Potato People C10 - The Feast

Chapter 10 : The Feast

Patrick and Marie moved closer to the house. The music grew louder and it sounded wonderful. They looked through one of the windows into 'a large room that seemed to be full of light' It was full of men and women dressed in 'lovely. brightly coloured clothes.

Patrick felt he was in heaven. They were dancing round and round to the sweet music. For a moment, Patrick wondered if he was dreaming. This was the most 'magical place' he had ever seen. He could not help but wondered where all this 'shining, happy people had come from'.

Marie took hold of his arm and signalled to him that he should folllow her. All the time Patrick kept thinking about the 'happy dancers.' For a few minutes, he forgot all about the 'horror of the world around him.' This place was ' pure paradise.' It was clean, bright world without disease.

Suddenly, Marie led him to an open window. Inside the room was a long table. Four servant girls were cleaning the table after after a luxurious meal. As soon as the servant girls left the room, Marie and Patrick went in through the window.

Marie began to stuff food into her mouth and into her pockets. Marie pushed a half-eaten chicken into Patrick's mouth. Patrick had never tasted chicken before. Marie stuffed cakes into her mouth and began to fill a bag with leftover food. Patrick hide a loaf inside his shirt.

Suddenly, Marie heard a noise. She immediately pulled Patrick down and crawled under the table. They sat there in 'absolute silent.' The servant girls were now inside the room again. They were talking loudly ablut the ball and the cost of the beautiful gowns worn by the ladies.

The door opened again. Patrick and Marie could hear men's voices. Marie was very frightened. She was shaking. They had stolen food from a rich man's house. If caught, they could go to prison. Patrick took hold of both of Marie's hands and held them until she stopped shaking.

As soon as the room ws empty, Patrick and Marie ran to the window and climbed out. They ran back to the spot where they had climbed the high wall. Now, they were safe. All they had to do now was to climb over it again.

Suddenly, Patrick realised the wall was too high for them to climb. Marie found a solution by climbing over Patrick's shoulders. She managed to pull herself onto the top of the wall. Marie leaned down and extended her arms to help Patrick to climb over.

She nearly fell off but Patrick managed to grab the top of the wall with one hand and pull himself up. They quickly ran down the road. They laughed in great relief. They fond a cosy place under some bushes and fell asleep. Their stomach were full.