Chapter 11

I peruse the market and purchase some non-perishables such as oats and tea. I then continue on to get bread, enough to see us to Saturday in a house of nine residence, as well as some for Mrs Stanley as promised. I even managed to get some pickled meats and pickled vegetables. We wandered for a little while longer until we found ourselves at James' fruit and veg stall.

"Edward! How's the apprenticeship going?" James asks as he serves a customer in front of us.

"It's going well, thanks for asking. How are you? Has Vicky given birth yet?" I ask as I browse his selection for the end of the day.

"No, not yet!" He shouts as he rummages around underneath his stall to grab an empty pallet. "Any day now, though." He says, coming over to serve us. "What can I get for ya?" He asks. I peruse his selection.

"What can I get for tuppence?" I ask. James smiles and picks up his crate again.

"Let me see what I can do for you!" He says as he flies around his stall. As he's busy at work, Emmett and Jasper, and Sam and Alec appear, coming round the corner with a good armful of stuff each.

"Eddie, we finished!" Alec exclaims. I chuckle. Sam's personality is really wearing off on Alec.

"Thats great!" I smile at the little ones. I look back at Emmett and Jasper. "How'd it go?" I ask as I spy Rose and Royce slinking around the corner.

"Yeah, good, I guess." Emmett said. "We managed to get half a bag of flour and some sugar cane, so Mum should be able to make some sort of pastry, I guess." His arm is twitching. He must be coming down.

Jasper chimed in. "Yeh, we managed to get some apple butter and some honey...its not much but it could be good." Another twitcher.

Royce and Rose lingered around the edge of the group. "So, what did you guys get?" I asked. Rose pulled out an opaque glass jar.

"Out of date jam, but it should still be good if you scrape off the mould. Got four of them." She mumbled. I sighed. Not bad at all. Everyone had done well. I turn back to James as a crate of fruit and veg was being thrust over the stall.

"There you go, Ed!"

"James, there's way more than a couple pennies worth here," I state as I look at what he'd provided. A little bit of everything.

Sure, some bits had mould but you just eat around them.

"It's not like it'll keep for tomorrow!" He says with his familiar smile. I smile back as I hand him coins.

"Thank you, James. And say hello to Vicky for us!" I pick up the crate with some effort. "And remember, if I can help in any way when the time comes, you know where I am!" I say loudly as we all begin the walk home.