It was evening. The air was chilly, and Sonia pulled her muted natural toned plaid scarf around her neck just a little tighter. She blew on her hands and rubbed them together before sliding them into finger tip less gloves. Neither matched, but she had found them thrown out in someone's trash. She cut the tips off to make it easier to pedal today. Now, she could have come out to pedal earlier. There WERE sometimes dog fights earlier on in the day. These were ran do appease people who couldn't come out at night, but all the really good paying crowds always came at night. She knew that she was still rather a bit too early. Most people who came around this time just had dinner and were often not the least bit hungry. She just sighed as she hid behind a merchant curtain as she filled her pedaling carry tray which was supported with a behind the neck strap. Since she was also trying to pedal warm drinks; she added an extra strap to the box that went around her lower back for support.
Sonia was about to step out into the crowds to start her selling. However, it was just then another merchant who also frequently came out to pedal to the heavy night crowds was trying to catch her attention with hushed "pssst!!!" She did hear it the first few times, but she thought it could have been anything. It was only when she was turning around to make sure nothing was sticking out of her shoes or pockets that she caught his eye peeking at her. She saw his finger make a 'come here' gesture. She walked almost soundlessly over. When she got there, the old man pulled a cigar out of his mouth as he ushered her into his curtained prep booth.
Sonia's ear twitched as she heard a sound of muffled commotion. She watched the old man walk over to a table and lift up a cloth. It had been concealing a bunch of puppies in a cage. Well.. They were at least sort of puppies. Most looked almost old enough to fight. Her eyes went back up to the old geezer. He mentioned to her as he beckoned her over. He had found these in a crate somewhere about to put down. For some reason, someone hadn't found owners for them yet.
Sonia's eyes widened when she thought that over a few times. Rescue pups. "Are they sick?" She asked him. He didn't know. In fact, he didn't seem to have much knowledge of them aside from the fact that they looked like some variety of fighter dogs. He planned to sell them behind the scenes to people looking for a skinny on some new dogs. However, he mentioned to Sonia that he had seen her working so hard all the time. He thought maybe she'd like one of them. He told her to consider it a winter gift from him. Maybe one day, if Sonia took care of it and raised it well. She could become a dog fighting champion and trainer.
Sonia grinned at this. It was much more her dream to raise show pups than a fighter. The fights made her cringe. Still, if she took one and raised it.. it'd save it's life. And.. she was gonna get it for free. She wondered what her father would say. She was then glad she came early that night. She'd have to work extra hard to sell enough to afford to take the pup by the vet that night. Just for a quick look, of course... Sonia slid her bottom lip under her upper front teeth. The desire and excitement soon flooded her eyes. "Ok!" she told the man. She huddled by the cage. "Which one can I have?" He gave her a female with black and gray stripes on her back. He told Sonia that she could have that one. Apparently, there had been widespread birth of females recently, and their sales were plummeting as a result. He thought his money would be made on the males, and so he let Sonia take the one with almost arrow like daggering stripes.
Sonia picked up and petted her. The pup looked shy and gave Sonia a small nuzzle. Sonia looked at her. "Hmm.. what's a good name for you? Hmm.. " She gave the pup a piece of a cookie out of her box. The pup ate it and swirled around happily. The pup stood up on it's hind feet and put its paws on Sonia's front thighs. "Aw.. you liked that? Maybe we will be good friends. I am so happy. I hope you'll like me..." Then, she squatted down to hug the dog.
Finally, at the end of the night after many hours and very good sales (especially with the very warm drinks), she was ready to head home. She packed up her stuff. She picked up her new fluffy friend as they headed back. How in the world would she get her father to agree to this? She knew what his answer would be. He'd only allow it if she trained the dog to fight, and he'd want some of the dog's winnings from those fights.
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