leggingsafterth9ughts@60+com

You know how it is, some days you feel you want to talk. Phyliss was off sick, and we were left to run the shop in her absense.
I had been alone all morning, stuck with the job of finishing an order as well as generally smartening up the windows and serving clients. I was in short ready to chat.

At half past twelve in walked Kitty, she was wearing a bright red kimono top over which she'd put a hand knitted random red fluffy cardigan. I wsa interested; it was a new look for her.

“you like?” she asked sashying her way across the floor. The jeans: pale blue and as tight as jeggings accentuated her curves.
“Yes,” I said admiring the cut of the top. “You design this?”
“It's a bit of a bit borrowed and a bit of genius.” She admitted quietly. “I like the look.” She had more confidence. Hardly ever talked about the bullying. She was trying to leave it all where it was. Only I had to know. What was going on?

“So?” I said to her departing back as she moved into the back,
“Hows things with you? Any more trouble?”

She came back with a cup of tea for us both, “Well yes,” she admitted, “Naked men, black magic which makes them stink like nanny goats, lesbians trying out mental sex attacks. I objected violently... And today, the meatmen were shouting from their shop, something about my money leaving my ex-hubbies who have both been done, and passing to someone else, the one with the phobia about red, the one who thinks she legally owns the world.” She paused for breath...

“Not the one with the criminal mind?” I asked. I knew her vaguely. Parana relatives, they move in and try and establish themselves as relatives, and then pinch everything they can. I didn't pass this on, I knew she knew.

“I was in a charity shop, and apparently someone had come in and donated large amounts of wool, because they thought someone should run about and buy it. You can't believe how awful some people are...”

“I heard about that! Isn't that the wool from the hospital folk, that they wanted knitted up into prem baby outfits?”

“God help us...” she said, amost crossing herself. “Some folk are beyond help. I have no idea re this money thing. Do people think I can't manage my own affaires? I mean how dreadful...”

“Can you?,” I laughed, she was only at college on jobseekers allowance part funded by Phyliss for her hours at work.
“It's not enough to live on.” she said slowly, “it's the same for all of us on JSA though, any benefit nowadays... So that doesn't count.”

“I can't imagine why someone would do that to you?” I said thoughtfully, “I mean you're really clever.”t
“Yeah,” she said, “I know, only I don't talk about it, cos people will only want me to go create mathimatically, space ships and other such stuff...”
“LOL!” I said happily. She looked at me. Her eyes weren't laughing.

“Do you do Maths?” I asked her enviuosly. I wish I did.
“Not for years.” She said. “I end up with too many ideas. I never got further than the o level in any case.”

We sorted out the window between us.

“I'm not going to worry any more about it.” She said fiecely. “I don't see how I can do anything without proof. I have no idea how so many weird people would get into my affairs. It;s not as if I've ever had any access to money.”
He We worked on. Then she turned to me again. “I'll tell you something odd.” she said, “I woke up one morning late on, and some naked man was shoutng out my name from some distance away. I've no idea why and no one has mentioned it at all.”

“Now that is odd.” I said weakly, “Another odd man from the old odd neighbours? Coulld be they've got to the end of the list of mothers and daughters they put together...” She laughed as if it was funny only it wasn't. “Powers of attorney,” I exclaimed, “I bet that's how they did it. Only how? There's nothing wrong with you... “
“Yes,” she replied coldly, “I can't see how either. I mean even mentally handicapped people have rights...”
“I think these horrible folk are mentally ill, in a bad way.” I pointed out.
“No criminally insane.” she said in a dry voice, “it happens. Runs in families. And rat-woman is around too...”

“I wonder if the one who may have done it, has links to that awful Doctor?” My mind was racing along. I really didn't like him.

“That would explain a lot.” Kitty said and she banged a drawer shut. “I';l make more coffee.” and she was gone, back into the kitchen, her back a straight line.
I could feel the afront she felt from behind her. People like that I thought should never be in positions of power. I wonder if he was a real Doctor?

At half past three am, the warlocks of the village of Matishawl held ae conference, shouting loud enough to wake the dead.
“Leave it as it is...” shouted a male voice, “After all she'll never know or be able to get it back.”
“Well Orl wright then, chorused three women in glorious achord. “As long as she never completely knows.”
And the darkest voice chuckled evily, “Nothing she writes get taken very seriously. I copied what she wrote earlier and put it. So it's all mine I tell yuu. All mine!”

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