Grenouille Market

1. A Penny for Your Thoughts



The teenager of caramel hair, honey colored eyes and perky lips strolled down the street, whistling. He kicked a small rock away, observing the old buildings and the parked cars as he guessed the automobile’s model just by looking at the brand on the tires.

He came a bit later than usual from school, chit chat distracted him, combined with his chicken and corn sandwich. His friends had already gone their separate ways, each one wearing the hideous black uniform of Carrington University. He sighed, thinking about his comfy sofa waiting at home.

A whimper reached his ears and he stopped dead in his tracks. He swirled around on the spot, listening to his surroundings. Did I hear wrong?

Another cry echoed on the deadly silent street. Only a partially deaf old lady, unfortunately his neighbor, walked slowly by, with the cat food plastic bag held tightly in her wrinkled hand.

He heard muffled sounds from a close alley. He paused. Ten seconds or so after, he marched towards the breech between the yellow and white building.

What was he doing, acting heroic and courageous now?
He hesitated at first, ruffling his hair, the almost deserted streets giving little comfort to what he would face or discover. He inhaled and marched into the dirty corner.

A sobbing kid shrank against the nearby pile of garbage bags and brown card boxes, two considerably bigger men intimidating the poor guy.

Damn it, he hoped not to see something like this. Witnessing a couple secretly having sex would definitely be a lot easier to leave without getting a guilty consciousness.

No, wait. What was he thinking? He couldn’t leave the other there, he needed to do something. He frowned, walking further in and his hands clenched around his canvas bag subconsciously. Dangerous, insane, those were the first words that came to him as he reflected upon his actions, imagining his dead mutilated body covering the sixth o’clock news.

“Where is it?!” spited the bulkiest guy, soldier cut brown hair, fists angrily gesturing in the air.

“Please, please, let me go!” the boy pleaded, shedding tears down his pale cheeks. He had white hair and bright violet eyes, a satchel bag gripped tightly between his skinny arms.

“Let you go?” the second guy, greasy black hair, yellowed skin and crooked smile grinned slyly which made the whipping male increase his frightened hiccup sounds.

“Hey!” Sean, the blond teenager yelled, feeling braver than his actual anxious self.

The two men turned around, the boy peeked but dared not move, and the three noticed the new presence in the concealed alley.

“What do you think you’re doing? Let him go now, I’m calling the police!” he hissed determinedly. His arms tensed and a flood of pure adrenaline swept his body and screamed at him to run. No, he wouldn’t run, that was already predetermined.

The atmosphere seemed to darken on cue. The two men exchanged glances before smiling at their blubbering prey.

“It seems you have a hero to save you this time, rabbit! We’ll come again, and next time we won’t be as merciful…” the muscular one snarled, harshly bumping into Sean as they exited the alley, narrowing his eyes threateningly.

The teen sighed in relief, tousling his hair out of nervousness one more time. He never expected such an easy outcome but praying to whoever was up there seemed to do the job.

The white haired kid slipped to the ground with a runny nose, trembling but cleaning his tears. “Thank you! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!” the kid mumbled breathlessly, hugging his savior. Sean was a bit shocked, speechless.

“Err, no problem i-it happens,” the male replied awkwardly, patting a shoulder in comfort. He noticed the other’s trousers were drenched from the muddy water on the ground.

“You’re a really nice human!” the big eyed boy commented, his eyes even wider in their almond shape, gazing like a… well, like a rabbit.

“Uh, hmm…” the blond didn’t respond to the strange words. Wouldn’t everyone do the same if presented with such situation? Probably not, the situation was quite dangerous. And why was I addressed as a human?

“Here,” the kid started groping all his pockets in search for something. Sean’s eyebrows knitted but he quickly muttered a curse as he realized he was about to be paid. He didn’t even want a reward.

With an enthusiastic face, the rabbit boy finally found what he was searching with an excited “Ahah!” and stretched his closed hand to the other’s chest, obliging him to accept his offer.

“No, I can’t take it. I don’t want anything, really, consider it a good deed,” the caramel haired guy shook his head, pushing the hand back and vaguely recognizing the clicking sound of coins. Money compensation. He sighed at this mentally.

The kid seemed to slump when he heard it but fought hard against it, with trembling lip and pleading eyes, seeing his savior refuse his gift. “Please, please accept it!” he whined, insisting unwaveringly.

“Huh…” the teenager didn’t know what to do. Should he really accept the coins? What he did was not a heroic act, they would both be in a mess if it didn’t work. Besides, he didn’t want the kid’s money, it was most likely his allowance and as someone who passed through that early stage, the blond knew it probably wasn’t much to begin with.

“Please, please, just one!” the child persisted firmly.

“Fine, but only one,” Sean sighed, admitting defeat and opening his hand where a single coin fell lightly. It was only a coin, no harm done. Although he felt reluctant to accept it, he decided to guard it instead of using it. “Thanks,” he said, offering a small smile.

“My name is Peter Rabbit, thank you for your help. Really! If there’s anything you need, just call me and I’ll come,” the boy replied happily. The teen arched an eyebrow at the cheery attitude but said nothing.

“I’m Sean,” he glanced once again to the penny, quickly gaining warm from his hand and the characteristic metal scent probably impregnating his fingers. “Pleasure to meet y…” the sentence died on his lips as he looked in front, no white haired Peter in sight.

Where did the kid go? He twirled in every direction but no sound or movement showed that Peter had just suddenly disappeared from the alley. Confused, he waited a couple of seconds before shrugging his shoulders, returning to his previous route towards home. No harm done on his part.

He started whistling again, a few old grannies crossed his path, whispering about the latest gossips and pout porrie. Sometimes a suited man or woman rushed by to whatever important meeting they had to attend and Sean felt lucky for being a teenager still.

He flipped the penny in his hand, watching the sidewalk to avoid any major accidents with dog poop or “dejected-piles-of-modified-food” as his mother called it. He threw the coin to the air a couple of times, higher and bolder with each toss.

“So, young lad, are you going to put me into good use or shall I continue to sleep and ignore your rude endeavor, which is making me feel rather unwell?” a heavy accented, male voice spoke, bordering on arrogance or pompousness.

“What?” Sean jumped in alert, twirling around but only a frowning woman, watering her flowers in her far away balcony narrowed her eyes at his behavior.

“Young man, do not ignore me! Me, Sir Rodd of Salinger Abraham!” the voice spoke once again and the blond frantically observed the streets, suspecting everything, even the Rottweiler dog snoring in the tiny garden, behind a fence a few steps away. Dear god, it is, theoretically speaking, very bad if I start hearing voices out of thin air.

“Sir! Sir! Over here for God’s sake!” the blond heard the words clearly and looked down at his fisted hand, the coin tickled his skin and something brushed his palm.

No. It can’t be.