I moved into the boxes and garbage cans that lined the fence. The other direction disappeared into empty lots under the freeway. It was getting very dark now, with deep shadows and areas completely dark. I needed some shelter for the night. The escort decided to bark for a few minutes more for good measure., stood his ground and growled a bit and then turned back. Probably to hunt for more Fritos. Yeah, just like my old boyfriend. Now a warehouse stood silent and dark behind the sidewalk, and still no sign of people. A light rain started again, but the force of the drop hit me square between the shoulders and sent me forward, with a sting on my skin. Yeah, this shrunken crap is for the birds. I'd sit and cry but I had to get out of a drizzle. I pushed against a flap that was drawn up but it wouldn't budge. I pulled, and then tried to wedge my body between the sheets of cardboard but it was held by something. I swore under my breath, made some comment about bad luck, and started to move along to the next when the flap fell over. It knocked me down and pinned me underneath. Something was on it. I struggled and yelled out, then thought what if it's some cat or something going through the garbage! The pressure eased and I crawled to the edge, expecting to see giant paws jump in front of me. Nothing, so I pulled myself out and stood, looking through the gloom at an empty sheet of cardboard now laying on the sidewalk. The box was filled with old rags or clothes from what I could see, and there was no movement of a critter. Then I was blinded by a light. It came from within the box!
↧