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" A Drink Contest " (Two River) I was counting my moneys and I realized I had only 3000 potch. " And now? What can I do?" I went to the armor shop to see if anyone needed an assistant. The shop was nearly empty: only two old men near the window, looking outside and talking about the future, the war, the hope. In the other side of the shop there was the owner who listed some weapons. He looked at me with a strange air, then he said: " Do you need a work, woman?" I replied: " Yes." " Well, I'm sorry but I don't have enough money to allow me an helper; like you see, we're poor people even in this big city: Two River" I didn't say anything. " Woman, do you want to buy a sword, or you prefear a spear?" " Actually, I'm searching a fire rune and a water rune; I'm not a great warrior, and I prefear to use spells." " I see, however there's a shop which sell runes just north of here!" " Thanks a lot, man" Only 3000 potch. Even If I had could buy buy the fire rune, I wouldn't have gotten the water rune. " What a pity!" I said to myself. I headed to the city's squar, and I realized there were a party. Children were so happy and watched entranched, magicians and their great, sparkling spells. Women were setting the table, while some elders were telling mysteriouses legends. I got near a woman at the table and I asked: " Sorry, ma'am, can I help you?" " ?! Of course!!" Probably the woman didn't understand why I was doing this. " I don't want moneys for this service , don't worry ma'am!" " Oh well, it's better; however, don't call me ever ma'am! My name is Sara!" " Nice to meet you, Sara, my name is Leona, I'm from Greenhill." " It's a wonderful place! Why did you came to Two River?" " I'm searching a job, but I didn't find it yet!" " I'm sure you'll find soon Leona!!" " I hope so." Sara put a dish ond the table and said: " Why are you doing this work without any rewards?" " I was waiting this question. I'm happy when I can help someone, trust me, Sara." " You're great!" " Thanks!" The banquet began and I was invited to partecipate. I was hungry, so I said to myself: " I shall not need to be told twice!" In front of me there were a lot of rich delicacies and drinks. " Sara, your food is delicious!" " Thanks a lot Leona, but other women had helped me to do this." I smiled. I've never felt so happy since that days in which I and my parents worked at the pub. I felt like my family would revive inside me. That was marvellous. I got up because I was very tired, I thanked Sara for the food and I entered in an inn. " One room for one night, please." 50 potch and I was lied down on a confortable and soft bed. I was thinking about my mum and my dad. That orrible day, when Highland soldier entered in our pub, my coolness saved my life. It was very late and I heard some strange noises; strange, nearly scary. My mother cried, my father implored someone to spare his life. I realized that there weren't so much things to do: I took some of my clothes and I escaped from an hidden passage under my desk, without saying a word. Once I was out of my city, I only said: " Sorry mummy nad daddy. One day your pub will be rebuilt, and I'll call it....LIFE PUB" I wasn't crying. I didn't cry that night. Lights of the sun woke me up. Another day searching for some moneys and some food. Suddenly I heard Sara's voice from outside; I opened the window, happy to see her. " Wake up Leona!!! I've great news for you!!" " Really? Wait!!" I got out the inn, gasping. Sara offered me a job for 100 potch a day. " You'll help me to keep clean the kitchen of the city's mayor, okkay?" " Okkay, but I don't know how much time I'll spend in this city, however thank you." The same day I walked along the streets of Two River, watching shops windows; in an alley, I could see a throwaway. It says: " This night: Drink contest!!! All the hards drinkers can partecipate!!! The prize?! 10.000 potch!! Enter now!!!!!!" The prize was very inviting... " Why not? I don't drink a good cocktail since a long, long time!!" The pub was full of ugly brutes who were looking at me. " That's funny." I thought. I got near the counter and I said with a loud voice: " Man, I wanna partecipate!" The man stared me, the he burst out laughing. " Y..you..you wanna partecipate?! A..wo..woman??!! UAH!UAHH!UAHHHHH!!!!!!!!" " I wanna partecipate, man" I said, this time with a cool voice. " You're pretty determinated, okkay!! You can enter!!" A partecipant sitting next to me replied: " I'll crush you! It's a deal, silly woman!" " How a braggart you are!!...." Suddenly the owner of the pub said: " At all the partecipants: prepare yourself, the contest is just begun!!! Anyone who get drunk will be out!! Are you ready?" Mob replied: " YESSIR!!" " Here the first cocktail!" I drank it and I thought: " Not bad, really not bad!!" " Here the second!!" I drank it and I thought: " I've never drunk a cocktail like this in my life. I must have the recipe!!" " Here the third!!" After twenty / twentyfive cocktails all the ugly brutes were laid on the ground completely blind drunk ,except me. " Congratulation, you won!!" "...I had no doubts...." I replied " Here you prize, do you want something else?" " Please, darling, could you please gimme the recipe of you cocktail?" The owner smiled and answered: " At a cute woman like you,...yes" It was 3:00 am o' clock when I said: " Man, gimme another." "..Another.... What?" " Another cocktail of yours. I wanna drink a toast!" " To what , ma'am?" " To the dreams ,the dreams will come true."
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