Drogo: Death of a man, birth of a vampire

Chapter 6. Drogo: Muller's Butchery

"Maybe Hans is right," I walk down the dirt road connecting our house to the apple orchard our family has owned for generations, talking to myself.  "Maybe I should just be content with what I have... continue farming... marry a nice village girl..."  I kick a rock, feeling discontent.  Lately, my thoughts have been so confusing.  Not to mention my dreams!  What do I want?  Who do I want?  Am I really obsessed with the opposite sex?  Or are they the ones who are drawn to me like bees to honey?  And am I ever going to do anything more than just kiss girls and then dream about making love to them? I smirk.  Let's put that theory to the test.

I change direction and head toward the Platz instead.  I will stop by Muller's Butchery.  Who knows, maybe Liezel will be there today.

I push the door open.  My presence is announced by the dangling bell that rings over my head as I enter.  I run my hands through my hair, hoping to tame it some, and walk up to the counter.  There is no one in sight.  I clear my throat loudly to attract some attention.

The back door opens, and Frau Mueller walks behind the counter.

"Yes?  Can I help you?"  Her face is flushed and sweaty, and she sounds out of breath.  Her hair is mostly hidden inside a bonnet, but stray strands are sticking out in disarray.

"I'm sorry... is this a bad time?"  I hope I sound concerned.  In reality, I don't want to make much conversation with Liezel's mother.

"Oh... no... not at all... I was just sorting through some of our new arrivals in the back," she answers blowing a strand of hair that was dangling down her face.  "We just got a shipment of pork chops," she says wiping her hands on her apron.  I notice it's stained with animal blood.  The metallic smell makes me slightly nauseous.

"I...." I look around stammering, trying not to stare at the red mess on her clothes.  "I could use some pork chops..." I would very much like for Frau Mueller and her blood-stained apron to disappear before I completely lose my appetite.  I am unsure of what to say to find out Liezel's whereabouts without sounding suspicious.

But it appears this is my lucky day.  Frau Muller shouts:  "Liezel!  We have a customer!  Bring out some of those fresh pork chops, will you?"

She then turns to me.  "How many do you need?"

"Oh... I don't know... how about four?"  I study her face while speaking.  Frau Mueller must have been a handsome woman in her youth, but it is clear that time and hard work have left their mark on her.  Her skin is red and blotchy, and her blue eyes are sunken in her fleshy face.  Her blond hair is graying and her teeth have yellowed with age.  As for her figure... let's just say it's fairly clear that Frau Mueller loves her job, and probably samples every shipment that comes in.

I suddenly notice that she is also examining me, narrowing her eyes.  "You're one of the Wiedmann boys, aren't you?"  She cocks her head to the side like a curious hen.

I nod in response.  "That's right."  I am praying that Frau Muller is not on good terms with Frau Juergen.  If the baker's wife told her what happened at the dance, this could turn ugly.  Especially if Herr Mueller is also in the back of the store, chopping the meat with a cleaver by himself. The idea makes me shiver.

Just as Frau Muller is about to say something else, Liezel comes out of the storage room, carrying a tray full of pork chops.  She stops dead in her tracks when she first sees me, and to my horror, turns a deep crimson.  Luckily, her mother's back is turned and she doesn't notice it.  Liezel recovers quickly, and places the tray on the counter.

"Here you are, Mama," she says nonchalantly.  She pretends she doesn't know me and avoids making eye contact.

"Liezel, can you find four nice and even sized chops and pack them up for this young man?"