Estrella watched the car pull up to the curb on the other side of the street. It was a new car and looked expensive, with a license plate that said California. Though she was terribly afraid, she forced her feet to start walking, crossing the darkened, deserted street diagonally as the drivers side door opened. The man who emerged was hispanic and well-dressed. The door shut quietly, then the lights flashed once as the car emitted a chirp. The man glanced at her but then began to walk away.
Her heart pounded fiercely and her stomach was knotted in dread as she hurried to follow him. "Señor!" she called. He stopped and turned to face her. She saw something in his expression. Startlement? "Do you want to buy me tonight, señor?"
He seemed to relax slightly. "How old are you, chica?" He spoke with a slight American accent. He had stated the question pointedly.
Estrella crossed her arms defiantly. "Dieciseis años." Sixteen.
"Go home to your madre," he said, waving her off.
"Sì, señor," she said. He had not been the first she had asked, and all had rejected her offer. She turned to go, adding, "But I have no mother."
"Wait," he said. He walked up to her. Estrella nearly trembled with fear, but did not retreat. "How long since you have eaten?"
"Two days," she said quietly. That had been some rice that a restaurant owner had thrown out. It had seemed like a feast at the time, but her hunger had returned all too soon.
"Come with me, chica." It took her a moment to realize that he had changed his mind, but she quickly scrambled to follow him. He walked a few blocks down the street, turned a corner, then went a bit further. Several times, he stopped to study his surroundings, as if to see if anyone were watching. They eventually arrived at a small hotel and a room that opened to the parking lot outside. With the key in the door, he paused one more time, scanning the street for watchers, then opened the door and motioned her in.
The room was spartan... Läs hela novellen
