
At thirty, he left the village for good. At forty, famine plagued the Earth Kingdom. Cabbages grew scarce, increasing in value but decreasing in quality. At forty-five, he resolved to save up by selling cabbages in big cities like Omashu.
He didn't know, then, that changes in the tide of the war would make it a miserable year for selling cabbages.
38. Gaoling
The tournaments in Gaoling provided a steady flow of customers. Few people set up shop outside the earthbending arena, probably to avoid being prosecuted(dueling wasn't illegal in Gaoling, but gambling was).
For a time, business flourished. People gathered weekly in the arena to bet and cheer for the competitors. One day, he met the Blind Bandit in a most unexpected way.
"Move!" she shouted, barreling down the path atop a boulder, headed straight for him.
"Watch out!"
The girl collided with his cart, smashing it to bits. Cabbages fell everywhere, like severed heads.
His shout echoed through Gaoling. "My cabbages!"
39. Farewells
Her name was Ming.
The first time she'd come, they'd exchanged pleasantries. On the second, smiles. The third, anecdotes about their youth, their work.
"You know," she said one day. "I still don't know your real name."
He shrugged.
"Are you going to tell me your name?"
He hesitated, glancing at his cart of cabbages. "No."
"Why not?"
"If I told you . . . I'd have a reason to stay. And I have to keep traveling."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"No." He smiled ruefully, then pushed his cart down the street, leaving her behind. "Love never makes sense."