Page 27 of Exchange of Heart

‘Actually, we’re looking for something very specific. Do you know if someone brought in a black umbrella with aliens on it?’ I crossed my fingers and hoped.

‘They’re not aliens,’ Corey muttered.

‘Whatever.’ I waved my hand dismissively. It was the best description I could muster for the blurs I’d seen that night.

The man shook his head. ‘No, no umbrellas, sorry.’

My shoulders slumped from the slight hope I’d allowed Corey to talk me into.

‘We do have plenty of raincoats though.’ He pointed to a dusty pile.

‘No, that’s oka—’

‘Let me show you.’ His short legs hurried to the middle of the store.

As he reached into the pile, small bugs scampered across the floor in search of a new hiding spot. I grabbed Corey’s arm, repulsed and shocked that the health department hadn’t shut this place down.

‘We’re in a hurry, sorry,’ said Corey.

He tried to drag me into the maze, avoiding Scrotum Cat and, weirdly, all the cracks in the floor.

‘It’s here and ready.’ The balding man lifted a raincoat missing an arm.

‘Thanks so much, but we’re after a very specific umbrella.’ I held tight to Corey’s arm as I shuffled backwards.

‘You don’t like it?’ The man frowned.

‘It’s great, it’s just not what we’re after.’ My foot took another step back.

‘You can have it for twenty cents. Final offer.’ He thrust it forward, hope gleaming in his eyes.

This time, I took a larger step back so the milk-stained raincoat wouldn’t touch me. At least, I hoped it was milk.

‘Watch out,’ Corey squealed.

I stumbled over the box behind me and landed in a pile of unwashed towels, the back of my jeans dampening as they absorbed the moisture.

‘Why are the towels wet?’ I howled.

‘Ah, those were donated this morning after a litter of puppies were born on the street. Right there.’ He pointed out the window excitedly.

‘So, what, you’re selling dirty things covered in bodily fluid?’

‘Nothing a little wash can’t fix.’ He shrugged.

I bounced back to my feet refusing to cry, and tugged Corey’s arm to the exit. I hissed at Scrotum Cat who padded along next to us, then immediately regretted it. The poor naked thing was probably waiting for us to open the door so he could escape this shit pit. Once we’d made it outside, I opened my mouth as wide as my jaw would allow and sucked in fresh air to replenish my starved brain while Scrotum Cat watched from the window.

‘Blink if you need help,’ I told him.

I stared into his emerald eyes until I was convinced he was okay.

‘We’ll try the next one,’ Corey insisted.

My shoulders sagged. ‘And then what? The next one, then the next one? When does it end?’

‘You can’t give up, just like your ridiculous password says.’ Corey placed his hand on my shoulder. ‘We don’t have any other options.’

His words were horrifyingly true. I tried not to let them wrap around my brain, but the lack of control over this situation crushed my soul one letter at a time and riled me up.