Ava Golde
Ava Golde asked Kevin Sands:

What did an average day for Christopher look like as Master Benedict’s apprentice? How did this compare with his daily life back in Cripplegate, before Benedict took him in?

Kevin Sands A lot of work!

Like all apprentices, Christopher would have been working as long as daylight lasted, except for Sundays and the rare holidays. He'd start by making sure the shop and the workshop were ready to open. Then on any given day, he might work in the shop, serving customers and fielding simpler questions, or be in the workshop, assisting in the preparation of potions and medicines. He might also be sent on errands, buying goods from the markets, or delivering remedies to patients. He'd also have to keep the shop and workshop clean, and it was his responsibility to care for their pigeons on the roof. In addition, he'd have study time, either learning directly from Master Benedict, or reading on his own. If he had any free time, he'd play with Tom, though most of that happened on Sundays, or late at night, after everything was closed.

A couple times a week, Master Benedict would do rounds, visiting patients at home. Christopher would usually go with him, only remaining in the shop or workshop if he was behind on his duties. And once a week, Master Benedict would generally take Christopher somewhere in the city to further his education: to the gardens, to study botany; or to Westminster, to study architecture; etc.

Cripplegate would have been a lot of work, too, though a lot less fun. The jobs were much more like a servant than an apprentice: cleaning, doing laundry, helping in the kitchen, that sort of thing. And the education would have been more formal, with classes and such. Generally less work overall, but also much less rewarding, to say nothing of the occasional beatings for discipline! Another thing Christopher certainly didn't miss when he left the orphanage.

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