Between the Bars

Chapter 6

Kora's father's perspective.. 

     I woke up dazed and foggy. Two nights ago, I was making hundreds, we wasted it all on beer and smokes, like some little kids. I heard Xavier clearing his throat in the front seat of Phil's car. Phil was my best friend since I came here. We came into this together, and we'll leave it that way, too. 

      "So, I was going to Caltex when this pretty lil' gir-" Phil was talking about the prostitute who had done him "free service," but none of us believed em. Sunday morning, we usually do our drive on Sundays, but everyone seemed so foggy, I didn't wanna mention it. 

     I got out of the car and lit a smoke. It was a hot and humid afternoon, I heard lil' kids moving around on scooters and bicycles.. What not. Reminds me of Suzanne when I taught her how to ride a bike. I remember how pissed I was at Clara for not letting me teach Kora, she taugh 'er-self. Said she wanted 'er to learn how to do things on 'er own.  

   Quickly snapping out of my daze, I walked to Caltex. I bought some bread, more smokes, and beer. By the looks of me, people think I live in a luxe-apartment. Phil was loaded when I first met 'em, but then he met Samantha, and she took his money along with her plastic boobs. Moral of the story, I lived with Phil for a bit. 

   I met 'em at a bar in Sydney, drunk and alone. Truth is, I only liked the guy for his money at first, but he's actually such a nice man, I knew we were gonna be mates for a while. He found my American accent "intriguing".. I just thought he was weird. Phil had kids, but when Samantha left, so did they. She only wanted him for his money, but I can't side with Phil on this one. He wasn't sexy, if you know what I mean.

    Walking back, I found something dirty and crumby lookin' in a sewer line. Curiosity over-struck me, I ended up bendin' down to see what it was. I picked it up an looked at my fingernails while doing so. A wee bit over grown for a man, I 'spose. 

  It looked like a wad of paper. I unwrinkled it, to find a one-hundred. The bright colors had lost its touch, but hadn't lost it's value! I was giddy to show the boys what I had found, at first. I stopped and thought about this though. Split the bill between all four of us, and make it out with 25lbs or keep it and save for whatever I want.. 

    I pocketed the money, without hesitating anymore. Maybe one day I'll afford to buy my own home. All four guys can live in it, it'll be a fun time.. Then they won't be so mad. If the guys find out I got this money, I'm dead.. So I ought-ta save it while I can. 

        I wonder what my girls are doing right now... It'd be Saturday for them. Koras probably moved out and away from Suzanne and Clara, and Suzanne is probably in some boy's arms, fanticising about their future together. They grow up so fast, Y'know? Of course I wouldn't know. Sometimes I wish I hadn't left at all. When I got back from my walk, I heard a "Get the fuck outta here!" Phil's voice? "Damnit, Phil. We're here together! What's gotten into ya?" Xavier's voice? What had happened on my small lil' walk?