X for X

Ross darted through the snow covered alleyway, pulling his hat low over his eyes. He looked around to make sure nobody was looking, and then quickly ran into the shop, grabbed a meat pie off the shelf and ran out again. 

Wrapping the meat pie securely in a handy piece of fairly clean cloth which had just come out of his coat pocket, he began walking toward what he was quite sure was the southern side of the city, the place where he could rest and eat his food in peace.

As he neared the abandoned building where he usually took refuge, he took out the pretend key he had crafted out of paper, making sure to purposefully turn it in the keyhole before opening the door.

He settled himself down on the floor and leaned onto the cupboard which had proved to be an able backrest. He took out the meat pie and had a big bite out of it, holding the cloth under it to make sure that nothing spilled.

How had he come to this? Spending a good month out on the streets, praying that the police wouldn't catch him? From being one of the most respected detectives in town, to being forgotten by everybody and becoming a thief himself?

It was all because of that Hazel Rodriguez. Framing him for the theft of the diamond necklace, causing all of his friends and family to break ties with him and make him look like  a fool! However, a question always rang out in his mind…how had Hazel managed to get a picture which looked exactly like him burgling the jewelry shop in the midst of the night?

He had always presumed it to be a PhotoShopped picture, but he was sure Hazel couldn't have had a picture of him, and besides, she wouldn't resort to such simple methods.

In all his days on the streets, if anybody asked him for his name, he always replied with a code name, 'X'. After all, X was a variable, wasn't it? For an unidentified, dangerous man(supposedly), it was the perfect name.

A loud banging began on the door. Ross immediately jumped up, all of his attention on the door.

"Open in the name of the law, X! We know you're in there, and we know that you've stolen more than a dozen products from more than ten different shops" said a loud, purposeful voice from outside the door.

Dan! That was Dan, he was sure of it! Dan had always been one of his staunch supporters…but now…nobody had a clue where he was and those who did, knew him as the criminal, X. Overcome with a sense of nostalgia, he turned around, smooth as a cat, and almost tip-toeing, ran out of the house. One day, he would prove that he was innocent…one day.

W for Webster

"Mrs. Ferguson! Mother's asking whether you can finish this by next week Monday!"

"Melissa, could you please do this one for me, there's a dear now,"

"Aunty Mel! Please could you complete this one by the day after tomorrow? It's for my school function, you see?"

"Hi, Mrs. Ferguson. Please finish this one by tomorrow."

Questions and water droplets rained down on her as she recalled all the promises she had made while running through the wet, slushy mud. She would most probably regret it, but she had a whole week to complete most of them. Of course, she would have to complete Bernadette's by the next day but she would have quite a lot of time to complete the rest.

By this time, she had reached her small cottage and wrenching open the door handle, she went inside. 

In barely a few minutes, she had settled herself down on her cosy armchair and spread out her working materials on the table. 

Bernadette had supplied her with some gorgeous yellow taffeta to make a gown for the upcoming party in town. In her opinion, taffeta was a little too fancy but it would do for a gown, she supposed. 

She began to sew the main part of the dress, adding on a hem, and almost full sleeves. After around an hour and a half of hard whorl, she had finished the main dress. Now it was time for her favorite part; the decorations.

She took a bunch of yellow ribbons and began to fasten them around the sleeves and collar. She finished the task and then surveyed the dress with a critical eye. It was neat but looked quite plain. Perhaps she would embroider the bottom part of the dress.

Another half hour later, she held up the dress, satisfied. The bottom part of the dress was covered in roses of all colors and deep green leaves. It looked quite pretty without too much frippery, and that was exactly what she liked.

Lily had asked whether she could complete a deep purple frock with lace. She had also wanted something for her hair.

Melissa leaned back and closed her eyes, ideas rushing through her head like a river with a strong current. She sighed in contentment. The life of a webster was peaceful and it was spent making others happy…and that was exactly what she liked.