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Jan. 18th, 2012 10:15 pmThe first time, he was eleven years old, and with the help of Kassim and the other friendly residents of the slums, Alibaba had managed to build himself a remarkably nice sort of life. Though there had initially been some worry over whether or not Alibaba’s gentle spirit could survive the trauma of losing his mother and being turned out, but he had managed to pleasantly surprise the whole alley by thriving in the harsh reality of the streets. With every year, he grew a little bigger, and his smile a little brighter. Admittedly, he was still prone to crying, though anyone who thought to comment on that often found themselves with Kassim’s fist in their face.
It happened in the evening; Alibaba had just escorted a young couple back to their in. It wasn’t a fancy hotel, but it was known for discretion—so long as there was no blood, the innkeeper didn’t care what his clientele did. Harlots were known to frequent this area, looking for a client who was in the mood. It was here he ran into Sana, an old acquaintance of his mother’s. She had entered into the business a few years after his mother had, but the business hadn’t been kind to her. Alibaba could vaguely remember her being quite pretty, quite popular, but he didn’t remember the pockmarks on her cheeks.
Sana cooed over him, fawning over Anise’s dear boy. She had a son herself—but he hadn’t survived. Seeing Anise’s dear boy made her a little sad, thinking about her lost child, but it was good to see that Alibaba had managed to take care of himself. Alibaba fussed at the attention—he wasn’t a baby anymore!
“Of course not,” Sana said, smiling in a knowing way. “You’re almost a man, now, aren’t you! Or,” she said, a sly grin crawling over her lips, “Are you one already? Alibaba dear, if you want, we can make you one tonight.” The comment was mostly joking, but Sana would have gladly helped out Anise’s dear boy if he needed. Either way, the comment was enough to make Alibaba choke and freeze up, panic clear in his eyes. Sana kindly held back her laughter, tugging on his cowlick before letting him go. Alibaba, unable to think properly and terrified, quickly stuttered out a goodbye before dashing back, back to the alley and the safety of his tent.
Time passed. A week later, Alibaba would be on his way to the palace; a year later, Sana would be buried, victim to the plague that would also take Mariam and so many others.
It happened in the evening; Alibaba had just escorted a young couple back to their in. It wasn’t a fancy hotel, but it was known for discretion—so long as there was no blood, the innkeeper didn’t care what his clientele did. Harlots were known to frequent this area, looking for a client who was in the mood. It was here he ran into Sana, an old acquaintance of his mother’s. She had entered into the business a few years after his mother had, but the business hadn’t been kind to her. Alibaba could vaguely remember her being quite pretty, quite popular, but he didn’t remember the pockmarks on her cheeks.
Sana cooed over him, fawning over Anise’s dear boy. She had a son herself—but he hadn’t survived. Seeing Anise’s dear boy made her a little sad, thinking about her lost child, but it was good to see that Alibaba had managed to take care of himself. Alibaba fussed at the attention—he wasn’t a baby anymore!
“Of course not,” Sana said, smiling in a knowing way. “You’re almost a man, now, aren’t you! Or,” she said, a sly grin crawling over her lips, “Are you one already? Alibaba dear, if you want, we can make you one tonight.” The comment was mostly joking, but Sana would have gladly helped out Anise’s dear boy if he needed. Either way, the comment was enough to make Alibaba choke and freeze up, panic clear in his eyes. Sana kindly held back her laughter, tugging on his cowlick before letting him go. Alibaba, unable to think properly and terrified, quickly stuttered out a goodbye before dashing back, back to the alley and the safety of his tent.
Time passed. A week later, Alibaba would be on his way to the palace; a year later, Sana would be buried, victim to the plague that would also take Mariam and so many others.
