Free The Poor Man's Girl (The Girls) by S R Vicente Page A

woman.
    “Hi,” the woman replied. Marie noted the woman’s strong Northern accent. Since her first night after moving in, Marie had imagined the neighbours to be more rough and ready but this woman appeared friendly enough. She put her book down walked across her weedy garden bare foot.
    “I’m Marie – moved in a week ago now,” she said officially introducing herself.
    “Nice to meet you,” the woman replied, “I’m Sandra and well…I guess I’ve been here far too long”, she continued sounding a little worn out. Marie could see dark circles under her eyes. For such a young woman it looked out of sorts.
    “Don’t stay too long huh; you’ll never get out of this shithole!”
    Marie knew exactly what was being implied and felt a pang of pity for this attractive, young lady.
    “Have you been trying?” Marie asked. Sandra nodded, “Since I arrived, never going to happen though, not with Andrew. He’s an idiot,” she said thinking, “Sorry. Andrew’s the dickhead I married!”
    “Right,” Marie said, not knowing how to respond. “You want come over for coffee? Talk maybe?”
    Sandra seemed surprised at the request, like invites didn’t often come in her way.
    “Sure, why not?”
    Marie led the way back to where she’d been say with her book and offered her coffee.
    They sat out in the sun together for the rest of the morning as they discussed books. Marie was surprised at the extent of Sandra’s knowledge. She was self-educated and enjoyed working her way through several books a week. If she couldn’t physically escape from her current situation, at least she had the option of using her imagination to go somewhere else with the help of a good story.
    Marie felt waves of despair radiate from her as the morning progressed. It was clear that Sandra wanted much more from the life she currently had. Sandra had told he all about the husband she didn’t want. He’d been out of work a long time and didn’t seem that interested in finding a new one, preferring to use Sandra’s meagre salary from waitressing.
    Marie found herself incredibly attracted to her new friend and struggled to keep her eyes from wandering over her sexy body. Although small in every way, she was perfectly proportioned and her skin was like porcelain.
    Just as Sandra was leaving, Marie turned round and asked if they could do this again, meet up and chat over coffee or something stronger if she wanted. Sandra had shrugged but gave her a flirty smile. At least that was how Marie interpreted it.
    She had put her hand on Sandra’s bare shoulder finding her too irresistible. Sandra hadn’t flinched, holding her gaze confidently. Marie felt lost inside her hazel eyes, like they could lead you somewhere else. Somewhere unexpected. “Please, I’d really like it!”
    “Well I wouldn’t want to disappoint you then,” she replied just before giving her a quick kiss on the lips and running off like a child who had done something naughty. Marie brought her fingers to her mouth, touching her lips in a pleasant surprise, realising she was actually pleased she’d ended up in this dump after all.
     
     
    ********
    That evening, she was sat out with a bottle of red and a fleece blanket wrapped round her shoulders. It was just enough to ward off the chill that now lurked in the night air. She was sat in complete darkness and above her; she had a great view of a brilliantly clear night sky. She also had a perfect view her neighbour’s property and could see they had built a fire in an old oil drum which was slowly burning away.
    Several cars, none that she had seen before were strewn down a strip of grass that ran down the side of Sandra’s house. She had watched a short, balding man in a checked shirt come out several times to stoke the fire.
    With a bottle of beer always in his hand, she had heard him talk to himself. She hadn’t quite been able to make out what he had been mumbling about but she’d worked out that this must have been