Konbanwa! Salut! This is sorta Alice's pre-clubbing experience post getting to the hotel.
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ALICE
We’d landed in Germany and learned that we were going to be staying in the hotel for a week. I took that opportunity to check out the shops. It was not too long ago that I was here so it really started to bring back memories.
I’d already set my suitcase in my room and left before finding out if I’d have to share my room. I wandered out of the hotel and onto the streets, breathing in the fresh air. There was an overcast today so I was in luck and could go outside. It was going to get dark soon anyway, so I thought this would be a perfect time to take in my surroundings.
I decided to hit a side street and see if they had any bakeries around. I didn’t need to eat but I had a sudden craving for food. I hadn’t had blood in a few days and if I sneak around the back of a butcher shop, I’ll be likely to find some. But then again, I don’t think they’d have live animals anymore. I could smell the bakery from miles away and my nose led me straight to it. I picked up the smell of pastries and started picking up my speed.
I caught sight of a bakery after I’d been walking for a minute or two. There were people milling by slowly, looking in the windows and debating whether they wanted to spend their money. I hurried to the shop window and pressed my face against the glass, staring at the cake.
“Ah, they have Marmokuchen!” My mouth widened into a smile.
“Hey!” I turned around to see an old woman frowning at me.
“Yes?” I asked politely. “What seems to be the problem?”
“You’re fogging up the glass and scaring the customers.”
“Es tut mir leid.” I apologized.
“Are you going to buy something or not? We don’t bite.” She looked at me for a few seconds. “Well?”
“I don’t have enough money.” I was two euros short.
“That’s too bad. Make sure you come back when you have enough. We’re short on customers today.” She started to turn back into the bakery when I called out.
“Wait!” I stopped her without thinking. “How about I help you get more customers?”
Her eyebrows raised, “And how do you intend to do that?”
“I’m from a circus. I can do a street performance! All I need it a bucket, some cardboard, and a marker.” I was excited. I’d never done a street performance before. This could go really well or fail miserably.
“Okay, then. If you’re doing it for free I’m all for it. I’ll go get your supplies.” She disappeared into the building and came back two minutes later with the things I had asked for.
“Danke sehr.” I said as I took the objects from her.
“Bitte sehr.” She smiled and went back to work.
I skipped off to a bench a few feet from the bakery and began to write on the cardboard in German, “Come inside, the food is great!” It was a bit of a lie because I hadn’t even tasted the food yet, but oh well! I set the bucket down when I was done writing, with the marker beside it, and placed the sign in front of the bucket so it could be supported.
I stood there for a few seconds wondering how to begin. Everyone just kept walking by. I noticed a family about to pass by the bakery with a little kid so I jumped for the opportunity. I flipped over onto my hands and began walking towards them.
“Hello!” I said, lifting one of my hands to wave to him.
He stopped and waved back.
“Come visit the bakery! Everything’s delicious, I promise!” I sure hope I was right. I flipped back over onto my feet and into a backbend. I pointed towards the bakery. “Right over there!”
“Can we go?” The little boy asked his mom.
“Thanks, we’ll have a look.” The mom grabbed the boy’s hand and walked into the shop. Her husband pulled some money out of his pocket and threw it in my bucket.
Yes! Mental high-five with myself.
I wish I had some more props, but I was going to have to work with what I had. I looked over at the bench and jumped up on it and did a back flip off the top. I was beginning to catch a few stares.
I began doing a series of back handsprings across the entrance into a corkscrew. A few of the people watching me began clapping. I gave a slight bow and did a cartwheel into a split. I ran back towards the crowd and did a back handspring layout.
I got some more money in the bucket. I waved to the crowd and sent them into the bakery. As soon as they went in, I checked my bucket. WOW! There must have been like fifty euros in here. Why were people carrying around that much? While I’m at it, I guess I’ll get more!
I took advantage of a street lamp that had just come on and remembered I was a vampire. I jumped up towards it and began spinning around it. I bet I could make it to the next street lamp if I throw myself out really fast. I spun around a few more times and then let go, letting myself sail over the sidewalk. A few people looked up thinking I was going to fall. Well that’s nice in case I had fallen. I twisted myself down off the lamp. Everyone started applauding.
“Danke!” I waved. I guess I’ll go get the long awaited cake. I grabbed my bucket of money and walked into the bakery. The old woman I had met earlier came running up to greet me.
“You’ve brought in so many customers. I can barely keep up.” She said grabbing my hands. “Thank you.”
“It was my pleasure. I’d like to buy that slice of cake now.” I said.
“Actually I’d like two cakes to take back to my friends.” I better get back since everyone’s going clubbing. I particularly don’t like crowds but I guess I’ll go be sociable for once.
She rushed back behind the counter and shouted in German over the crowd to another one of the workers. They packed up the cakes for me in a bag and handed them to me. I thanked them and started to leave when the woman yelled to me from behind the counter.
“Do come back!” She waved. “What’s your name?”
“Alice!” I shouted back to her. “I’ll try!” I'll be sure to grab some props for next time. I hurried out the door before I could be boxed in by new customers and scurried back to the hotel to change. What does one wear to a club?
TBC
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