The cupboards and shelves were nearly empty once again...the same condition as Matt's pockets.
She had nearly gone through the money Papa had set aside before his death, though she'd been careful. It had been years since their deaths, and Matt had only come into contact with other beings when she needed to buy food, or other such things.
People...people are frightening things. You never know which ones to love, to trust, or to turn away from. In the end, you can think someone entirely worthy of your trust and they would break you. Completely. But, when it comes to eating or not, Matt could handle a few moments to pay for what she needed.
But now that it was getting harder to pay for anything, she'd need a job. "What can I even do?" She wondered silently as she sat against the wall of her small living-space.
"Well, if'n ye ever be needin' a place t' werk, come'n find me. Always hev room fer more hands," she could hear the kind woman's voice in her head. She'd never done much baking.
Always spent more time with Papa, doing things outside, than the tasks Mama wanted her to do. "You'll be better prepared for when you're a wife, love," she'd always said, pleading. Matt had always snorted and gave her lopsided, carefree grin. "Like that is ever going to happen."
Mat had to stop this. Stop remembering. She had to go find the baker.
Later that day, Mat hurried over to where the woman said her house was. Her head was down and she hugged her middle tighter by the second, but she always kept an eye around her surroundings.
After finding her destination, and speaking to the warm motherly soul for a little while, the woman sighed softly before giving a final answer. " 'Fore I hire ye...I'm 'fraid yer gonna haft' learn how t' deal wi' th' folks who'll come in t' buy m' food," she said carefully, as if each word pained her.
Matt froze at her words. "How...to deal with...No. I can't do that! There will be all kinds of buyers! Even..." She shook her head and forced a smile to her face. "I...uh...well..of...of course." "You need this job, Matt. You need to eat." The woman looked at her, her gaze soft. Pity. Matt saw it in her eyes and her fists clenched behind her back immediately. She hated when people pitied her. "Why? You are a pitiful existence." "Shut up!"
She forced her hands to unclench and held them in front of herself as she looked at the woman. "I'll...uh...I'll get better...I need...this...this job..." She could only hold her gaze to the woman's for a moment, before looking down. "Well, good t' hear. When ye cen handle it...come talk t' me. I'll always hev a job fer ye." A pause. "I know wha' happe-..."
Matt tensed, straightening. "Thank you. I'll...I'll be getting...home now..." She nearly ran out of the house.
She needed that job. Enough to learn how to speak to people. Food wouldn't matter, but she had to live.
She only lived for them. They would want her to.
