Penny Lady

The opening ceremonies for the Stratford Spring Fare are in full tilt. The villagers, having spent the entire weary winter anticipating the birth of spring, are out in full force--lining the route for the opening day parade. They have spent the morning soaking up the welcome sunlight while watching the jugglers, mimes and clowns make their jolly way down the cobblestone lane. The cadence of the Stratford School Band advances down the thoroughfare--toward the reviewing stand.
Penny Lady, dressed in tattered muslin, shakes her tambourine, keeping time with the bass drum, as she continues her furtive, meandering route through the crowd and toward the reviewing stand. Simon, frayed fedora in hand, follows along behind his wife. Malignant eyes hide behind benign smiles as the gypsy couple picks its way through the throng of unsuspecting revelers.
As this final parade entry passes the reviewing stand, Penny Lady holds her now-silent tambourine like a church collection plate, anticipating last minute offerings.
"Please help feed me children, milady," she cries.  She looks up at the gentry seated on the wooden platform and adds. "Help feed me children, milord."
She smiles in 'appreciation' as she catches the shower of pennies, borne of 'benevolence', that rain down from the dignitaries seated on the reviewing stand.
Hat held out in front of him, Simon follows his wife's lead, "Me fine sir, a ha'penny'll do!  Just a ha'penny, milady--for me children!" as coins fall from above, ‘chinking' into his worn fedora.
Seated in the front row of the reviewing stand, a 'lady of importance' turns a deaf ear to the beggars' pleas as she clutches her beaded bag. She pulls her crimson velvet shawl around her shoulders, turns her nose skyward, and with hidden hands gloved in calfskin, applauds the band as it marches by.  
As the 'click' of two hundred boot heels in unison fades into the distance, the villagers make their way toward the carnival tent for the next event of the day--leaving the parade route abandoned, except for the gypsy couple huddled near the reviewing stand. 

Simon empties the copper coins into his pouch, then pulls his 'penniless' hat onto his lice-infested head. Penny Lady empties her booty into her apron pockets. She hands off the empty tambourine to her husband, and then glances toward the carnival tent.
"Milady--with 'er royal nose stuck so far up in the air --'ll feed our children, one way or t'other," she says, her mind's eye on the beaded bag.
"Even though we ‘ave none, luv?!"
"Even though we ‘ave none, dearie!"  Penny Lady says as she kisses her husband on the tip of his hairy nose.
She straightens her shoulders, pats her bulging apron pockets, and marches off in the direction of the large, red and white striped canvas tent. 
"All in a day's work, me luv!"  Simon says, giving the tambourine a defiant shake as his wife disappears through the canvas doorway.  "All in a day's work!"
Simon sits down, cross-legged in the spring clover, empties his pouch into the tambourine, and counts his "earnings" while he waits for his Penny Lady.