RUN, HER ONLY THOUGHT NOW, ESCAPE. SHE STARTED VIOLENTLY, AS THE SHADOW FELL ACROSS HER FACE,

THEY STOOD STARING AT EACH OTHER.

SHE COULD FEEL HER HEART BEATING WILDLY INSIDE HER CHEST. SHE HAD NEVER BEEN THIS CLOSE TO THE BAD LADY BEFORE. SHE HAD SEEN HER ON HE STREET MANY TIMES; BUT SHE HAD NEVER BEFORE LOOKED STRAIGHT INTO THE BAD LADY'S EYES. SHE NOTICED THAT THEY WERE A BRIGHT, CORNFLOWER BLUE. AND, STRANGELY ENOUGH, THE BAD LADY DIDN'T LOOK BAD, OR EVEN ANGRY. SHE WAS SMILING; AND SHE WAS CARRYING A PLATE OF SOMETHING IN HER HAND.

"LOOKING FOR SKIPPY?" ASKED THE BAD LADY.

THE CHILD NODDED.

"YES N'A'M" SHE REPLIED. HER WORDS WERE ALMOST INAUDIBLE. SHE HELD THE WILTED DANDELIONS CLOSE TO HER CHEST.

"THIS IS FOR HIM.

WANT TO SEE HIM EAT? YOU CAN PET HIM WHEN

HE COMES OUT OF THE CELLAR."

"OKAY."

THE BAD LADY WENT CLOSER TO THE CELLAR DOOR AND CALLED: "HERE SKIPPY. SKIPPEE. .SKIPPEE...HERE SKIPPY. DINNER."

•

HE CAME DASHING UP OUT OF THE CELLAR, AND MADE STRAIGHT FOR THE DISH OF FOOD. THE CHILD REACHED OVER TIMIDLY AND BEGAN TO STROKE HIS BACK WHILE HE ATE. HER EYES SHONE WITH A DEEP HAPPINESS.

THE BAD LADY HAD LIGHTED A CIGARETTE FROM A PACK SHE CARRIED IN THE POCKET OF HER FADED BLUE JEANS. SHE WAS WEARING A RED PLAID SHIRT; AND HER HAIR WAS CUT SHORT, LIKE DADDY'S. LIKE DADDY'S. THE CHILD

STARED AT HER WITH INTEREST.

"YOU LIKE CATS, GIRLIE?"

"YES NA 'M. VERY MUCH."

"WHAT'S YOURS LIKE?"

10

I CAN'T HAVE A CAT, MOMMY WON'T LET ME."