knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers

[numberhuang]

It has been three whole days since I arrived in Darrow. Three days by my watch — which, maybe if I'm dreaming then I can't trust my watch — but it feels like three days and that is three days too many to be trapped somewhere without my family. I have read all the literature. I have searched for things online. I have talked to many people, some that didn't know anything and wasted all of my time. I have rented cars and called taxis and tried everything that won't take the money that I keep aside to make sure that I can eat regularly.

There is not much of that money. If I am to believe the things that people tell me about Darrow, then I might be here for a very long time. I might be here for months, or even years. That is more than enough time that I should start thinking about a job, maybe two if I want to keep spending money on finding a way out of this place. I know that this would be the sensible thing to do, that anything else is risky at this point because I know too little. Above all, I have to survive, otherwise there is no point in trying to go home.

I had a checklist written for today. I would spend five hours looking for a way out and three hours researching which jobs are profitable enough for me in Darrow given my skills. I already applied to a dozen jobs that are data entry, very boring, but I am very organized and efficient so maybe I can use the extra time at work to continue looking at the internet.

Three hours of research, done. That means five hours that I should keep looking and learning about Darrow. I am walking back to my apartment, my very empty apartment that gives me nightmares every night, and I have some papers from the library that I want to read when I get back. But then I hear some people laughing, and I turn and I see a restaurant that has many people in it. I can hear people chatting and I think somebody is singing, and after I spent a whole day by myself I almost miss being in a crowd no matter how obnoxious.

Also there's a sign that lists the kinds of wines that they sell.

That is all the convincing I need.

I make my way to the bar of the restaurant and sit myself down. There are some people who were waiting for a spot and they glare at me but I don't care, if they wanted a seat so badly they should have tried harder to get it themselves.

"Can somebody get me a menu?" I ask, dropping my papers and books next to my stool.

Comments

[puckandpie]

It's pretty busy at Semele's for a Tuesday afternoon, but not overly so. It's enough to keep me on my feet, keep me focused on each order as it comes in, but not so busy that I can't deliver some of the pies on my own. That's something I honestly love to do if i have the chance, to meet the people I'm baking for, even if only briefly. And I feel like maybe they like being able to see the face of the person who's made their pie, too.

Or maybe I'm just telling myself that to make it not feel so selfish. Probably doesn't matter in the long run.

I'm just on the way back from delivering a slice of warm cherry pie à la mode to a regular who may or may not be a vampire (I'm too nervous to ask) when I notice a new face at the bar. She looks weary, like she's at the tail end of a really long day. Kira's busy on the other side of the bar so I quickly pop behind the counter to pull a menu out from underneath, sliding it over.

"Hi, welcome to Semele's!" I tell her, giving her my best warm smile. "It's not in there, but the pies for the day are cherry, peach, and apple cobbler. Plus, I think I've still got a batch of snickerdoodles if that catches your fancy."