Alone by Gary Chesla Page B

looked up at the window with her mouth full of Doritos. She was close enough that she could see the guy at the window. He didn’t look much older than she was. He didn’t look mean or anything like Roy and Tom.
     
    He looked down at her. “I’m afraid I’m out of coat hangers. When you leave, I’ll come down and get the hangers so I can send you more things down tomorrow. It would help if you would put them on a pile by the edge of the grass for me.”
    “Thank You.” Trish caught herself saying. She hadn’t meant to say anything. It just came out.
     
    “I’m glad you don’t seem to be so afraid of me right now.” Tony said smiling down at her from the window. “It’s nice to talk with you face to face without the radio.”
    Trish caught herself smiling, but quickly tried to look serious.
    “I’d like to find out more about you.” Tony said. “Where do you go when you leave here? Do you stay with other people? How old are you? Where did you live before?”
     
    Trish found herself almost wanting to answer his questions. She had a few questions she would like to ask, but she didn’t want to push her luck. Just because he hadn’t tried to shoot her or come running out after her, didn’t mean it was safe. Beside she wasn’t ready to tell him about her sister and Roy.
    As long as he thought she was on her own, maybe he would keep giving her food.
    She looked up at him. “I’m sixteen, but I’m almost seventeen. I don’t know for sure when that will be. I don’t know what month it is, but I think it will be sometime when the weather starts to get cold again.”
    “I’m eighteen.” Tony said. “I used to live in Uniontown.”
    “I used to live in Dunbar.” Trish replied.
    “Where do you live now?” Tony asked.
     
    Trish turned and started to walk back towards the trees. She stopped and looked back. “I have to go. Maybe we can talk tomorrow.”
    “I like talking with you Trish.” Tony said, careful not to make her feel pressured.
    “I think I like talking to you too.” She replied.
    “Tony.” He said. “My name is Tony.”
    “Bye Tony. I have to go. I’ll visit again tomorrow, but I have to leave now.”
    Trish turned and walked back to the high grass and disappeared into the weeds.
    Tony smiled to himself. Today was a great day. He couldn’t believe Trish had actually stood close enough that he could see her and talk to her.
    It felt so nice to talk to someone again. He liked Trish.
    He ran down into the warehouse. He wanted to find something special to give her tomorrow.
    Maybe tomorrow she would feel comfortable enough with him that he could go out and talk with her. Maybe they could sit and talk by the building.
    He would give her an hour to be on her way, then he would go out and get the hangers.
    If she was still nervous tomorrow, at least he would be able to send her down some more food.
    She looked so thin. He didn’t think she had eaten regularly for a very long time.
     
    Trish walked back through the woods. She felt light and happy. She had eaten donuts and Doritos for the first time in almost a year.
    That guy had actually been nice to her. He could have shot her easily, but he didn’t.
    Tony, that was his name. It didn’t sound at all like Roy or Tom. He didn’t act like them either. He had asked her a favor, which she did for him and didn’t feel sick about it.
    She had more new clothes. She held them up and rubbed them against her cheek. They felt so soft. She would leave them under the log with the food. If she took them back to the house, Roy would just take them off of her again. Debbie might decide she wanted to wear them. Trish doubted they would fit Debbie, but that wouldn’t stop her from taking them just so Trish wouldn’t have them.
     
    Tony had said when she had first made contact, that he was hoping she might want to stay with him for a while. She wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but he didn’t seem to be like Roy. Maybe she would think about