2. Tatoo Girl

Ow! Where'd that dang curb come from? How am I supposed to get anywhere if I can't even steer this cart? Maybe Tony's a little bit right about it being too big. Well, too big in comparison to teeny, tiny Elizabeth Whatshername. Where the heck did the name Betty come from anyway? Mom would have a cow.

What's this? How'd a baby pacifier get into my cart? Better keep it. I'll just tidy up the mess that nasty old curb made. There, there now. All my stuff nice and cozy.

I like checking on my stuff, just to be sure it's where it should be. You never know where you're going to find good stuff out here. Like that backpack that says Mono Lake. It's quite attractive with that little bird woven onto the pocket. Broken zipper doesn't bother me. I keep my socks and personal lady stuff in there, like my brush.

Last week I found lip gloss over where the teenagers hang out behind the market. Flavored lip gloss. Who thinks of this stuff? It tastes kind of good, strawberry I think. Teenagers lose a lot of things. Jackets, hair ties, CDs. Once I found some earrings and a set of car keys, but I didn't take them. I bet they drive their parents nuts. I sure did, but not from losing things.

Oh, no. Where's my Dodgers hat?
It was in here yesterday. Where is it!?
Hurry, Betty. Damn, damn, I hate it when this happens.
Not me! I didn't. Stupid curb! Ow!
Stupid, stupid...

"Are you okay, lady?" I freeze.
Don't cry, Betty. Stop it now.

Agh! She's touching my stuff! I try to pack my stuff in tighter, but more keeps falling out of the cart. Such a mess. Colors on the ground, glass, clothes. My Dodger's hat! I stuff it under my sweater and glare at her.

"All chill now, " the girl lifts my cart back on the sidewalk and pats my stuff.

Betty! Calm down. She's being nice.
Okay I know. My stuff is okay. I know.

There she goes with her tatoos, walking away, that girl.
She was being nice.

5/5/07