Good Woman Blues Read Online Free Page B

to find MADE IN TAIWAN on some
worthless doodad,” Monique said, with a giggle.
    “Excuse me, but Fred was not made in Taiwan,”
Erikka answered as she held on to the frog. “He was made in
China.”
    “S’cuse me, Fred.”
    When she realized another shopper was staring
at her face, the trip and the jokes turned sour. Erikka turned
away. Suddenly she wanted out of there, out of life, and to be away
from the world. Something in her expression must have shown the
change.
    Monique’s smile faded. “Hey, you okay?”
    Erikka put Fred down and looked for the
easiest path toward an exit. Her chest felt tight. She gasped when
a man bumped into her. His apology only made her more anxious.
Backing away, she nearly fell over a table of dark blue glassware.
Two small bottles and a candy dish wobbled, and then fell. Monique
caught the candy dish. The bottles couldn’t be rescued. One broke
while the other one bounced and rolled beneath an antique table.
Erikka could feel everyone looking at her. She stared at the floor,
pushing hard against the tight gloom wrapping itself around her
heart.
    “Gotta charge ya.”
    A plump light brown woman with hair dyed
fiery red pointed to a sign that said broken items had to be
bought. She lifted her chin to gaze steadily at Erikka through her
no-line bifocals. Erikka shook her head. Tears formed in the comers
of her eyes.
    “No problem,” Monique spoke up quickly,
pulling a wallet from her purse. “How much do we owe you?”
    While Monique followed the woman, Erikka
retreated to a comer. She tried to disappear between two tall
armoires aged by decades of dirt. They gave her the illusion of
escape if only for a few moments. Still, she dreaded the long walk
out of the flea market. Erikka tried to remember even one
relaxation technique. That damn social worker thought she knew so
much. What about the horrible flea market panic attack? Miss
I-got-my-shit-together hadn’t covered this situation.
    “You okay, miss?”
    “Good. Just fine.”
    Erikka flattened against the rough wood
surface and faced a tall stranger. She managed what she hoped was a
smile. Her mouth felt pulled too tight at the comers. The effort
must have failed. His brown eyes reflected concern.
    Fine creases in his toasted almond skin
fanned out from them as he frowned.
    “If you’re worried about those little old
bottles—”
    “I’ve got money,” Erikka said, as though he
were a mugger, and then turned away from his examination.
    “Your cousin paid already. Aunt Therese is
busy trying to sell her more stuff. I’m Gabriel.”
    She focused on the pattern of blue lines in
his short- sleeved shirt. “Right. Thanks. I’ve got to find her, my
cousin I mean.” Erikka started around him.
    Gabriel gave her a gentle smile as though she
were a lost, frightened child. “I’ll take you to her. Way we got
things set up, it’s sorta like a maze in here.” He led the way
through a path of tables and chairs.
    Two turns later they were in a comer of the
large booth. Monique laughed at whatever Gabriel’s aunt Therese was
saying.
    “Girl, you can’t be too careful. Got this
stick in case those little delinquents show up again.” Aunt Therese
broke off when she saw them.
    “I found her for you,” Gabriel said to
Monique.
    “Well, you got your wind back?” Aunt Therese
said, looking right into Erikka with keen hazel eyes.
    Erikka looked at Monique. “I didn’t lose my
wind,” she said.
    “I think maybe she just wanted to browse some
more,” Gabriel jumped in.
    “Humph.” Aunt Therese continued to examine
Erikka for several seconds.
    Gabriel cleared his throat to break the
silence. “Y’all come back next weekend. We’ll have another shipment
of furniture by then, even some nice china.”
    Erikka glanced at him, then away. Monique
rushed on to exchange more pleasantries with Gabriel and his
aunt.
    While they talked, Erikka pretended interest
in a row of plates displayed on a buffet table. Erikka walked to
the