Drabble: Hungry for Honey
Title: Hungry for Honey (300 words)
Author: jack_cowboy
Date: 20 Oct 2008
Universe: Gotham Newsies
Challenge: #1, 'food'
Autumn was lovely, but in spite of the warm day, Jack found himself shivering. He stood alone watching as the other Newsies danced. He'd helped design their routine that made the most of fall, skilled, kicking feet made colorful showers of crisp leaves.
Jack couldn't force himself to join in, although the dancing and singing drew him. He worried over the hardship of winter, when hunger increased and food seemed more scarce. His own appetite shamed him. The other guys never seemed cranky when a lack of grub made bellies growl like bears fresh from hibernation.
Jack could keep good humor most of the time, but hunger seemed his downfall...
He might never have given in to sticky fingers, had he not been famished and anxious. Guilt may have given him away, hurrying out with apples hidden in both fists, but more likely it was cramming down the food just outside the market. He'd barely had time to swallow before caught.
Life in The Refuge had been another hungry lesson. Donors (like the Wayne Foundation), worked hard to feed incarcerated youth, but to no avail. Like Arkam Asylum, The Refuge was 'tradition' -- and no amount of effort could close it. Though Jack wanted to be the one sharing his meager morsels with 'the little guys,' the situation was usually reversed. Jack prided himself on looking out for his fellow Newsies (and other needy boys he encountered), yet his belly always seemed to win the battle with his conscience.
Hadn't a nun once told him that gluttony was a sin? Would he go to hell for this sin?
Maybe so. But he knew in his heart that he'd never pass up a slice of heavily buttered bread -- especially if it was smothered in a thick coat of honey.
(This was hard, but fun! I can't wait to try another one...)
Author: jack_cowboy
Date: 20 Oct 2008
Universe: Gotham Newsies
Challenge: #1, 'food'
Autumn was lovely, but in spite of the warm day, Jack found himself shivering. He stood alone watching as the other Newsies danced. He'd helped design their routine that made the most of fall, skilled, kicking feet made colorful showers of crisp leaves.
Jack couldn't force himself to join in, although the dancing and singing drew him. He worried over the hardship of winter, when hunger increased and food seemed more scarce. His own appetite shamed him. The other guys never seemed cranky when a lack of grub made bellies growl like bears fresh from hibernation.
Jack could keep good humor most of the time, but hunger seemed his downfall...
He might never have given in to sticky fingers, had he not been famished and anxious. Guilt may have given him away, hurrying out with apples hidden in both fists, but more likely it was cramming down the food just outside the market. He'd barely had time to swallow before caught.
Life in The Refuge had been another hungry lesson. Donors (like the Wayne Foundation), worked hard to feed incarcerated youth, but to no avail. Like Arkam Asylum, The Refuge was 'tradition' -- and no amount of effort could close it. Though Jack wanted to be the one sharing his meager morsels with 'the little guys,' the situation was usually reversed. Jack prided himself on looking out for his fellow Newsies (and other needy boys he encountered), yet his belly always seemed to win the battle with his conscience.
Hadn't a nun once told him that gluttony was a sin? Would he go to hell for this sin?
Maybe so. But he knew in his heart that he'd never pass up a slice of heavily buttered bread -- especially if it was smothered in a thick coat of honey.
(This was hard, but fun! I can't wait to try another one...)