Marion

Gustav, the Alsatian chef, sent Marion, the kitchen maid to the rat butcher’s in Pantiles Market. Marion, a quiet girl of 22 and with an uncorrected squint, entered the butcher’s shop and surveyed the meat on offer. The shop was busy and the staff, including the chief butcher, Amos Burroughs, looked flustered.

Amos Burroughs, a big man with a big voice, was thoroughly trained in slaughter and butchery, he knew all the techniques: traditional, halal and kosher - but Amos preferred the cricket bat method. And of all the meats he sold, hograt was his favourite and by far the most popular with the customers.

Amos noticed Marion’s entrance and was keen to serve her rather than allow his staff the honour. “What does old hairy Gustav require today then, Marion?” Amos called Gustav ‘hairy’ each time, although he didn’t know why he referred to Gustav this way - he had never met him. Marion, had a look at the meat again and pointed to some loin of common rat “can we have 4 loins please?”. Amos carefully wrapped the loins and passed them with eagerness to the girl. Then totally out of the blue, Amos asked “would you like to watch the lard wrestling tonight in the tavern with me?” and Marion, although not particularly keen on either wrestling or lard, but very keen on Amos, agreed, her squinty eye getting watery with excitement.

She paid Amos and hurried out the shop and back to the kitchen and Gustav, the balding Alsatian chef. Amos, wiped his hands, imagining them on Marion.