Tiona (a sequel to "Vaz") Read Online Free
Author: Laurence Dahners
kosher to apply for both spots at the same time?”
Weitzel smiled, “If Bob Eisner is fool enough to pass you over, just let me know. I’ll keep the spot in my lab open for at least a few more days in the hopes that he does.”
***
Tiona resolved to stay on campus long enough to be sure Ronnie would have wake up and go back to his place. She got ahead on her reading in one of the study halls and finally headed home just in time to stop at the shelter for dinner.
She stopped at the ATM on Franklin Street which issued her $300. Her nimble fingers made quick work of folding the bills into three little macramé cubes containing $100 each. Then it was on down the street to the shelter where she shuffled into the line of homeless waiting to eat. Tiona said nothing, merely listened to the conversations going on around her.
They were serving one of Tiona’s favorites, day old pizza donated by pizza places around town. She got a slice of cheese pizza, a handful of slightly soft grapes and a piece of overcooked broccoli. At the tables, she sat next to a woman with a black eye and two young daughters.
Probably married to someone like Ronnie, Tiona thought. It wasn’t hard to imagine Ronnie getting drunk and hitting a woman.
Hollow eyed, the woman looked like life had overwhelmed her. Her two girls were abnormally quiet and Tiona suspected that they had just become homeless. Judging from little bits of dirt and grass clinging to the youngest daughter’s jacket, it looked like they might have slept outside last night, if not for a few nights. Tiona’s suspicion was confirmed when the youngest girl looked up at her mother and asked, “Will we get to sleep inside tonight Mommy?”
Tiona thought the young mother was going to tear up when she looked down at her daughter. Instead, she blinked a couple of times, then said, “I hope so Bonnie, but I don’t know much about how things work here yet.”
The older daughter said, “Couldn’t we at least call Daddy? He’s always got money.”
For several long moments, the girls’ mother didn’t say anything, though her throat worked a little. Then she said throatily, “We can call if you like. But remember that daddy said no money unless we live with him. Do you want to do that?”
The girl immediately shook her head as if frightened. After a bit she said, “What are we going to do?”
Staring down at her plate, the young mother said, “If we can find someone for you to stay with during the day, then I can work. If I can work, we’ll have the money to rent an apartment. I’ve asked your aunt if you can stay with her, but I think she’s afraid of your Daddy just like I am. I’m hoping that the social worker I’m supposed to talk to tomorrow might have some ideas for me.”
Tiona had finished her pizza and the grapes. She’d even eaten a bite of the lifeless broccoli. Reaching in her pocket she found the three cubes of folded bills. When one of the homeless men sat down next to her and said, “Hi, I’m Jimmy Ray…” Tiona got up, lifted her tray and turned. Palming the little cubes of cash into the young mother’s jacket pocket, Tiona headed for the trash receptacle.
A minute later, Tiona was walking north on Martin Luther King Blvd., the hand in her pocket firmly gripping her little can of pepper spray.
When Tiona got to her apartment, Ronnie was gone. The relief she felt at his absence made her wonder why she put up with him.
***
At the tiny chime in his ear, Zack glanced up at his HUD. He looked over at Ralph, “Well, well, well. Guess who’s going out to lasso Kadoma and bring her back? Now all I’m waiting for is the follow-up message saying that Sophie is going with me!”
Ralph stared at Zack, horror in his eyes.
“Oh come on, don’t go looking all upset. You know they couldn’t have picked a better man than me !”
Ralph breathed, “I told them not to put you on my mission! I mean, I’m a pretty mild-mannered guy, but
Weitzel smiled, “If Bob Eisner is fool enough to pass you over, just let me know. I’ll keep the spot in my lab open for at least a few more days in the hopes that he does.”
***
Tiona resolved to stay on campus long enough to be sure Ronnie would have wake up and go back to his place. She got ahead on her reading in one of the study halls and finally headed home just in time to stop at the shelter for dinner.
She stopped at the ATM on Franklin Street which issued her $300. Her nimble fingers made quick work of folding the bills into three little macramé cubes containing $100 each. Then it was on down the street to the shelter where she shuffled into the line of homeless waiting to eat. Tiona said nothing, merely listened to the conversations going on around her.
They were serving one of Tiona’s favorites, day old pizza donated by pizza places around town. She got a slice of cheese pizza, a handful of slightly soft grapes and a piece of overcooked broccoli. At the tables, she sat next to a woman with a black eye and two young daughters.
Probably married to someone like Ronnie, Tiona thought. It wasn’t hard to imagine Ronnie getting drunk and hitting a woman.
Hollow eyed, the woman looked like life had overwhelmed her. Her two girls were abnormally quiet and Tiona suspected that they had just become homeless. Judging from little bits of dirt and grass clinging to the youngest daughter’s jacket, it looked like they might have slept outside last night, if not for a few nights. Tiona’s suspicion was confirmed when the youngest girl looked up at her mother and asked, “Will we get to sleep inside tonight Mommy?”
Tiona thought the young mother was going to tear up when she looked down at her daughter. Instead, she blinked a couple of times, then said, “I hope so Bonnie, but I don’t know much about how things work here yet.”
The older daughter said, “Couldn’t we at least call Daddy? He’s always got money.”
For several long moments, the girls’ mother didn’t say anything, though her throat worked a little. Then she said throatily, “We can call if you like. But remember that daddy said no money unless we live with him. Do you want to do that?”
The girl immediately shook her head as if frightened. After a bit she said, “What are we going to do?”
Staring down at her plate, the young mother said, “If we can find someone for you to stay with during the day, then I can work. If I can work, we’ll have the money to rent an apartment. I’ve asked your aunt if you can stay with her, but I think she’s afraid of your Daddy just like I am. I’m hoping that the social worker I’m supposed to talk to tomorrow might have some ideas for me.”
Tiona had finished her pizza and the grapes. She’d even eaten a bite of the lifeless broccoli. Reaching in her pocket she found the three cubes of folded bills. When one of the homeless men sat down next to her and said, “Hi, I’m Jimmy Ray…” Tiona got up, lifted her tray and turned. Palming the little cubes of cash into the young mother’s jacket pocket, Tiona headed for the trash receptacle.
A minute later, Tiona was walking north on Martin Luther King Blvd., the hand in her pocket firmly gripping her little can of pepper spray.
When Tiona got to her apartment, Ronnie was gone. The relief she felt at his absence made her wonder why she put up with him.
***
At the tiny chime in his ear, Zack glanced up at his HUD. He looked over at Ralph, “Well, well, well. Guess who’s going out to lasso Kadoma and bring her back? Now all I’m waiting for is the follow-up message saying that Sophie is going with me!”
Ralph stared at Zack, horror in his eyes.
“Oh come on, don’t go looking all upset. You know they couldn’t have picked a better man than me !”
Ralph breathed, “I told them not to put you on my mission! I mean, I’m a pretty mild-mannered guy, but
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