Free Red Girl Rat Boy by Cynthia Flood Page A

Annabel winked. “Eric went to a real Canada Day party, so he couldn’t come today.”
    â€œBullshit!”
    Then supper came, and happy Sally’s leftover cake read Ca , in pink.
    Lorraine ignored her tray. “The Wanderer has an idea. We can help.”
    â€œShe stole your phone!”
    â€œTo get our attention.” Lorraine’s voice stayed calm.
    Annabel frowned. “How can she have an idea if she can’t talk?”
    â€œ Won’t talk, dummy. Teevee-gal can’t . Don’t you two want cake?”
    â€œShe wants to get back at—them.” Lorraine gestured inclusively.
    Annabel scraped cake onto Sally’s plate. “Yes!”
    â€œWe must be ready. She can’t predict when.”
    â€œWhen what? I don’t like her. She threw—”
    â€œShut up!”
    Lorraine closed her eyes. Annabel had the gist, and Sally’d need to hear it all again anyway.
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    doing time
    Sunday was hot. Zero Activity.
    Monday, also hot, was a stat. Zero Bingo, zero doctors. The dumpsters grew rank. Gulls perched, swearing, on the closed lids. Julio, sent to Delivery to kill rats, did nothing but claimed the coyotes would eat them soon.
    â€œAnother lazy man,” said Angelique.
    Lily came back.
    As she worked nearby, Lorraine closed her eyes against rustle click push squirt wipe rub shove but inhaled the aide’s fragrance of tall dewy grass by the bus stop.
    Lorraine’s skin didn’t fit. Her breath tasted bad. She napped.
    For Annabel, Lily brought a hair clip and Chatelaine.
    â€œReal silver!” The old shining head turned this way, that.
    â€œStupid! Remember how she tricked you?”
    The aide said, “Your walker, Mrs. Knox. This time maintenance fix perfect.” Strong hands massaged the resident’s shoulders.
    Lorraine, waking, found her dresser drawers rearranged
    â€œSee? More room for my menus!”
    Sally snorted. “Lily just wants back in our good books.”
    â€œTo atone,” Annabel offered.
    â€œHow come you know that word?”
    From 17-B gunshots reverberated, and shortly the Wanderer rolled into 17-A.
    â€œHello there!” Annabel waved Chatelaine.
    Lorraine said, truthfully, “That’s a nice dress you’re wearing.” The adaptive garment wasn’t tucked in, though. A nude thigh, varicose, protruded.
    â€œSuch a bitch, Lily, letting you go out like that.” Sally poked the fabric into place.
    â€œBitch,” echoed Annabel.
    Everyone smiled as the Wanderer handed over Lorraine’s phone.
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    Doing more time
    At Tuesday’s News & Views, Annabel reported, people talked about Big Man biting an orderly. “We didn’t even open the Province .”
    A doctor visited Lorraine.
    After supper a bat landed on 17-A’s windowsill. Flapping towels, Annabel and Angelique rushed about till the creature swooped away.
    â€œClose window.”
    â€œStupid!” Sally cried. “By morning there’s no air left.”
    â€œNo oxygen,” said Annabel.
    â€œYou studied chemistry?”
    Angelique rolled her eyes.
    Drinking water, Lorraine felt dry as drought.
    Josie came by. “Little treat, girls!” Twinkies.
    Sally ate them all, left the wrappers on her table and limped to the sink to splash hands and hot face.
    â€œYou’ve spilled, I’ll skid!”
    â€œThen skedaddle to your damn friends, Annabel.” Sally grabbed paper towels.
    â€œAt least I have friends. And family, Mrs . Knox.”
    â€œEric is a retard, Eric is a retard!”
    â€œFatty fatty two-by-four!”
    Wads of wet towel flew, Lorraine sobbed, the Boss Lady entered.
    â€œQuiet time, ladies?” She scanned the room. “Mrs. Knox, obesity shortens lives. Try to control yourself. That cellphone’s back? No one told me.”
    After she left, a whiff of skunk remained in the air of 17-A.
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    Wednesday
    Midnight showers had suppressed the