The Girl Behind the Counter

Chapter 15

"Everything alright Liyana?" Maxie asked the teenager who worked with her part time after she got back from London. "It's alright I suppose, but we didn't drum up much business this weekend." Liyana, a girl Maxie had a special soft spot for, replied. One rainy afternoon, just after her mother had died, Maxie had wandered past a family huddle under a shop awning. Their clothes were little more than rags and they were all shivering. Maxie locked eyes with the little girl who looked to be no more that twelve years old and saw her shiver. Without a second thought Maxie invited the family into her home and helped them find a place to live and secure the proper documents. They had immigrated from Swaziland and Maxie helped them become English. The little girl Maxie had locked eyes with was Liyana. "What, did no one go out on dates this weekend? Or is romance just dead and people don't buy flowers for each other anymore?" Maxie Hypothetically asked while putting her canvas smock on, ready to get back to work after spending the weekend away. "No I don't think that was it." The dark, curly haired girl said in a knowing manner. "Did something happen Ana?" Maxies's eyebrows creased with worry. "On Saturday some Peaky Blinders came around and roughed some guy up real bad. They didn't kill him or anything but they left him there bleeding. Eventually someone picked the guy up, a mate of his probably, anyway people were a bit scared to walk down this block for a bit." She explained. Liyana stared at Maxie with her shimmering onyx eyes. Maxie thought of her little Ana's eyes as the most honest things in the hell hole called Small Heath. "I'm sorry Liyana, I was hoping there wouldn't be any trouble, but that's the Peaky fucking Blinders for you. How is Auntie?" Maxie asked. "She missed you." Liyana smiled. "Mind if I just pop up to see her real fast?" Maxie motioned towards the door. "Go right ahead! Oh! But wait!" Liyana stopped her. "White like snow." She said while handing Maxie wintery white roses to bring to her Auntie. "You're the sweetest girl Liyana." Maxie gratefully kissed her friend's ebony cheek. Maxie made her way up to her Aunt's room and lightly knocked on the door. "Yes?" Her aunt called from within. "It's just me Auntie." Maxie said with a smile while opening the door. "Oh my dear, it could never be just you! We've missed you greatly!" Her Aunt beamed. "Greatly!" Tillie repeated from in her cage. "These are for you, from Liyana, with love." Maxie set about arranging the fresh roses. "Such a darling girl, that Ana." Maxie's Aunt sighed and Maxie smiled in agreement. "What's that on your face dear?" Her Auntie asked once Maxie sat next to her on the bed. "I had a silly little incident in London. I erm... I found this little kitten out on the streets. When I tried to pick it up the little cat spooked and scratched my face." Maxie hastily conjured a lie. "No good dead goes unpunished, eh?" Her Aunt commented. "Do you really believe that phrase? If it were true life would be... well it would be bullocks, wouldn't it?" Maxie asked. "Bullocks!" Tillie repeated. "Oh hush you silly bird! No I don't think it is entirely true. Take your mum for example! She is the kindest person I know and she's alright!" Her Aunt grinned. "Actually Auntie, my mum is dead. She got sick, remember?" Maxie gently reminded her. Her Aunt's expression fell. Her face went completely blank and her eyes stared off into nothing. Then a single tear fell down her cheek. "Oh yes. I remember now. I remember." She whispered. Maxie reached to comfortingly stroke her Aunt's hair, but she swatted her hand away. "My God how could I forget that?! She's dead! My baby sister is dead! How could I forget?" Rosella Wiles yelled. This was the most difficult part about Rosella's illness. She forgot the names of the living and forgot the dead have died. Each time she forgets her mother, brother, or sister has died then it's like they die all over again for her. She has to grieve and re-grieve. "Shhh shhh, it's alright. Tillie is the one who is supposed to be doin' all the remembering for you. Let's blame her, yeah?" Maxie soothed. "Yeah!" Tillie agreed as she usually does. "You see? It's settled. Everything is okay." Maxie brought her Aunt into a hug. To quite her sobbing Maxie sang her Aunt the song that was always guaranteed to calm her.

"My Bonnie lies over the ocean

My Bonnie lies over the sea

My Bonnie lies over the ocean

Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me...

Bring back, bring back

Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me, to me

Bring back, bring back

Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me...

Maxie left her Aunt once she had drifted off to sleep and went back to the shop. "She's having a rough day." Maxie told Liyana. "It's a horrible thing she has to go through." Ana solemnly said. "She's calm now. I'll go back up again soon to check on her. Do you mind taking the lead with the shop today?" Maxie asked. "I don't mind at all!" Liyana happily replied. "Right then, I guess I'll head back to the greenhouse." Maxie said. "Wait, before you do, do you hear something? A beeping sound maybe?" Liyana asked. Maxie stood still, not making noise so she could listen. She did indeed hear something. "Help me find out where it's coming from." Maxie asked Ana. The two remained silent, trying to follow the noise. Maxie's ears lead her to the counter. She looked in the slot where she kept the books and pistol. Her heart dropped. "Run." She said to Liyana. "What?" Ana looked at her, confused. "Run! It's a fucking bomb, Run!" Maxie screamed.