Carthy Anne had just lost the bet in which she placed one thousand dollars on. She thought that finding an additional nine hundred and fifty dollars on the side of the road was a sign from God, and while being in just walking distance of the city's casino, she could double, triple, or quadruple that 'measly' grand. And now it was gone, along with the only money she had left for food. What would she tell her hungry siblings at home?
She stumbled from the building feeling constricted, trapped, panicky but not lost - she felt too free for her own good. Had her mother entrusted her other sister, Dorothy, maybe she would have returned to the house with at least some bread. Also knowing Dorothy's beauty, most likely a little extra. Carthy Anne felt being the eldest meant she had to take the responsible of her family's health since their mother was too sick. She had taken God's gift and spit on it.
"Nine hundred dollars," she thought to herself. "Nine hun-der-ed dollars!"
She tried not to look too concerned on the street, however knowing they had no more money for food, she couldn't contain herself on the long walk home. Carthy Anne found an isolated alleyway and stuck herself there until the noon brightness turned dull, and the number of police cruisers increased, surveying the sidewalks as fist fights and guns were pulled throughout the hours.
Carthy Anne bundled herself with the tattered jacket she had brought with her from the house. Would she have to do it? Would she have to do what her own mother used to? She slowly looked at her cleavage, then back across the street. Her breath came across as wisps upon her lips. Cold wind blew into the holes in her clothes like war planes into the city, which was a common occurrence at the time.
"You gotta do what's right, Carthy Anne," her father's past words spilled into her mind. "You gotta protect your little brothers and sisters. A war may be brewin' now, honey pie. And I know that ain't mean a lot to you right now, but it will, oh girl, it will. You gotta protect your family, Carthy Baby. You just gotta."
An escaped sob crushed her chest, and the tears continued to spill. She desperately rubbed her hand across her nose and eyes, but the emotions persisted. After a short time, she stood up using the brick wall behind her, and headed towards the neon-lit strip club across the street.
