Post by Elysia Gallagher O'Broin on Oct 3, 2010 17:57:53 GMT -5
As cold was Maryland was in early October, it still didn't warrant that one pair of boots she kept in the pack resting by her feet as she rocked back and forth on them. People stared at the strange girl as she sang, garbed in (from what they could see) only a thick jacket and a pair of denim shorts, a small pot and wooden spoon clutched in her hands; some dropped a few coins in the hat as they hurried past, and she flashed them a dreamy smile, while still other gawked openly. And then there were those who would shake their heads in pity as they took in the sight of such a young and pretty girl rendered homeless and quite mad.
Elly didn't care much for those people outside of the precious coin they dropped in her hat and just kept singing, her voice a smooth and low Alto.
"His eyes they closed and his last breath spoke, he had seen all to be seen," she crooned, starting onto another song once she had run out lyrics for the previous. A mother ushered her child away from the strange bare-footed girl, but she paid them no heed as she went on. "Walk away me boys, walk away me boys! And by morning we'll be free...wipe that golden tear from your mother dear and raise what's left of the flag for me!"
She paused dramatically for effect, so that the passersby would forget her altogether, before upping the tempo ("Then the rosary beads, count them one two three, fell apart as they hit the floor!") and banging on the pot with the spoon in three quick, sucessive CLANGS! The nearest of her listeners started and stared at her with wide eyes as if they thought she would attack. When she just kept singing and smiling, they heaved small breaths of relief and hurried on.
It seemed to her that there were even fewer people who listened to what was supposed to be the story of their supposed saviors these days, but then again she did look like a homeless girl banging on a pot. Then there was the fact that the words weren't exactly her own (because whenever she sang for her supper, it was a borrowed song she used), but it worked. Too bad though that it was the real Prophets who were termed insane and left to wander the streets, muttering on and on about what they Saw, until they either starved or froze to death, with none of the Heavenly Help that protected them from the forces of Darkness. And God forbid any of them think to turn their visions into something of monetary value; they couldn't ALL be as smart as Chuck Shurley...
Twining a tangled curl around a finger, Elly smiled up at the sky with crinkled blue eyes. Yes, she appeared to share the same fate as many of her fellows, but the one difference was the lone bank card stuffed in her back pocket in case she couldn't earn enough for a sandwich. Ma and Da were smart in thinking ahead.
"...wipe that golden tear from your mother dear and raise what's left of the flag for me!
Elly didn't care much for those people outside of the precious coin they dropped in her hat and just kept singing, her voice a smooth and low Alto.
"His eyes they closed and his last breath spoke, he had seen all to be seen," she crooned, starting onto another song once she had run out lyrics for the previous. A mother ushered her child away from the strange bare-footed girl, but she paid them no heed as she went on. "Walk away me boys, walk away me boys! And by morning we'll be free...wipe that golden tear from your mother dear and raise what's left of the flag for me!"
She paused dramatically for effect, so that the passersby would forget her altogether, before upping the tempo ("Then the rosary beads, count them one two three, fell apart as they hit the floor!") and banging on the pot with the spoon in three quick, sucessive CLANGS! The nearest of her listeners started and stared at her with wide eyes as if they thought she would attack. When she just kept singing and smiling, they heaved small breaths of relief and hurried on.
It seemed to her that there were even fewer people who listened to what was supposed to be the story of their supposed saviors these days, but then again she did look like a homeless girl banging on a pot. Then there was the fact that the words weren't exactly her own (because whenever she sang for her supper, it was a borrowed song she used), but it worked. Too bad though that it was the real Prophets who were termed insane and left to wander the streets, muttering on and on about what they Saw, until they either starved or froze to death, with none of the Heavenly Help that protected them from the forces of Darkness. And God forbid any of them think to turn their visions into something of monetary value; they couldn't ALL be as smart as Chuck Shurley...
Twining a tangled curl around a finger, Elly smiled up at the sky with crinkled blue eyes. Yes, she appeared to share the same fate as many of her fellows, but the one difference was the lone bank card stuffed in her back pocket in case she couldn't earn enough for a sandwich. Ma and Da were smart in thinking ahead.
"...wipe that golden tear from your mother dear and raise what's left of the flag for me!
