Walking over the drawbridge I hear it creak and groan; it will soon be replaced, for in an attack it will not hold well. The moat has frozen and some unfortunate servant will have to go break the glistening, slippery ice. But even the ice can't hide the foul-smelling cesspool. I walk towards the great hall; this is where my day begins. Entering the hall I look up at the great, high ceiling, wondering how they ever built anything so grand. I hurry down a narrow, cold, draughty hall that leads to the kitchen. Hot steam engulfs me in this enormous room. I am but a helper to these fat women who gossip all day about the lord and lady. I hear them talking and of course I listen.

Meredith, the cook, talks first with

All of a sudden something interrupts my daydream and I jump up. "Onions! Onions! I need onions for this soup!" bellows Alexandrine, one of the cooks, and her voice echoes through the kitchen. I run down the narrow, spiral stairway to the storage room where almost all of the cooking supplies are stored; I seize a candle on my descent. Brrrrrr, this room is chilly and damp compared to the sweltering kitchen. A large rat scurries across my path as quick as lightning. I stumble as I run my hand along the uneven wall looking for a protruding stone. That is how I know where the crate of onions is. I grab three onions and try and bolt for the stairs, but my candle blows out. I have to feel my way around in the dark. Finally I am out of the darkness and back in the bustling kitchen. I hand the onions to Alexandrine, who directs me to the huge soup cauldron.

The remaining day is spent in the kitchen. The cooks carry on and jabber among themselves like hens, while I stir the soup, knead the bread, and work. Finally the workday is over. I gather my things, put on my thin shawl, and leave

Some common words found in the essay are:
Onions Onions, , cold stone, lord lady, stir soup, onions onions,
Approximate Word count = 730
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)