Siotu

At first hesitating, Nadia returns an equally warm smile to the strange man with a funny coat.

"I'm here to start a new life!" she replies.

Whoever is in charge, Nadia thinks, this man can surely point me to them. Following the man as he leads the way, Nadia disappears into the mass of people walking between the carts and stalls. Looking up at the unfamiliar glow of lanterns strung above every branching path and having never seen so many faces all in one place, she begins to feel a little homesick--or perhaps it's the seasickness from the boat trek here?

Fighting her way through the stream of people walking in the other direction, she manages to tug on the sleeve of the man and asks, "Where can I find a job?"

"Why, there are jobs all around. You can ask one of these vendors here and I'm sure you'll--"

"I mean a job on the council."

The gentleman paused. Looking up the hill to the offices that governed the city below, he adjusts his sleeve, and turns to face the young girl before him. The spark of hope Nadia had held on to throughout her journey grew into a unquenchable flame; she felt that the man had finally begun to see the potential in her that so many others had not. The gentleman sighed and brought the girl to the side of the path next to a small shop selling Persian dishes and crafts.

"The day you can climb up that hill with two drops of oil in that spoon", gesturing to the cutlery on display, "is the day that you'll find what you're looking for."

Nadia was puzzled by his response and looked up toward to the steps that winded around the hill reaching impossible heights.

Oil? Spoon? I knew this man was strange, but...

Before she could finish her thought, she was startled to realize that she was now alone. Alone with fractured dreams and poor advise, no less. The woman in the dishware store called to Nadia,

"You there, child. Come help." Though her accent was thick, Nadia helped the frail woman pick up the glass-blowing cane.

"Hm," the woman started, "you are quite good at this, young one. How would you like to work for me for a few minas?"

"Actually, I--"

The woman looked expectantly. Nadia thought back to the hill, the family she left behind, her goals...was it all going to waste? No. If I've made it this far, then...

Nadia simply nodded in reply, steadying the rod to keep the glass from warping near the furnace.

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