, the coldness in

ll, a smear of what looked li

ace crinkling into th

earie. Just watchin

like honey m

't smi

hands of

s smile

ude. Junior here was just

ping his greasy ha

, the helplessness, the p

it dirty. And

d it

engers turne

e sweetness vanished, replac

ittle snippet! We was

my phone, sta

steal from me. Jus

f! How dare you!" She played the v

This young gi

man with a tired face,

the prob

ugh my bag," I said, my voice steady, phone

t, but it wou

ke several hu

er chest. "Never! I got bar

out a few crumpled dollar bills, thrust

ross, kind-faced, prob

here," she offered me a twenty dollar bill, "take

es latched on

woman, then at Darl

the t

m getting off at th

pack, pulling it

red, hatred

ront of the bus,

to the next station,

nced

illed his bright red soda al

ven scold him. S

he grimy city air, heading s

at down,