Monday, December 07, 2009
Merle
The young woman plopped into the bench while the old man grumbled over the board. "I need your help," she announced.
"Piss off," the old man said, not looking up. The girl stood her ground, but glanced at the board. "Oh please," she said, and moved the white queen against the old man's knight. "If you're going to play yourself, at least try to make it a game. I have your king in three moves."
The old man studied the board, muttered "Buh!" and threw the pieces off the table. He fumbled with his brake, and tried to roll himself away. The girl stepped in front, and jammed her foot against the wheel. "I saw what you did," she said, "with that kid."
His chair trapped, the old man threw his hands in the air, and slumped back in frustration. "What, missy? What do you think you saw?"
"Last week, in Hell's Kitchen," she began. "That kid ran into the street, in front of the cab. Remember? I saw it. I saw the kid in the street, and then the kid wasn't in the street. He was just.. back on the sidewalk, next to his mother. Like, instantly. And then I saw you, and you were doing something with your hand, sort of drawing something in the air. And it was kind of... glowing." She paused, waiting for a reaction. The old man just frowned, looking away. "I saw you!" she yelled, shaking his chair.
"Buh!" he spat. "You saw nothing! That was nothing. Not like when I was..." he trailed off, fidgeted in his chair. "And what is it you think I can help with, missy?" The girl, surprised at the chance, stumbled to explain. "Uh, my friend Gwen. I think she was kidnapped. The police won't do anything, and I-"
"Wait," the old man interrupted. "What was your friend's name again?"
"Gwen. Guinevere really, but she hates that name," she answered, a little confused. "What does that matter?"
The old man blinked, and stared hard at the young woman. He was tired, but he wasn't an idiot. A sign like that, he couldn't ignore. There are rules to these things.
"Well crap," he sputtered. "It matters, missy. Now why don't you make yourself useful, and push me to where you last saw your friend." The girl, still not sure what just happened, did what he asked. "Thank you! Thank you so much, Mr..."
"Merle. It's just Merle."
large size here.
