• Sophia walked through the snow shivering her eyes were filled with sadness at the thought that Christmas was coming up she remembered that her mother used to host giant parties and they would dance all night she remembered how her mothers red sparkly dress would twirl and spin lit by the silver moonlight how her feet would shuffle across the floor as if they weren't attached to her body but she also remembered last Christmas she remembered being locked in her room as Madame Aclaire had her Christmas fun she remembered the smell of alcohol -she had come to recognize and grow used to at the orphanage- hung in the air stronger then ever she felt something damp on her cheek and looked up to see if it was snowing when she saw that the sky was clear she brought her hand to her cheek adn realized she was crying she quickly wiped away the tears not wanting to be beat after a tiring walk she finally arrived at the well oh no Tommy was there she gulped standing tall like her mother taught her to
    "excuse me Tommy i need to get to the well" she said being careful to pronounce everything clearly so he couldn't tease her
    the red haired boy laughed in response "that's too bad girly because this here's my well" Tommy said as he jumped off the edge of the well and walked over to Sophia pulling her brown pigtail
    "please Tommy i will give you my quarter" Sophia begged her eyes looked up at him begging she didn't want to give p the quarter Madame Aclaire had given her she had planned to stop and get Mirella a Christmas present on the way back but if she didn't get the water they would all be beaten
    Tommy thought this over "deal" he said holding out his hand
    Sophia reached her delicate little hand into her apron pocket and pulled out a shiny silver quarter placing it in Tommy's hand
    The boy grinned and ran off
    Sophia walked over to the well and lowered the bucket into it when she brought it back up it was heavy and her small arms struggled from the weight she carried the bucket back to the orphanage stopping every so often to rest her arms when she finally reached the orphanage she brought the bucket to the kitchen where Madame Aclaire told her to go sweep the bedrooms