9.22.2016

Page 19

/Follow me./  Kinzie signs.  Elle sighs and walks behind.
When they turn on to a major road full of people, Elle nods.  “I was starting to think this whole town was made of alleys.”  She looks at Kinzie’s back.  “I know you can't hear me.”
After a few blocks the buildings change from residential to storefronts.  Elle looks up.  The upper stories are still apartments.  The street level are stores.
Kinzie turns right into an alley.
“Finally.”  Elle says.
Kinzie turns around.  “I'm going inside.  I'll wave you in when things are good.”  She walks through a side door.
Through the window, Elle watches Kinzie walk up to the store owner and start signing.  The middle aged, white haired man signs back at her.  Their conversation becomes a dance in Elle’s eyes and what few signs she knows lose their meaning and become movement.
A middle aged woman is talking to someone else.  A scavenger.  He's handing the woman electronic parts.  A teenaged boy.  The woman is handing him cash.  He scowls at everyone.  Kinzie.  The two shop owners.  Her.  It takes Elle a moment to figure out the boy is scowling at her, too.  He exits the shop through the side door and deliberately walks into her with his shoulder.
Elle yields and says nothing.  Watches him walk away.

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