Sweeney Todd was a peculiar man. No doubt he was the best barber on Fleet Street, and many miles beyond. Maybe even the whole of London, but there was something strange about him. Not much was known about him, other than his barbering skills and that he was a very aggressive, angry man.
  The first time I set eyes on him, I was about twelve. I had heard tale that he was a psycho that killed orphans, like myself, and fed them to wild dogs, but I never believed it.
  I remember it well. We where strolling around the market place, my fellow orphans and I, when suddenly my friend Ruphus leans over and whispers,
  “That’s him, the crazy barber from Fleet Street…” I whomped him over the head and looked around to see the so called ‘Demon Barber’.
  When I finally came to the man, I recognized him from Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop. He was the one that I always watched, half hiding myself behind a chair. All of the other orphans teased me and dared me to go talk to him, but I never had the guts to.
  So deep in thought was I that I never realized that not only was I staring blankly at him, but he was also walking toward me. Neither him nor I paid enough attention to notice our inevitable collision.
  In one sudden step, all the groceries he carried where on the ground. Fruit rolled away, spices streamed out of broken bottles, and I was on my back. Mr. Todd had just barely caught himself, and was leaning awkwardly over me.
  Of all the rumors I had heard, the first one that rang through my mind was that Sweeney Todd is a very unhappy, angry, violent man. Being so, I was only able to stutter two words.
  “I-I’m sorry…” My eyes where uncontrollably wide, and as hard as I tried to stop myself, I knew I was blushing.
  For almost a minute, which seemed like an hour to me, he just stared at me. He had a squinty eye, and a scar on the bridge of his nose. His hair was a gingery-red color, and it was styled in quite a wild way. Each side of the center part on his head was curved up, and curled at the ends. With his hair like that, and the way his face was shaded gave him the appearance of the devil!
  Eventually, he stood up strait and, to my surprise offered me a hand.
  “I guess we both need to be more careful.” He said in an almost kind way. He gave a toothy smile that sent cold shivers down my spine.
  But of course being the shy, embarrassed girl I was, I never returned a thank you. Not even a friendly nod. I knew I was just staring blankly at him, and yet I couldn’t help myself.
  A stray apple rolled to my foot, resting there. It bought my attention, and I quickly leaned down and picked it up. Being that I hadn’t eaten in several days, I eyed it greedily.
  I blinked the hunger away, and handed it to Mr. Todd. Unexpectedly, he pushed it back into my hand.
  Reaching out, he brushed a stray lock of blonde hair back behind my ear.
  “Keep it.” He said simply. He looked over my rather thin frame, and continued. “You could use it more than me.”
   I finally was able to crack a smile, and dreamily stutter,
  “Th-thank you…”
  He gave a small smile, and continued on to pick up the spilled groceries. I quickly helped.
  When we had finished, he placed a pale, ice cold hand on my shoulder, and slipped something else in my hand.
  A sixpence.
  My eyes widened, and I couldn’t hold back a huge smile.
  “What’s this for!?” I squeaked out. He looked at me thoughtfully.
  “That, love, is for you.” He said calmly. I looked down at the piece. He put a pale finger under my chin, and lifted my gaze to his.
  “Cheer up, love. You only live once.” He sounded so sad, almost as if it meant something to him. After a pause, he turned on his heels and walked back in the direction of 186, Fleet Street.
  “You only live once.” I repeated quietly.
  You only live once…