those you've pained may carry that still with them (intro)

[bemystory]

Wendla's not sure where she is at first. She remembers being ripped from her mama's arms, remembers the doctor's office and all its scary apparatuses, and—now?

She's in the middle of what appears to be a large Plaza, with people milling about, talking to each other, going about their daily lives.

The teenage girl steps forward towards a stranger, for a moment, about to speak, but she's shy, and thus withdraws, wringing her hands nervously. She's still in her nightgown, with a shawl around her neck that makes her look quite out of place and time—because she is, in a way.

Still, she sees the pamphlets strewn about, telling her about this place, and now she knows she has to say something, to ask something.

So Wendla gathers herself, and asks:

"Excuse me, I'm very hungry. Where can I find something to eat?"

Comments

[bemystory]

Wendla eyes him carefully. Her mama was very strict about not talking to strangers, but she figures that since she's here, and he seems kind enough and nonthreatening, she might as well ask him for some help.

"Yes, I'm new here," she says, nodding. "I only just arrived and I'm very confused. I read the pamphlets, but..."

[alittlehinky]

"Everyone's confused at first," he tells her. "I hid in the park for hours before I even stepped out to talk to folks."

"You might be dreamin'," he adds. "Some people get here that way. Some people just step through th' wrong door, and some people die and get some extra time here before they go on to the afterlife, so far's I can tell."

"I don't mind buyin' you something to eat if you want. Or groceries, only you're gonna need a place to cook 'em if you want that. But you're gonna have to wait a minute, 'cause I can't stand up on my own and I'm waitin' for my dog to come back and help."

[bemystory]

"I hope I'm dreaming," Wendla replies, wringing her hands again. "And I can wait, sir, please, don't worry too much about me. I can certainly wait."

She feels a little bad, frankly.

[alittlehinky]

"Well, if you ain't, and you get stuck here, don't be scared. It can be a good place."

...it can also be dangerous and weird, but she can hear about that later, when she's not already frightened and homesick.

"You don't mind dogs, I hope?" Willie is not actually a dog, but she looks like one, so he'll forego the explanation about Pokemon for the moment. "Here she comes; she's huge, but she wouldn't hurt a fly."

He gestures down the street, where his pet approaches. She's about the size of a pony, but looks very much like an oversized terrier, all long silky fur braided with multicolored ribbons. There are barrettes clipped into the tufts at her ears, shaped like pumpkins to match Cricket's shirt. There's also a saddle on the pup's back, and she's carrying a messenger bag in her teeth.

The bag gets dropped into Cricket's lap as she comes to a halt, and her tail wags enthusiastically.

"Willie, this is a new friend," he begins, then blinks at Wendla. "Sorry, ma'am, I didn't get your name yet. I'm Cricket."

[bemystory]

"Oh!" Wendla exclaims, at the sight of Willie. "She's very...big." Not so big that she's frightened, just a little surprised.

"Sorry, sir, I should have introduced myself. My name is Wendla," she says, the "W" in her name pronounced like a "V".

"It is nice to meet you, Cricket."

[alittlehinky]

"Yeah, she hit a growth spurt not long ago," Cricket gives a lopsided grin and scratches behind his pet's ears.

He seems a little surprised by the 'sir', but doesn't object, offering her a handshake. "Pleasure to meet you, too, Wendla. Tell you what, let's get you somethin' from a restaurant and then we can see about a place for you to stay while you're here."

It appears to take a lot of upper body strength for him to pull himself up onto Willie's back, where he sits side-saddle like a lady on horseback. Once he's there, though, the pup makes so bold as to nudge her head against Wendla's arm for pets.

[bemystory]

Wendla smiles a little and shakes his hand, however loosely. It's not really a practice she's used to, being a teenage girl from provincial Germany.

"Oh, she's so sweet," she says, petting Willie gently. "She's not frightening at all. I shouldn't have been scared."

[alittlehinky]

"Nah, ain't a mean bone in her body." Cricket smiles. "When she was little, she used to like wearing little hats and costumes. The ones she had don't fit her so well now, but she likes it when I put ribbons in her hair and whatnot."

Willie is basically an oversized prissy princess, is what he means.

He nudges the pup gently and points the way he wants to go, and she moves off at a leisurely pace, glancing back with a wagging tail to make sure Wendla is coming, too. "Reckon we'll just go to this diner I know," he says. "It's close, and they have all kinds of food. Not sure what you're used to, or if you got any dietary restrictions or whatever. Most people seem to be good with pancakes, no matter what."

"You mind telling me when you come from? And where?"

[bemystory]

Wendla's stomach grumbles. Pancakes sound very good right about now to her.

"I'm from Germany," she says. "And when? Do you mean what year? I'm from 1891."

She looks around her as she follows Cricket and Willie, trying not to gawk at the other people milling about, going on errands, and so forth. This is still all so new to her.

[alittlehinky]

"That's right," he nods and smiles encouragingly. "Germany, huh? Ain't been there. I'm from America. It was 1931 last time I was there. People from all kinds of times and places end up here. It's gonna seem weird, but most folks are friendly."

Willie deliberately keeps her pace easy so the girl on foot has less trouble keeping up. It's only a few dozen yards and around a corner before they get to the diner.

"Sorry t'ask," he says to Wendla, "but would you mind holding the door for me? Only it's tricky while I'm on Willie's back."

[bemystory]

"America! That must be so exciting," she says, clearly impressed. "And yes, of course I can hold the door for you, it's truly no problem at all."

She's pretty much really excited for those pancakes, Cricket. This diner had better be good.

When they get to the diner, she grabs the door and holds it open, just as she said she would. She smiles a little at Willie, obviously charmed by her.