she walked her cartmaybe two three loose plastic bags in it to one side immediately outside of the 99¢ Store automatic doors and stopped to hold her cellfone to her ear

I can’t she said

                I can’t. You’re gonna have to wait til my next payday before I spend any more money on you.

No. I can’t. 

Please.

Stop.

Please stop. What money I have left is already spent. I have bills due, I’m not gonna give that money to you.

her expression was pained

as he walked past her he wasnt going to look her in the eye wasnt going to acknowledge that he overheard what she said what she pleaded

I can’t, I can’t. Please find someone else to help you. You’ve tapped me out.

who would do that to her

who would she let do that to her

                                the usual suspects

walking up behind her he noted her flaccid legs she couldnt run on them if her life depended upon it her spine was stooped her face was linedshe wasnt old shed been worked over the whole of her life and whoever was on the other end was probably only one of many who worked her over

you dont have to lay a hand on someone to beat them  and she was beat up

I can’t. Please. 

Please ask someone else. 

I’m barely feeding myself. the loose plastic handles tossed in a wind that came up shook  anchored by what little they contained 

she shopped in a 99¢ Store for Christssake

if he was panhandling he wouldnt dare ask her for a cent 

for some reason she just couldnt say NO and hang up

I can’t  isnt NO

NO

HANG UP

SLIP THEIR LEVERAGE

DONT ANSWER WHEN THEY CALL BACK because they will

a halfhour later he was still twisting on her hook Fuckin people! he said out loud to no one other than himself if someone glared at him hed bark FUCK! then Sorry Tourettes  he didnt mind lying to strangers hed never see again in his life Fuck em  Fuck em if they couldnt take a joke

1458,  Monday,  28  1. 19

1308,  Saturday,  9  2. 19

B B King  How Blue Can You Get  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l45f28PzfCI