Amber

Chips Are Irresistable

"Hey, you girl! Whatta ya doin' on my lawn?"

I am yanked from my past daydream into present reality by the harsh voice of the American woman glarig at me as if I am a snail on her flowerbed. Maybe she thinks of me that way.

"Get off before I call the cops on you. This is private property. Off!"

I stumble off her flowery lawn, fighting to keep the tears in. Why does everyone treat me like this? Couldn't this woman understand that I am in need of so many things. Shelter, food, a warm bed, love, a family...

I shake my head violently. Family? It's a word that is so rarely heard by me that I stop in my tracks altogether. A voice in my head says, "Your family was broken up a long time ago."

I shuffle along the cold streets of this murky town. To be honest,  I don't even know where I am. I feel so tired when at last I can sink onto a cold hard wooden bench outside a chippy. Why does November have to be the world's worst month?

A chippy. The words are there, in my head, as soon as anything. I have a couple of pounds. How much would it cost for a small portion of chips?

The chippy is empty when I walk in, alone, except for a young man listenig to music on his iPhone. He seems to be waiting for someone, because he keeps glancing outside the window.

The big cheery man up at the counter is laughing with someone working behind him, but when his eyes land on me, they go cold.
"I was wondering how much a port-" I begin, but he raises his voice before I can finish.

"Get out! Do you think I don't know about your kind, coming in here and driving away my customers?! Get out and don't come back! Go away! Go home to your mother!"

I flinch as if he has slapped me. When I turn around, he mutters "stupid gutter kids" to the person behind him.

The man has gathered up his stuff and is outside greeting a pretty young woman around my age. When he sees her, he gives her a kiss, and when she sees me, she stiffens. And I do the same. I recognise her instantly.

She is Willow, my twin sister who sent me to prison.