Once A Thief Read online

packed into a box, which the petite female takes. She indicates for the child to accompany her in leaving the shop.

  The two of them walk back to the abandoned building where the petite female picks the padlock and opens the door. Inside, they unpack the box. Once the lantern is working, the sleeping bags and blankets are turned into two fairly cosy beds in one corner. The clothes are sorted out into what will fit the child and what will fit the petite female. Then each picks an outfit to change into.

  The small girl pulls on a long sleeved tunic over fleece pants. There are also boots and a lined felt coat with a hood. The petite female slips into a fitted black leather vest which zips up the front. That is paired with black jeans and slip on shoes. Elastics are used to pull back the matted hair of each into very rough ponytails. Each of them also transfers the contents of their pockets from their old clothes to the new ones.

  Once they are changed, they leave again, this time headed for the closest grocery store. The small girl is set inside a shopping cart and watches with wide eyes as they pass through aisle after aisle of food and other items. The petite female is very selective of what she adds to the basket, mainly choosing fruits, vegetables, nuts and breads for food. Some cheap dishes are added, as is a large container of olive oil. A few personal items including hairbrushes finish off the shopping trip. When they reach the check out, the whole lot costs the petite woman nearly all the money she has left. This time everything is packed into bags, which get split between the petite female and the child for the walk back to the basement they are slowly converting into a home.

  Inside, the grocery bags are set inside the box which had been used to transport their purchases from the junk shop. Both eat a little bit. Then the petite female picks up the olive oil and a hairbrush.

  She has the small girl remove her shirt and settle herself on the floor. The petite female pours a generous amount of the oil onto the girl's hair and works it in well before removing the packaging from the brush. As gently as she can, beginning with the ends, the petite female works the brush through the badly tangled hair. The small girl squirms a little, but remains sitting through the entire process. At the end, once her hair is as smooth as it will ever get, the petite female braids it, securing an elastic around the end of the braid.

  The small girl is yawning widely, her eyes glazing over, by the time the petite female is finished. Once she is free to move, she goes over to curl up in one of the newly made beds and is quickly asleep.

  Now the petite female works a generous amount of the oil into her own hair and begins the even longer task of detangling it. Eventually, she is able to braid it. As soon as the braid is tied off and the cap is back on the oil, she strips off her clothes, turns off the lantern, and retires to the second bed.

  The small girl is still asleep when the petite female gets up and dressed. This time the vest is black denim and laces up, but it is paired with the jeans and shoes from the previous day. Only then does she turn on the lantern, which flickers a little before settling into steady light. In the other bed, the small girl stirs, but does not quite wake. Leaving her be, the petite female helps herself to a bit of cold breakfast.

  The child finally wakes, looking disoriented, as the petite female is cleaning up from her meal. The small girl blinks in the lantern light before shrinking back into the blankets. The petite female holds out a piece of fruit, but the child hesitates, wide eyes fixed on the face above the proffered food. Then her growling stomach decides her and she takes the fruit.

  While she eats, the petite female surveys the room. After a moment, she shifts around some of the empty crates to form a table and two seats plus some rough shelving. Once those are in place, she unpacks the contents of the box onto the shelving.

  When the fruit is gone, the child creeps from her bed, coming over to get more food, which the petite female sets out on the makeshift table. The small girl clambers onto one of the seats and starts into her breakfast. Done organizing their home for the moment, the petite female sits opposite, watching the child eat.

  Finally, her stomach more full than at any time in her short life, the girl turns her attention to her companion, studying her critically.

  “Who are you?”

  The petite female takes a deep breath, her expression turning to a frown, “I...” Her voice is rough from disuse, “I don't...” She coughs to clear her throat, “I don't remember now.”

  The child frowns, “How can you not remember?” She tilts her head to one side, her eyes still studying the petite female, “Grama once said you'd been around forever. She didn't think you could talk.”

  The dry chuckle is rough and ends in another cough.

  “You don't look very old. Not like Grama.”

  Again the dry chuckle and cough.

  “You don't remember your name at all?”

  The petite female shakes her head, “Or my age or where I came here from.”

  The girl's curious frown deepens, “So what do I call you?”

  The response is a shrug, “Pick somethin'.”

  The child's expression twists indecisively, “I donno.”

  “What's your name?”

  “Brina.” She looks around the room, “How d'you know how to do all this?”

  The petite female shrugs, “Someone somewhere trained me well, I guess.”

  “How'd you get so much money yesterday?” Brina slips from her seat and goes to examine the contents of the makeshift shelves, “I never get anythin' that useful.”

  “You don't pick your marks well.”

  Brina frowns as she turns back to the seated woman, “Huh?”

  “Sure you know how to pick pockets. Most kids here do. But you can't tell a person who'd have money or other valuables from one who doesn't.”

  The girl's shoulders slump as she turns back to her examination. A moment later, she straightens a little and turns to the petite female again, “Did you do all this for me?”

  She shrugs, “It felt necessary.”

  The words earn her a confused expression, “Felt necessary?”

  The petite female just shrugs again.

  Brina returns to her seat at the table before asking another question, “Now what?”

  “Now...” The petite female studies the child critically for a long moment, “Now you learn to make somethin' of your life.”

  The girl's frown returns again, “Like what?”

  “So long as you're willin' to learn an' try new things, you can become anythin'... anyone... you want to be. Have you ever had a day dream?”

  “Kinda,” Brina swallows hard, “I wanted me an' Mommy an' Grama to live in a real house an' have good food an' good clothes. Like all the people who walk by an' never see us.”

  The petite female chuckles, slowly shaking her head, “One lesson at a time, I think. You need to learn to pick your marks.”

  Brina's shoulders slump, “How's that gonna help?”

  “It'll keep us in money so we can eat while you learn the next lesson.”

  “The next lesson?” The girl looks sceptical.

  The petite female chuckles, “One lesson at a time. Let's go.” She stands and Brina does the same. Together, they leave their new home, making sure the padlock is secure on the outside of the door.

  “Wow!” Brina swallows hard as she watches the petite female count out bills and coins, “That's so much money.”

  The petite female laughs, pocketing the bills and handing the coins to the girl, “It's less than we spent yesterday.”

  Brina looks sceptical as she pockets the coins, “Now what? We still have food.”

  “How 'bout a hot meal?”

  The girl nods, her whole face brightening. Then her shoulders slump, “The restaurants never let people like us in.”

  “We don't look like we did,” The petite female reachs for a small hand, “It'll be okay. You'll see.”

  Hand in hand, they walk to a small diner several blocks from their home. When they enter, the waitress behind the cou
nter barely glances over them. However, once they are seated in a booth, she brings over menus.

  “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “Water, please.” The petite female requests.

  “Water.” Brina echoes.

  “Okay.” The waitress hands each of them a menu before going to get glasses of water.

  While she is gone, Brina opens the menu. She studies the pictures for a minute before looking up at her companion.

  “What is this?”

  “It's a menu. It lists all the food the diner serves,” The petite female chuckles, “Any idea what you'd like?”

  Brina shrugs, “Somethin' hot. I dunno.”

  The waitress returns to set two glasses on the table and take their order. The petite female orders for both of them and the waitress leaves again.

  Brina glances around, seeming somewhat lost in thought before focusing on her companion again, “So what's the next lesson?”

  “You learn to read so you can order your own food.”

  The girl scrunches up her face at the idea, “Learn to read? Just for that?”

  The petite female laughs, “Well, not just for that. You'll be amazed what becomes possible when you can read.”

  Brina appears sceptical, but quits asking questions.

  When their food arrives, the girl turns her attention to eating. Or at least until she is full. Then she spends some time studying the petite female across from her.

  “You really don't remember your name? At all?”

  The petite female takes a deep breath, “I know I've been here a very long time. There was... something... I wanted to forget. But in forgettin' that