Ellen, Gladys and Rooster

The entire neighborhood opened the windows while she was playing her flute. Listening carefully to the music, it was a quiet audience. Ellen would have accepted even the smallest contribution, even some coins thrown directly from the floors to the street. But no one thought about giving her money. They were simply enjoying music. Damn! Their big smiles and their hands clapping in sync weren’t enough to eat. Because the only thing Ellen was wondering about was how she would feed her dog Gladys, its puppy and Rooster, the white cockatoo on her shoulder.

The day went by. The late spring sun made its path through the sky, smoothly enlightening the stones of the small city she was stuck in. Despite the good weather, short with money and concerned by the toothache of Gladys, it wasn’t a good day for the runaway girl. Ellen needed cash for the vet. More money to spend that she didn’t have. As she started playing a new piece of music, the shores she wanted to go to were fading away.

She was traveling with Gladys since the day they had met at a train station, two states away. It was love at first sight, a mutual comprehension without words between them. They never left each other’s side, except for one night when the dog disappeared. Ellen was devastated. Fortunately, Gladys came back the morning after and two months later, she gave birth to a bunch of balls of fur. The road isn’t a place for innocent little creatures. Reluctantly, Ellen kept one and gave away the others to a nice old lady. The mama dog knew that it was impossible to keep them, but it took several weeks before she forgave Ellen. It was like that between them: everyone was free and accepted the price of it.

At nineteen, Ellen already knew a lot about life. Wandering in the streets, she had to fight to stand her ground. The long curly dark hair and the green river eyes were a target for predators hunting at night. These prowlers thought that a kind face was the sign of a weak soul. They were wrong. A lot of things could have made her fall into dangerous behaviors, but not once, the young girl abandoned her principles: living freely without violence, surrounded by music and her loving animals. Gladys was a real help and even Rooster, always on her shoulder, did his part. The white parrot was gifted to her by her parents, the day before she left home. The bird was a good way to get attention when she was begging in the street and a true companion when the night was a little bit harder to endure than usual.

Ellen looked at the empty basket at her feet: this was not a good city to play. She took her stuff and walked to the central square, just in front of the train station. She would spend the night here. The girl found a safe spot and sat, the black notebook she was always carrying with her in her hands. The runaway was not a writer, but a real drawer. The pages were full of beautiful drawings of her dreams. In the notebook she was also designing her tattoos. The last one she got on her arm was making her really proud. The ink jewel gave her the style of an antique Viking warrior; it gave her strength and courage.

The night was all over the city and the moon began to shine. The streets were completely empty long before that. Under the public lighting, Ellen was still drawing when she heard footsteps near her. It wasn’t the usual cadence of someone walking, but closer to the sound of a child playing, jumping from a pavement to another. However, it was a man who appeared at the corner of a building. An old one, with a long white beard and a bowler hat: his look was very unusual. Ellen hesitated between being scared or amused. The old wanderer got straight to her and gave her a big smile. Gladys and Rooster didn’t make a move, they were deeply sleeping. That was strange. Ellen was sure that the dog and the parrot were awake one minute earlier. On the other hand, the puppy immediately raised its head and began to bark. In the moonlight, the weird man could be a lost 1900’s urban style Santa Claus or some kind of Devil. He talked to her with a concerned voice:

- I saw you some hours ago. You were playing the flute. A real nice piece of music, if you want my opinion!

- Thank you, Sir.

- Where did you learn to play so well?

- I had a professor.

- Of course, you had one. You can’t play that well only by teaching yourself. You need some advice. We all need some advice.

Ellen knew already where the conversation was heading. When someone was talking to her about advice, they would usually give one just after. It was a disappointment. Despite her realistic set of mind, Ellen hoped that he might be Santa Claus; even the Devil was a more exciting choice. But in fact, it was just another old folk who wanted to be “the one that she will listen”. She wasn’t a damsel in distress! At this precise moment, the long bearded man looked at her and gave her a wink. Ellen felt uneasy.

- What are you doing here?

No. It wasn’t Santa... Only kids believed that an old man could give presents for nothing! The hands of the passer-by were resting on his round belly while he was speaking. Sometimes, the worst people were looking like the most gentle. She was cautious. Could it be the Devil?

- I draw in my notebook, waiting for the train.

- Have you got money for it?

- No.

- Here’s for you. But careful, this could change your life. Be wise!

Without another word, the fellow gave her an envelope and went away in a real strange way. Like that! Nothing more! He was walking, but still jumping from time to time like a child. That was disconcerting. As the man was walking away, the dog and the parrot woke up. Looking at him, Gladys shook her head: humans are kind of awkward. Intrigued, Ellen looked at the envelope and Rooster bended over her shoulder to have a look too. Nothing was written on it. When she opened it, she restrained herself from shouting with excitement. She looked around her, but the little square was empty and no one could be here without her noticing. Ellen began to count.

Twenty thousand dollars, so much money! The first thing she thought about was to get a room for the night, but it was already dark and the only hotel she saw didn’t let animals in. All the shops were closed and she put herself in her sleeping bag with an empty stomach. Tomorrow she would make a feast.

This was too much for her. The teenager lay on the ground, petting Gladys, Rooster and the puppy while day dreaming about her new life. In the silence of the night, sometimes broke by a nocturnal bird, Ellen was thinking about all she could do with it.

First she would get to the vet for her dog, and then she would buy some food for the four of them, and even some clothes for the new season. The big coat she got for winter was getting too warm for now. And after?

Ellen liked her freedom but it was tempting to spend some good days, in hotels or spas, maybe she could buy a car? Or maybe she could put it on a bank account for later? With this kind of money, she could buy another flute, or a guitar, or both! So many festivals she could attend, so many countries she could visit! And also make some gifts! To her parents! She didn’t left the house because she didn’t love them, she just felt cramped.

“Hello Mum, hello Dad, hello annoying little brother, I have gifts for you but I cannot stay, I’m just passing by. I’m fine, I love you, and I’ll come back some day.”

Ellen thought about the money all night. It was really exciting for her. Maybe she could give it to charity, but why the old man had chosen her instead of an NGO? She was still wondering when the sun appeared. The first beams of light stroke her head: she had spent the whole night awake.

The young girl gathered her stuff, pulled out her black notebook and wrote in it for the first time. She took her time. Once she was done, she looked at the sky which was perfectly blue. The nature was green and full of life under the golden light. Some drops of dew sparkled around her. She walked a little and found a bench.

Buying a car? She would need insurance, and papers. Her flute was enough, and the beach and the sea were far better than hotels and spas. Putting money in the bank? That would be the beginning of the end; she wasn’t ready yet for this kind of responsibilities… She liked her freedom the way it was. She opened the envelope and pocketed just enough to buy the first things of her list: the vet’, the food, the clothes, the train ticket and a little bit more for some essential furniture.

Gladys barked her agreement and Ellen smiled at her. Rooster also approved. Then, she put the envelope full of money like a bookmark in the notebook. She read one last time the sentence she wrote and nodded for herself. The sea was going to be so beautiful and she was excited to play her flute along the beach. Summer was the best season and there was so much new drawings waiting for her.

With a big smile, she left the black notebook on the bench in the park. It was going to be her gift to the stranger who would find it. Ellen would buy a new one before getting to the train station. And without the smallest remorse, she walked away lightly, Gladys and her puppy at her side, Rooster on her shoulder and the flute in its case.

And when the next one would open the notebook, he would read: “Take only what you need.”