WRONG WAY - GO BACK 


By Tessa Harvey


After a week she felt strong enough to see the boy.  He wasn't there. 
    "We passed him on," Uncle said, avoiding her gaze! "Sold him," she answered bitterly, "you sold him?"
"So," the man said gruffly, "you pay more, I can keep him here - you didn't come back, after all!"
    Eden sat down on a broken chair. She felt sick and weak. "Uncle" leaned out of the door which hung at a slight angle, causing people to stumble when they unexpectedly came in and down a steep step.
    "Hooker!" he yelled. "Get the boy. Lady here made a better offer!" 
"I want my share," growled the tough-looking man of around thirty. He wore flashy rings, but his clothes were shabby. "I'm not getting him back without some more..."
    Uncle glanced at the slim woman, slumped on the dilapidated chair, and felt an unusual twinge of compassion. "She ain't got much more," he yelled back, angrily. "Hurry up!"
    Hooker moved off, muttering. Uncle watched him, looking worried. He was beginning to realise the younger man wanted this patch for himself - and he didn't think he could keep on top for much longer. He was getting too old and slow.
    The woman sat up. "Did you get the girl?" she asked suddenly as the frightening thought occurred to her. "Naw," he retorted. "She wasn't much use. You could tell."
Eden glared at him, and the older man held up his arms, placatingly. 
"Listen - just spare a tenner or a fiver to keep Hooker sweet. I don't want anything." He walked across the dingy, cluttered room, thinking he was getting soft. "Maybe bring some food for the tacker, if you can," he called back over his shoulder and was gone.
    A while later, a small shape hurled inside the door and ploughed into Eden's arms. She buried his face in her neck and hugged him. He looked thin, upset and bedraggled. 
"Don't let them take me again," he whispered urgently. "They hurted me," and he pulled up his ragged sleeve to show rough bruises darkening. 
"Wait," Eden said and walked to the door. She held out ten dollars to Hooker, who was waiting expectedly. "Keep the boy here," she ordered. "Ay, missus." The man made a mock bow and headed to the pub. She guessed, watching him, that he also liked to gamble. She couldn't go to the police just yet. 
    Eden turned back to the boy. "I will bring food next time, little fella. Now I must work."















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