One by one they disappeared, and as silently as they came they left. The cool morning air blew over her. With eyes shut she watched the glowing waves beating on the silk surface of the ocean. She watched the sun disappear behind the horizon of the west, a tiger melts into the wild jungles of India, the thin transparent figures emerge in the dark vaults of Scotland.
“Hey, quit your day dreamin’; we got woik ta do.” Imp yelled out the fire escape. Ep sat up on the fire excape, broken hearted to see the sun beginning to rise. She picked up her black hat, dusted it off, and rose to her feet.
“Ep, you comin’ or what?” Fingers said out the window to the somewhat confused young woman on the fire escape.
“Yeah, Yeah, I’m comin’.” Ep mumbled as she climbed back in the window to the room. Inside, girls hurried about making sure they were one hundred percent ready to go and sell for the day. Ep tossed on her hat, not bothering to fix herself up and went down stairs to wait for the others.
“She has gotten more strange, she responds when you aren’t talkin’ to her, doesn’t when you are. I thought when she first got here, she said she wasn’t gonna’ sell papes?” Imp said to Ver as they headed down the stars.
“Hey, if you got a problem with one of the girls, come to me or Flash, no talkin’ behind backs here,” Blue scolded as she followed them down the stars.
“I’m not talkin’ ‘bout her, just expressin'...consoin’.” Imp replied. Blue stopped in the lobby and watched Imp and Ver out the door. She looked around the room and found Ep watching the going ons in the small room.
“Hey Ep, what’s on ya mind?” Blue said as Ep started out the door.
“For the first time in my life, I have a home, and the closest thing I’ve ever had to a family. But somethin’ ain’t right about it.” She paused for a second as they walked down the street. “Blue, I’m thinkin’ about leaving,” she finally said when they reached the distribution center.
“For good?”
“No, just for a month or so. My brother Robert’s family is going west for a vacation, and he’s been hounding me to go with them.” Ep answered. They made their way through the line.
“50 papes,” Ep said laying down twenty-five cents.
“50 papes.” Blue said, doing the same. “When are ya going?”
“Today, right now.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When her eyes opened, it was as if they weren’t the same, they weren’t empty or lost. “Imp, 50 papes, for you. I don’t want ‘em.” She handed her 50 papers to Imp who was still in line. She disappeared down the street, running as if there were no tomorrow. Ep wasn’t sure why she was going, but she knew she had to go.
Stay tuned! More to come!
