BLOOD SISTER

One

Tiffany miller hadn't picked up must at school, not least because she never attend,but there was one lesson she had learned never show that you're afraid. No matter how many people you faced, or how they were threatening  to take you down, you never, ever showed fear. if you did you were royally fucked. So when Tiffany headed into the Bad Moon boozer in Shad-well, East london, she moved slowly and kept her face straight, chewing on two sticks of Juicy Fruit & taking deep breaths to keep her heartbeat down. Although she had a reputation on her estate as a hard girl, she was scared.

One of her favorite tracks, "What's up?" by the 4 Non Blondes, was blaring away inside, but Tiffany didn't like this pub. it was a rat hole that looked like it hadn't seen a mop and some Flash in years, packed with types of low life who'd be patting your back as your best mate one day and selling you out on scuzzy street corner the next. She knew the bloke she was looking for by sight, but didn't know his name. she'd never spoken to him she wasn't allowed to.

She found him sitting on his own at a table in a dark corner, with two heavies sat nearby who were obviously here to make sure nothing stupid went on. The guys totally looked the part. Middle-aged, he wore the kind of flash clobber geezers in his line of work always wear, and was bling-bling with gold cuff-links, a fat belcher bracelet and a tie chain. A scotch on the rocks topped off his "don't screw with me " image.  His face was heavy and marked, like a boxer.

The man and his heavies took their time carefully looking her up and down, then finally he gave her the nod to sit her ares down.

He said nothing for a while but that didn't bother Tiffany. She knew this silence was his way of letting her know who was running things, so she kept schtum.

Finally, he took a slug of his scotch and said "Do you want a drink Tiffany ?"

She popped the chewing gum out of her mouth and stuck it on top of the table. "Yeah. I'll have a vodka and coke."

The man grinned at her but there was no warmth in his eyes. "Vodka? you old enough to be sampling the hard stuff, girl?"

Tiffany pushed her chest out slightly. "I'm nineteen"

The guys smile vanished as scorn twisted his features ."You're a lying bitch. You've just turn sixteen." He looked like he wanted to gob at her feet. "That's not very good start is it? You trying to piss straight into my eyes? you better believe I know all about you little girl - everything there is to know and then some"

Now you wouldn't be interested i me if i wasn't up for stretching the truth every now and again. But Tiffany didn't say that she kept it zipped. She almost grinned when he told one of his thugs to her her a V&D anyway.

He left another long silence before raising his glass. "So a mate of a mate says you're looking for work. Is that right?"

"Yeah"

"Did he tell you what's involved"

"Yeah"

The man sighed and stalled for a while. "Well, I dunno whether you're right for it. The way I hear it you're a bit of a nutter." he paused for a long time before adding. "I dunno, I just don't know ..."

He was trying to rattle her cage, trying to get her to beg for a chance , to convince him that she fit for the job description to a T. But because she knew that, she merely said " Well, that's up up to you isn't it mister ...?"

He smirked slightly at this attempt to get him to tell her his name, but he didn't give it. He nodded as if she'd passed the test. "You got that right darling. I'll tell you what, I'll give you a try out." He said it as if he was doing her the bloody favor of the century. "Go up to that Pied Piper boozer on Saturday night  evening and pick up a little something for me. You keep it tucked away nice and safe and, if it works out, I'll put some more business your way. You know where the pub is and where to put the gear?"She quickly nodded. "You understand how messaeges get passed back and forth between us? you've got your  cover story stright if you're piced by the law?"

"Sure."

"Alright."He looked at her again and with contempt snarled.

"Drink up and piss off. I'm a busy man"

Tiffany didn't need telling twice. She Knocked back her drink, pulled up the chewing gum off the table and popped it back into her mouth, then almost let out a scream as his big hairy paw gripped her  wrist like a vice and yanked her across the table. He had her so far forward he could whisper in her ear. "Listen up and listen well, this isn't Disney world and we're not playing Mickey Mouse. Don't ever,ever try and get in touch with me . Don't ever,ever muck me around and don't ever start blabbing to anyone - because if you do,you'll pay the usual price and i don't care that you're sweet sixteen. I've  had younger then you put in the ground for taking liberties. Do i make myself clear?"

Tiffany stared back, bug-eyed and trembling. "You don't need to  worry about me. I'm no grass. I'm from the devil's estate."

He let her go and Tiffany drew herself to her feet  "Good. The plod pick you up, you don't know me."

She laughed at him "I don't give a toss about the cops, i know how to deal with them."

It was the first time she saw any kind of respect as he looked at her "Yeah, I know, I've heard that about you."

Tiffany Miller was so chuffed with her self on they way home that she forgot to bunk the fare on the bus. As she stared out of the window at the once grand house on mile end road, long since gone to seed she softy sing "What's up" her voices grow louder as she sang the line about getting  real high and some of the other passengers turned to look at her. fuck 'em let 'em  stare. 

The east end was full of kids like her who wanted to get on the lowest rung of the gangster ladder in the hope in one day they might hit the big time. And now she had manged it. but this wasn't about the kicks anything to break the mind numbling bore-dome of life on the devils estate with her dead beat mum and wannabe snob sister .