Autumn's chill spread throughout the holes in Harper's patchwork sweater, billowing through the mix-matched sleeves and out the worn neckline. It wasn't beautiful by any means, but it was all she could afford on her salary. Being a dock hand wasn't the most illustrious of jobs, but it kept food on the table, even if she was continously harrassed and tormented by the ship's crewmen.
She stood at the end of the dock, leaning up against her mop with an envious look to a large sailing ship as it left out to sea. One day, that would all be hers, and nothing was going to stop her. Not her fathers, her brothers, or her sister. Nothing except money, that is. She had to make enough to eat on before she even started looking at ships.
"HARPER! Stop stallin' and bring in the fish!"
"Sorry, sir!" Snapping out of her trance, she dropped the mop onto the slippery dock and leaned over, grasping the net with both hands before tugging.....and falling face first into the water.
