They all looked the same to Colin: charred fists of meat.
He stamped his feet and shrugged deeper into his wool coat.
It was too bigbig enough to fit another sweater inside if hed had one, which he didnt.
Credit: Sasha Ledney Photography
The bitter predawn wind clawed right up his stomach and back, freezeburning his skin.
Tys thick, straight brows lifted, but refused to arch.
One flies, Prep School.
Surprised you didnt know that.
She snorted, revealing a crooked front tooth.
He hadnt been to school since he was thirteen, more than four years ago.
That life was in the past.
Rat, he said, because it was her least favorite of the two.
And I call the nose.
She spat on the ground, then rubbed it into the cracked sidewalk with the heel of her boot.
Hayak likes you better.
Thats cause Im likable, Ty.
He grinned now, and she rolled her eyes.
Another customer served, and they moved to the front of the line.
No, he said.
No, not you two.
Hayak cannot feed you today.
Colin flashed his best smile and pulled off his hat in an attempt to look less shifty.
Come on, Hayak.
You said we could pay at the end of the week
No.
He shook his finger at them sternly.
No,yousay you pay at the end of the week.
Hayak say you’re able to pay now.
Colin looked over his shoulder and winced at the grumbling line behind him.
He stepped off to the side and cuffed the mans burly shoulder.
You know Im good for it, Hayak.
You know I wouldnt lie.
She raised a silent fist, like she might punch him, and he fell back a step.
Hayak, youre right, I should have given you money last week.
Only, I didnt get paid, okay?
So it wasnt my fault.
That much was true.
Hampton Industries was fat on green.
So fat, it didnt get off its lazy ass to pay its workers half the time.
As Hayak shouted back, his face turned progressively redder and his eyes began to bulge.
It was just a matter of time before he went for the tongs to beat Colin upside the head.
Colin pulled his hat back down over his ears, taking the lecture with a feigned look of shame.
Shifting left drew the cart mans gaze further away from Ty.
She was just about to make a grab for the prize when motion behind her caught Colins eye.
He was flanked by a man twice his size but half as bright.
A hammer, hired to watch Jeds back so the greenback bosses couldnt stick a knife in it.
A place so cold your breath turned to ice before it left your mouth.
Colin coughed once, and Ty abandoned her mission without so much as a glance up.
Morning, Hayak, said Jed.
He walked straight to the front of the line.
Mr. Schultz, good morning.
Yes, Hayak recovered, keeping Colin in his sight.
I give you my best one.
Saliva filled his mouth.
Hed eaten yesterday, but it felt like longer.
He swallowed as Hayak wrapped the bird in paper and handed it to the Peoples Man.
Jed was flush as a greenback.
There was a bite of jealousy, then a swell of admiration.
Your moneys no good here, Mr. Schultz, said Hayak, a huge smile plastered across his face.
Colin couldnt help gagging, to which Hayak responded with a glare.
Good man, said Jed.
Imon put his money away.
Jed turned to Colin.
You like pigeon, Mr. Walter?
Colins eyes went wide.
They were surprised, Colin knew, that Jed knew his name.
He was surprised himself.
Colins mouth gaped like a fish when Jed handed him the steaming, charred meat.
Thank you, Mr. Schultz.
Hows Cherish, Colin?
His eyes were dark and piercing.
Powerful, Colin thought.
He wondered if he was capable of such a commanding stare himself.
Colin gave her a puzzled lookit wasnt like Ty to back away from anyone, famous or not.
The money you sent helped, thank you, sir.
The doc said she needs clean water for drinking.
Thats what we bought.
Colin had stiffened at the mention of family but tried to play it cool.
Jed didnt need to be bothered with all the details.
Good boy, said Jed, nodding with interest.
So Colin, Hayden was supposed to meet me this morning.
He say anything to you about it?
Jed reached for another hunk of meatrat or pigeon, Colin couldnt telland returned Hayaks smile.
His brother had grown unpredictable these last few years.
Hayden was three years older than Colin, but had never adjusted to Metaltown the way Colin had.
Ma said it was because hed gotten his heart broken when theyd pulled him out of school.
She didnt know the half of it.
Colins fingers were beginning to thaw beneath the crinkling paper holding the bird.
The air had a sweet, heady odor that would only grow stronger as the day plowed on.
Hes been sick, said Colin.
He did say he was going to meet you, but I guess he fell behind.
He was up puking all night.
Which was probably true, wherever he was.
Colin hadnt seen him in two days.
Tys chin lifted in surprise before digging back into her scarf.
Not the flu, I hope.
No sir, just ate something rotten.
He was going to punch Hayden square in the face when he surfaced.
Well, thats okay then, said Jed.
Since hes indisposed, maybe you’re able to do me a favor.
Colin took Jeds lead, and bit straight into the wing.
It was tough and gamey, but warm.
He felt Tys glare from behind Jed.
Sure, okay, said Colin.
Jed eyed him appraisingly.
A friend of mine lost his girl to the corn flu a few weeks past.
Hes been missing work, and Id hate to see them lose their place over it.
Jed did this kind of stuff a lot.
It had been enough to keep their lights on, and put food in their bellies for days.
Jed stepped away from the cart, and the people in line tentatively resumed their shuffle.
They live in Bakerstown, by the Cats Tale, you know where that is?
Sure, said Colin, taking another bite.
He used to live in Bakerstown before hed left school.
Imon removed the wallet again, this time taking out a stash of green bills half an inch thick.
Colin had to remind himself to keep chewing.
Just one of those bills could fill six jugs with clean drinking water.
Another could pay the power at his apartment through the next month.
Can you take this down to him this morning?
Colin waffled, glancing at Ty.
He faced Colin again.
I can count on you, right Colin?
Of course, Mr. Schultz.
Its just that Ive got work in an hour, and Bakerstown is way up Fifth Street.
I mean, Ill do it, its just .
You know how the foreman gets if youre late.
Colin couldnt afford to push his luck with Minnick.
Ill talk to your foreman.
Youre in Small Parts labor, right?
Yes, sir, said Colin.
Go ahead and take your pal.
He stuck a thumb behind him in Tys direction.
The concern that had come into Jeds face while hed been talking about the family dissipated.
He slung a hand around the back of Colins neck and gave a companionable squeeze.
Youre a good kid, arent you?
Remind me of me when I was your age.
Man of the house.
Colin grinned, and felt his ears grow warm under his hat.
Technically, Hayden was the man of the house, but Hayden wasnt here, was he?
Colin wasnt so irritated that his brother had blown off Jed anymore.
In fact, Hayden could go right ahead and stay gone as long as he liked.
Say hello to Cherish for me.
Jed turned back the way hed come, disappearing into the gray smog.
Colin felt ten feet tall.
Breakfast, a personal hello from the biggest man in Metaltown,andthe morning off work?
It couldnt get much better than that.
Wipe that grin off your ugly face.
Ty snatched the remainder of the bird from his loose grasp.
He pulled his hat back, smoothed one gloved hand over his buzzed head, and winked at her.
Ugly, Ty repeated.
Then they turned the opposite way, toward Bakerstown and the rising sun.
