Rosetta Claire
A parallel plot from the short story The Mouse (By Saki), as told in the perspective of the woman (Who was left unnamed, so I named her Rosetta Claire).
“HONK HONK!” I gave a lethargic sigh as the honking horn of a passing car startled me from my slumbers. I laid in bed for a little more, tucked under my sheets. This was a day I was excited for, but also dreaded… Once a week I head to my sister’s house to “catch up”, but I know she really just wants to make sure I’m doing alright. I love my sister, Arline James, as well as her husband, Chester James. One thing, however, rather ticks me off. They’re very, very… how do I say this, protective. Assuming I stayed in bed long enough, I got up and dressed myself for the day. I left my complex without any breakfast and cautiously headed down the stairway. On my way out I ran into a couple of friends, and they gave me a brief greeting,
“Lov- Good morning, Ms. Claire.” He was about to say, “lovely morning, isn’t it?” but caught himself before doing so. I hate it when people do things like that. I was about to respond when his wife chimed in,
“Rosetta, so lovely to see you again dear. Are you doing alright? Need anything?” She asked me, her tone was soft and sheeted most of the worry. Most. I grow rather annoyed at how people treat me like that. I wanted so badly to say,
“I’m not helpless.” But I know better and hold my tongue. Instead, I simply replied with a straight-forward, yet gentle, response.
“Yes, Mrs. Jess, lovely running into you as well. Thank you for asking, but I’m doing well. Just off to visit my sister now.” We parted ways not long after. I left the building and slowly walked towards the train station. I knew the way there by heart but ran my fingertips along the firm brick walls of the buildings for extra precautions. It was never a long walk to the station, but in my condition, it took what felt like ages. About halfway there, my stomach growled, reminding myself I had skipped breakfast.
“Excuse me?” I tapped the shoulder of the one closest by and asked,
“Do you mind telling me what time it is? I fear I do not have a watch…” To which the kind man responded.
“Five till’ Eight ma’am.” He left and I stood there thinking for a moment.
“Oh dear… I left the house 2 hours earlier than intended… I suppose I didn’t wake up late, but rather early...” I thought to myself, though I did not view this as a bad thing.
“There is a cafe on the way to the station… Arline took me there once. I suppose I could grab a bite before the train...” I murmured aloud and began heading that way.
From what I could tell the cafe was not too crowded. I ran my tips along the wall and waited until someone called me up to order. When they did so I went up and ordered a simple toast and cup of tea. I found myself a table to sit at and waited for my order to be ready. When I was called up, I eagerly stood up and, without thinking, started walking towards the counter.
“Hey watch it, Ma’am!” A voice cried out; I barely took notice as I tried to balance myself. Once steady, I heard silence… However, I could feel every pair of eyes on me. It took me a moment to realize I had run into someone, causing them to drop their food. Nervously, I apologized as quickly as my mouth would allow.
“Sir, I am so sorry.” I turned to face him, although I wish I hadn’t. He then responded in the very familiar sound of pity and understanding in his tone,
“It’s alright ma’am. You didn’t see me. Let me clean this up, don’t worry about it.” Despite the way his tone changed, I apologized once more before sitting back down with a small sigh. When my name was called again for the food the man I ran into asked if it was mine, when I nodded my head, I heard the silverware being placed before me.
“Thank you, and I’m sorry again.” I said in the most respectful manner I could conjure up, despite thinking,
“I could have gotten that myself…” He said you're welcome and told me not to worry about it. I decided to make haste in eating my meal and once done I paid for the food and rushed to the train station.
I got to the station just in time, I slipped on in and found myself in a compartment which was completely empty. Now normally, I don’t care much for sleeping on trains with thieves around and all that. I never know who may or may not take advantage of me, however, I was so tired that the moment I sat down I was lulled into a deep slumber.
“THUD” My eyes bolted awake at the sound of a thump. As the train was still moving, I knew we hadn’t arrived yet, so I decided to find out what the sudden sound was. A moment passed and I realized I was no longer alone in the miniature room. I located the boy quickly and pretended to stare at him.
“I think I have caught a chill.” The man said, to which I responded.
"Really, I'm sorry. I was just going to ask you if you would open this window." What would he do? Treat me like all the others and do it for me…? Much to my hidden shock he continued,
“I fancy it's malaria.” At this, I offered to get him something for it but decided to test him again. Test him and see if he’d do me a favor out of pity. I spoke.
“"I've got some brandy in my holdall, if you'll kindly reach it down for me.” He said he couldn’t accept something to help with it. He certainly is… strange. We spoke of the tropics a bit, as I asked if that is where he got the malaria when suddenly he asked an odd question…
“Are you afraid of mice?" To which I responded,
"Not unless they came in quantities. Why do you ask?" The man began telling his humorous story of the mouse in his clothes and I had to try very hard to keep a straight face. I eventually asked the man,
“Surely leaving off one small mouse wouldn't bring on a chill," Something about men being confused is… entertaining, I’m not sure what it is. We sat in silence for a while longer before I pointed out,
“I think we must be getting near now.” After that I heard a great deal of rustling as the man scattered around doing something. I asked the man to get me something once more, not as a test but as a genuine favor.
“Would you be so kind as to get me a porter to put me into a cab? It's a shame to trouble you when you're feeling unwell but being blind makes one so helpless at a railway station.” From the long silence which followed, I could tell he had no clue. I very much liked that. Never once did he make an obvious reminder of my blindness.