Thunk the Bitch

"You're in here late," says the cook as he wipes the last of the tables with a rag.  I walk to the area where they keep the leftovers for those of us who are hungry over night and help myself to some dinner.

"Yeah," I tell him as I try to muffle the grumblings in my stomach.  My hunger has returned with vengeance.  I had forgotten how painful it can feel to have an aching empty stomach...

Before I can turn to sit at the table, the tavern door creaks open.  Instantly my shoulders hunch closer to my heart; warning me that danger is near.

"What?" I say as sternly as I can, looking the bully in the eye.

"You think you're so special," snarls the woman from the fire who walks over and shoves me to the ground causing my food to go flying.  The plate lands with a loud clammer.

"What the hell is your problem?" I say, and manage to stand up before she approaches.

"You.  You don't help.  You think you're a princess!" She squeals.

"What are you talking about?  I'm sick, lady.  Starting to get better.  I couldn't help -- it was nothing against you personally," I say as I walk towards my mess to try and salvage what I can.  Food is still a scarcity and I don't want to be wasteful.

"You can help," she says and kicks the plate away from my hands. 

The cook turns his back to us and pretends that nothing is happening.

"Okay...," I say not sure how to play the situation.  "So, what are you going to do, beat me up to teach me a lesson?" I ask.

Somehow my ability to confront her causes her to lose her momentum -- and for a moment she freezes, but then as the anger filters back into her peanut sized brain, she raises her fist--

And so, I wince.

"THHWHAACK!!"

I open one eye from behind the safety of my arm to see the bully lying face first on the ground, having been knocked over the head by a broomstick.

I turn to the person who intervened and thank her.

"I'm Karen," I say as she reaches out her chubby arm to help me stand.

"Consuela," she tells me as she readjusts her shirt, and gives me a big smile.

"Nice to meet you!" I say, forgetting my hunger and walking quickly towards the tavern door under the watchful guard of my new friend and her broom before the beast awakes.

"Yerz too," she says and thunks the bitch one more time on the head before following me out the door into the safety of the cool dark crisp night.