My emporium in another world

'This story is called. . . "The duck and the moon."' I declared taking a sip of my milk.

The twins hugged the duckling not so duckling anymore.

'A duck was swimming in a lake with his friends, searching fish to eat and water to drink. But it he day there was no fish, but night he confused the reflection of the moon as food, diving to a nonexistent fish. His friends looked at him and laughed at him.

Ever since then, the duck was so embarrassed, that even when he did saw a fish to eat he wouldn't dive to get it due to his embarrassment and shyness, causing the duck to die of hunger.'

I finished the tale. 'The moral of this story is straightforward and at best confusing.' I let them know so they didn't think they were stupid or worse. 'The duck represents the human being that worries too much for others opinions. If the duck didn't worry about what his friends thought about him, he would have eventually caught a fish. Moral of the story: be true to yourself.' I finished telling and took a huge gulp of milk.

The girls. and little Joseph clapped. The twins started at me amazed for me.

'Another another!' Joseph jumped up and down.

'Fine but sit down.' I told him pointing to he world. As he did so, I went on to think what story I could tell. 'This story is even shorter than most, is called: "Self-love."' I went on to tell my short story.

'A beggar was asking for charity dignified.

A person who passed by asked him:"Don't you have shame asking for money when you can work?"

The beggar answered: "I'm asking for your money not your counsel."

Afterwards, the beggar turned his back on the person, conserving his dignity."

The room went to chuckle a bit.

'The moral of the story is: keep your dignity despite the adversity.' I finished telling the story.

They all clapped, sure it was indeed very short but there was moral to support it.

'Can we have another story please?' Joseph asked while tugging on my skirt.

'Joseph, Joseph, don't do that.' Dorothy took Joseph from my skirt.

I smiled. 'One last story, and then we go to bed.' I turned around to see the sun turning in. 'Even the sun is going to sleep now.'

'Okay!' The room agreed and I went on think what I could tell

'This last story is called: "Trust."'

'Once upon a time, in a very hot day, three friends that were as such forever, were talking and passing by a certain place all together. One of them asked the others about what would happen if they were to split up. The other two reflected and reflected to this question as to where would they go. One of them said: "We will be like the water, the fire and & trust."

After a few moments, the water said: "If one day you will be apart and would want to find me, search for me in a humid place, like a river or pond."

The 3 friends nodded in agreement with water. Then, the fire went on: "Guys, if we are apart and you want to find me, search for me in hot and dry places."

The other two friends turned to see each other and smiled accomplices.

Finally, the trust talked: "If we are apart, don't search for me, for you will never see me again."

Moral of the story: "Don't let down the ones you love, because trust can never be rapaired completely. It takes too long to build it and seconds to destroy it."'

The room clapped with little Joseph and the twins yawning. We all got ready and went to sleep.

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Months after. . .

My money has been steadily increasing up about more than the 3,000,000 copper, the twins learned quickly to write with Lilttle Joseph getting to write more and more than just a few words.

Little Joseph felt a bit jealous due to the twins being taught more, but I explained to him that the twins will go to school at fall at 6th grade while he will barely start at 1st grade. The difference was huge, so there was more pressure for the twins to learn as quickly as possible.

Little Joseph thankfully understood at the fact that he had more free time than the twins.

Another bash of good news is that Elizabeth got the job as a morning laundry maid and a room attendant in the afternoon.

A few weeks afterward, Dorothy decided to also apply for the GreatForks but also decided to apply for housekeeping in the inn for visitors. Thankfully, the GreatForks also took her as a part-time cleaning maid in the morning.

They were even offered to stay at the GreatForks due knowing that it was a handful to wake up and travel all the way there.

Therefore, they moved.

It was bittersweet, but I reminded myself that I could always visit them and viceversa.

The other good news is that Elizabeth finished making yarn and thread, so they were also ready to sell. In fact, these products were the reason I was able to make my savings go up the 3,000,000 copper and silver.

It didn't go even more up because I had to give her the 50% of the arrangement as agreed. I wasn't going to become greedy, especially since she already knows how much money I can make.

The new routine was quite complicated to get used to. Especially since the twins had more space in bed and there was no one waiting for us downstairs. But it was fine.

'Wake up you two.' I told them with a groggy voice. 'A new day has arrived.'

Both of them groaned but they did as they were told.

'How long is the winter going last?' Charlotte asked yawning alongside her twin brother.

I yawned back. 'Well, unless I'm wrong it will last up to at the very least. . .' I tried to make calculations. 'Up to another few months before the snow even starts to melt.' I sighed heavily.

Charles expressed his displeasure by falling on his back on the pillow.

'Now now, don't you fall on me. Remember that I used to do this alone before I got you two. If I can do it, so do you.' I reminded them. 'Come on, get up. It's just until you guys start school.' I took out the covers.

The kids groaned extremely annoyed but they did as they were told.

'I might as well start to teach you about ethics.' I murmured to myself. 'That way you'll know how and when to talk to others depending on who they are and what they are.' I took out their winter clothing and made sure they were set to go downstairs. 'Now, you guys go feed and clean the livestock outside while I prepare breakfast. How's that sound?' I asked them.

'Em. . . Can we have eggs?' Charles asked still a bit drowsy.

'I want them scrambled.' Charlotte requested just as drowsy as her sibling was.

I sighed to myself. Being a momma is hard. I noted. 'Very well.' I told them. 'Come on you two.'

. . . .

2 hours after. . .

I took the kids with me while leaving Marianne in charge of my household while I went to take the skins I have caught with the traps to the tanner and might as well visit my friends and check out the town.

The twins need to get used to this if I want them to become independent and curious about the world. Not in that order.

'How many animals have we caught?' Charles asked.

'In total or the ones that we are bringing to us?' I asked.

'They ones we are bringing.' Charles turned to look behind him and seeing his sister making sure the animals didn't fall from the cart.

'Well, taking out the mouse and rats, we caught 5 muskrats, 2 raccoons (thank goodness), 7 rabbits and a skunk.' I briefly turned to see him. 'How many in total do we have?' I asked him back.

Charles counted with his fingers. 'Hmm, 5. . 7. . . 8. . . 10 . . . Em. . . 15?' He answered unsure.

'That right. Very good Charles.' I congratulated him. 'Seems that I've been teaching you better than I anticipated for myself.' I said softly as I stopped the horse. 'Here's we are!' I hopped of the horse and helped the kid off the horse.

Charlotte must have started to become less shy because she herself quickly jumped off the cart.

Although, this ended up catching some attention and stares.

Of course, I started at them back and the other people quickly turned to look away.

Yeah, that's what I thought. I raised my head and turned to take the animals. 'Wait for me here kids.' I started to walk to the front door but then I stopped and then turned to see them with a serious expression. 'If they say "hey, I'm your mom's friend," you say?' I asked them.

'Mom only has two friends. They are female and they are working at this hour.' They answered in unison.

This was getting a lot of attention almost immediately.

'If they said, "here, have some candy?"' I asked.

'Mom taught us not to take candy from a stranger unsupervised.' The twins said at the same time.

'If they said, "Come with me, I'll take you to your father?"' I asked once more.

'We don't have a father.' They answered.

'And if they said, "your parents told us to come get you"?' I asked the final question.

'If you say the secret code then we'll come with you, otherwise forget about it.' The kids answered smiling.

Some ladies raised their eyebrows in surprise.

'And, if they try to snatch you away by force?' I asked smiling at this point.

'If it's female we punch the face or boobs.' Charlotte answered.

Some gasps and hushes came from a group of ladies at the other side of the street.

'If it's a male then we kick between in his legs and destroy his nuts to make him infertile.' Charles answered smiling almost trying not to laugh.

Some men were caught off guard and stared at him. One of them even covered his private parts out of fear.

'Very good!' I nodded and turn to se Peanut. 'What do you do if you sense someone dangerous?' I asked the horse.

The horse made a determined sound and raised his back legs making a soft kick to cart.

'Right, you give them you horse kick and throw them to the other side for good.' I nodded as if I "understood" what Peanut said.

At this point, many people started to avoid the area surrounding my cart horse, and kids.

'I'll be back in a tiff.' I turned around and entered the store.

The twins turned to look at each other. 'Rock paper scissors?' Charles asked.

Charlotte smiled and nodded.

. . . .

A few minutes later. . .

I exchanged and bargained with the twins of the tannering store and in exchange for the muskrats, I took a trapper muskrat cap for Charles and a bucket muskrat hat for Charlotte.

For the raccoons I took a pair of gloves and scarf made out of the same animal.

It took two rabbits to make a pair of boots, therefore, since we brought 7, it would be a two pairs of snow boots for made of rabbit for the for each twin.

And as for myself, well it takes a skunk to make one pair of boots so I took a pair for myself. It was time to have variety.

As for the last rabbit, well, I told them I wanted the bare pelt. I don't what I was going to do with it, but just to make sure I had something in return.

Afterwards, I went outside to see if the pairs were of their size or longer.

'They're. . . Comfy and comfortable. A bit bigger though.' Charles noted at the end.

'Yeah, they are quite bigger than my feet.' Charlotte nodded in agreement.

'Well, that's because is to make sure you can keep using them until either you are older or until they break down. Whichever happens first.' I told them. 'While we can afford it right now, who knows if we can afford more tomorrow. Therefore, I bought you these so they last longer and I don't have to buy new things everytime you get a growth spurt.' I explained to them.

Charlotte frowned. 'What's a grown spurt?' She asked.

'When a kid grows suddenly from here,' I touched her head and then I raised it to some centimeters longer, 'up to here in a matter of days and even a few weeks father than months and years. Maybe more or maybe less. The point is, a growth spurt is when you make a sudden growth and I have to buy you a WHOLE new wardrobe. And that can happen at any moment since you both are about to hit puberty.' I shooked my head and turned to Peanut and get him ready. 'Hop on, we are going to the Inside Market!' I declared.

'What's puberty?' She asked.

'Well, like a growth spurt, but it takes a lot more longer.' I helped Charles to get on the horse and then Charlotte on the cart. 'If your brother would start puberty, let's say, right now. . . He would, start growing a beard.' I answered the best I could.

Charles raised his eyebrows looking at me and smiled excited.

'And me? Would I grow a beard?' Charlotte asked.

'Pff! No! Ejem, well maybe, it might not be as big and, well, beardy as. . .' It turned to see a hunter with a very handsome beard. 'As this gentleman right here.' I pointed at him with my hand.

The hunter heard that and nodded at our direction smiling brightly now.

'But, what you'll grow would be. . . Something else.' I turned to look away a bit more embarrassed, I myself is not embarrassed not talk about puberty, but Amelia is. Is difficult knowing that we share would and body so it's basically an internal battle. I looked at Charlotte.

'I would what?' Charlotte asked with curiosity.

'Em, you would grow a pair of these.' I took my blouse and squeezed it back to show the form of my boobs. 'I wouldn't know how to tell you about how big they would be, since we are not blood related, but you will definetely grow a pair of these in the future.' I accommodated my blouse and hopped on the horse. 'Any more questions?'' I asked them.

'Yeah! At age does puberty starts?' Charles asked out loud.

I tried to stop myself from laughing as the adults around coughed and spitted out their saliva.

I thought about it for a second while looking at Amelia's memories. Back in the old world, people started pubertad between ten and fourteen years old, but in this world, Amelia, or me, went through puberty barely at sixteen. Which means, it starts later. I noted and then I thought of the answer. 'Well, most people start it. . . Between thirteen. . . And seventeen years old.' I got Peanut to start riding. 'Most of the time.' I tel them know. 'Sometimes it starts earlier, somethimes it starts later.

'Okay!' The twins responded in a very different tone. Charles was beaming and practically excited to start growing a beard, Charlotte on the other hand, seemed as if I gave her too much information in so little time. She was a bit flushed in the face (and not just because of the cold), looked down at her chest and grabbed it to quise it, but to find not much mountain over there.

. . . .

A few hours later. . .

Oh boy. GREAT Timing.

No, seriously. It was GREAT timing for a FUCKING STORM!!

'Oh boy.' I murmured frustrated.

'Will miss Marianne be okay?' Charles asked.

'I'm pretty sure she will.' I answered reassuring him. 'But I will have to pay her extra. . . Which is someone that's out of my personal budget.' I added a bit annoyed.

'Oh sugar honey iced tea!' Charlotte "cursed."

I smiled to myself knowing full well that they are getting SO ready to really cuss. But not yet. I'm such a good caregiver. I congratulated myself internally.

'Listen here everyone!' The Mayor called out to all of us in the auditorium. 'Thank you for paying attention and my greatest apology to you all! As we all know, this storm came so suddenly I'm pretty sure no one saw it coming! Not even the farmers!'

All of us who were farmers nodded in agreement. Even we didn't predicted this. There was no cloud in the sky and five minutes later there was a snow storm throwing itself at us.

'You all can stay here, you all will receive food for both lunch and dinner for free and if the snow had not yet passed by then it's predicted that the storm will continue until tomorrow, we will also provide shelter for the night! If anyone has anymore questions, please see the front desk, thank you!' The Mayor ended his speech and received an applause from all of us.

'Can you tell how much time there's left of the storm?' Charlotte asked.

I turned to see through the window. 'Best case escenario: we will be free before dinner.' I answered. 'Worst case? We will be stuck here for 3 whole days.' I sighed heavily. 'Maybe more.'

The twins gasped.

'Yeah, the last storm I saw that looked like this lasted up to three days and a half, so I'm not getting my hopes up.' I shrugged. 'For now, let's continue seeing what we can buy and what we trade with out goods.' I took them by their hands and brought them back to the market.

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At dinner . . .

We were served chicken sirving that involved either a chicken leg, two chicken wings, or poultry breast, salad of lettuce and cucumbers, beans and two slices of loaf bread with butter.

'Are you sure we have to eat this?' Charlotte asked not so happy with her meal.

'Now now, don't be picky, we have to eat what they have offered us.' I told them as I ate. 'Look at it this way: the sooner you eat it the sooner it's gone.' I suggested. 'There will be days where you will have to eat things you don't like for your own health, it's better to learn how to eat now than later.' I let them know.

The twins sighed and started to eat despite not liking the food.

I could hear some whispers and murmurs about me and the twins. They were faint but I could hear some words here and there.

I would guess that they were judging me for wanting to take care of kids that were not on my own.

But again, who cares?! If they want to talk fine, but may the deities of this world help them if they start to spread bad rumors making my sales and living expenses hard to do.

'Mommy I'm bored!!' A little girl screamed out loud catching everyone's attention.

I turned to see who was making so much goddam noise and saw the daughter of who it seemed to be a quite well merchandiser of another town and was throwing a tantrum on the floor.

I took the chance and murmured to the twins. 'If you ever try to do that to me, I'll make you not just the culprit, but BOTH of you, to clean the poop of the horses for the rest of the winter.' I threaten them. 'With a spoon.' I added

The twins, knowing full well that if it was already hard to clean a chicken coop with a spoon and practically impossible to do with the horse poop, the gulped and nodded.

'Good.' I nodded and then turned to eat. 'Continue eating, don't turn to look again. Rich and proud complexes can sense fear and that makes their inferiority complex shine.' I ordered them while taking their heads and turned to the food. 'The sooner we finish eating, the sooner we can get out of this place.' I let them know.

They started to eat more heartedly then.

. . .

After dinner. . .

We went to our room and stayed there until the kids got bored. Again. After barely an hour.

The good news is that I foresaw something like this happening and made sure to take a look at what activities would be done in the GratForks.

It did seemed like there was more activities for adults than for children. Sure, there was a playground, but the twins were already about twelve years old. They are already at the "funny age" where they think they are too old for some things and too young yet for others.

So I decided to bring them to the library where they could take a book and I would help them to read.

'The bird flies. . . And dives. . . To the water . . . And catches a fish for dinner.' Charlotte recited a line from a book of poems.

'The squirrel hided his nuts on trees and earth, and they go to sleep with their heart content.' Charles recited from a different line.

'Very good, very good.' I nodded aprovingly.

They quickly went on to read to me and over time their resting periods became less and less constant and large.

'You seem to be very good with children.' A familiar voice called out to me.

I turned around, and to my horror, I was met with the face and body of Detective Holmes. Oh boy. I cleared my throat. 'Nice to see you too again.' I faked a smile quickly turning around to see the twins. 'Keep reading, I'll be back.' I stood up and walked softly to the Detective. 'Detective Holmes, Can I help you?' I asked him with my arms crossed.

Detective Holmes to take a look at me up and down, my brunette tanned skin had turned a bit more fair due to the lack of sunlight, my bright blond and curly long hair tied in a French braid, and my golden eyes glaring at home.

'Not much I suppose. I was just confused due to you having older children.' Detective Holmes turned to look at the twins who were staring back. 'I thought you said you were childless and unmarried.' He then turned to look at me suspiciously. 'Do you have something you may want to confess to me?' He asked.

'Ha! You wish. On the mid-winter festival I found the twins being sold off like slaves by what they seemed to be their guardians. Just like Dorothy I didn't have the heart to leave them like that so,' I shrugged, 'I took them under my wing and gave those pesky people a basket with goods in exchange for them.' I answered,

'I see.' Detective Holmes noted raising his eyebrows and looking to the side briefly to then look back at me. 'Not that I care, but don't you think you have enough on your plate already?' He asked "worried."

'Oh, don't worry, if you are asking for Dorothy, her kid and Elizabeth, they have moved out already.' I answered like it was a fact. 'Elizabeth moved a few weeks after mid-winter festival due to getting a job as a maid in the GreakForks. Dorothy followed her lead due to needing more than just a mere income because of having a kid.' I let him know.

Detective Holmes frowned. 'Didn't Dorothy already received her pension from the mines her husband worked for?' He asked.

'She wants to save it in case her kid wants to make his own business, or to to go to College or to buy his own house, or whichever.' I shrugged. 'She decided on it, so I respected it. Although she did used some of it for her husband's funeral, I don't think she will be using it anymore unless there's an a emergency.' I told him. 'Or so she told me.' I shrugged again.

Detective Holmes nodded understanding. 'And what about Elizabeth? I thought she and you were making a profit with the sheep wool?' He asked.

Who told him that?! I screamed in my head. 'Yes, but the products take time and their money wasn't becoming enough to pay rent with me so she decided to move out.' I shrugged it off.

Holmes nodded and thought about my information for a few seconds. 'Does that mean you are all alone now? What about your livestock?' He asked.

'My livestock will be fine. A neighbour friend keeps an eye on it whenever I go to town to sell my goods and I pay her for it.' I emphasized the payment part to him.

'Very well.' Detective Holmes looked away. 'That. . . You are still single, right?' He looked at the floor.

I raised my eyebrows in surprised. Is he? I feared as I grimaced. 'Em. . . Yes, why do you ask?' I made a step back definetely not liking where this is going.

'Well, since those kids seem to be old enough to take care of themselves, I thought that, well. . . I would, ask you to. . . Accompany me for a drink or something.' He again looked at my eyes with his eyes, which in fact were practically flaring hearts from them while his checks blushed a little.

To say that I was stunned it would be an understatement. He . . . WHAT?! I screamed obscenities on the inside frozen for a second and turned to quickly look at the kids who were indeed STILL eavesdropping.

Charles was shocked while Charlotte was smiling and seemed to be rooting for this.

Oh oh. I turned to see Holmes again and cleared my throat. 'Ehem. . . Well, as much as I'm flattered by your proposal, sir Holmes, I'm afraid I'm going to reject your proposal.' I answered smiling uncomfortably.

Detective Holmes raised his eyebrows in surprise. I'm pretty sure I heard Charlotte gasped in shock and Charles chuckle under his breath.

'I'm sorry sir, but before you talk let me tell you that, for one, I'm not looking for marriage. Like, at all.' I told him. 'My experiences with people I knew who have gotten married have been anything but pretty and I'm not looking forward to it any time soon.' I explained. 'Second, If I didn't have time for relationships when I was living with others in the same household, much less now since I'm practically the only adult who works and takes care of children. Third, if I ended up in a relationship and decided to get marry, I would have to get a drowry, that's money one barely has and even though I might have it eventually. . . I value way too much my independence to even think of depending and belonging to someone else.' I concluded while hugging myself.

Detective Holmes wasn't very expressive, but I could tell he was in shock when hearing me out.

'I apologize. But you are gonna have to look for someone who will be willing to be by your side.' I made a small bow and then turned around. 'Also, you are not exactly my type of men so that's just another reason to the list.' I added stopping briefly. 'Hope you have a goodnight Detective Holmes.' I returned to the twins and went on to keep teaching them.

As I went back to help the twins, I could hear the echoes of Holmes's shoes leaving the library.

. . . .

Back in the room. . .

The twins and I prepared for bed.

'Em. . . Miss Amy?' Charlotte called me as she walked towards me. 'Why did you reject a handsome man?' She asked.

'Well, he may be handsome, but just he is doesn't mean he has the right to ask me out after insinuating things that aren't true.' I answered.

Charlotte frowned and tilted her head to the right. 'Incinerating?'

'Insinuating.' I corrected. 'It means. . . Suggesting or giving hints indirectly and unpleasantly.' I explained it to her. 'For example, when he said "I thought you said you were childless and unmarried," he insinuated that I lied to him before. Which is most definetely not true.'

Charlotte's mouth turned into a small "o" when she saw where I was coming from. 'And that's a bad thing?' Or maybe not.

'Ugh, Charlotte, is Miss Amy a liar?' Charles got in between annoyed with his sister.

'Em, no?' Charlotte answered looking at him.

'Then why would someone with "good intentions" insinuate something so vile about someone who he barely know?!' Charles asked the obvious fact. 'Even I, who's also a male human being, who is years younger than that man, knows better than to ask questions like that to someone you barely know actually have the GUTS to ask thee person who clearly doesn't like you out.' He remarked rolling his eyes.

Charlotte took her sweet time to understand her brother's words. '. . . Ohhhh.' It finally seem to click on her. 'So. . . That handsome man was actually a mean man who tried to pressure Miss Amy to date him indirectly?' She asked.

'Yes!' Charles exclames as he and I both nodded.

'Oh. . . Wow. . . That's just one dummy man.' Charlotte commented.

I chuckle a bit but Charles rolled his eyes. 'Dump the one who didn't realize what was going on until everyone had to tell her straightforward.' Charles insinuated.

'Really? Who is it?' Charlotte asked her brother.

Charles had to take a DEEP breath while slapping his own face and turning to look at me with a worried expression.

He didn't need to say anything for me understand what he meant with his eyes.

Charlotte might be good at memorizing words, math and even history. But when it came to understanding people's indirects, Charlotte was at a HUGE disadvantage.

Come to think of it, I think I heard of something like this back in my old world. I turned to see Charlotte who was now moving her fingers like little noddles in the air and grinding her teeth with a blank yet lively expression on her face. What was it? Alturic—no. . . Augu—Austism. My eyebrows raised at the suddenly realization. That's right!! Autism! I smiled to myself and then to Charles.

Charles smiled sadly looking between me and his sister.

I nodded. She will be fine, don't worry. I winked at him.

Charles sighed heavily and just went to bed.

Charlotte stared as her brother went to sleep without answering. 'Did I said something wrong?' She asked worried.

I shook my head. 'Not at all Charlotte, you are just a little slow when it comes to social cues and understanding. But with help, we will get you started.' I promised to her as I took her to bed.

'I want to have a husband.' Charlotte changed her subject.

Charles sat up immediately.

Oh boy. I sighed as I helped them turn in for the night.

'No you do not.' Charles contradicted.

'Yes I do.' Charlotte said.

'No you do NOT.' Charles went full "overprotective brother" mode.

'Yes I do!' Charlotte exclaimed.

'Enough.' I raised my voice. 'Time to sleep.'

The twins listened but I could still hear their little argument while whispering.

It was not my best day, but most definetely not the worst either.