Klempner

“Here…” Juliana places something in the ground… a flat something… “I'm not giving you a cushion, but you can have that.”

On the end of her shoe, she toes it toward me and across the white line. A fragment of paint breaks from the edge of the line.

Stiff-jointed, I stand. It’s not easy. Every movement scrapes flesh and bone against the concrete and I resist the urge to simply roll forward and crawl towards whatever-it-is.

So, I stand: unravelling myself: piece by piece, joint-by-joint, unfolding my body until I’m upright. Then I take the three or four steps to what has become the edge of my world.

Stooping with exaggerated care for my stiff spine, I examine her flat-packed offering. “A cardboard box?”

“It'll get your ass off the concrete.”

“In this damp, It won't last long.”

She shrugs. “Then, I might give you another. If you behave yourself.”

“You mean if I grovel and entertain you.”

She gives me a hyena grin. “That’s the spirit.”

*****

“Can I ask you something?”

Her eyes narrow. “You can ask.”

“How did you come to be in my hands in the first place? Most of the kids were shipped in from the third world or Eastern Europe. How did you come to be in Blessingmoors?”

Her jaw drops. “You don't know?”

show. I didn't make

really don't know why I

some reason I should?” Shock recoils over her face. “Juliana, I may have fucked up your life, but if you imagine it was from some personal vendetta, you're dreaming. Did one of my ground teams abduct you? Were

She speaks slowly… Reluctantly… “My parents sold

in me

apparently off-hand. “Well, in fact, my mother. My father was never there. And when he was, he was usually drunk. If he

“We?”

brothers and sisters.” She licks lips. The eyes slit further. “Are you

interested. I’d like

away.

Tell me. I’ll

screws up, unbelieving.

her.“ I’ll show you mine

and me… That she was taking me for a special treat. She made me wear my best dress. My older sister's actually. And she took me to meet a man. He gave her money…” She gulps, looking away… “She said I was to go with him. She said he'd take me to my new home. It would

Christ…

My belly tightens…

the bridge of my nose. “For what it is worth to you, Juliana, I do understand how that makes you

to me. “But

I was small. But, at the time, I didn't understand

voice is dull. “Who killed

“My father.”

eyes widen. “And what happened to

the end, I killed

laugh is

goes around comes

her chair’ eyes me. “And so

you say. Here

Time to move on…

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