Page 22 of Strangers in Time

“He works very long hours. His job is very important. As you know, it deals with getting food to folks who need it.”

“Bloke needs to work harder, then,” said Charlie as he tipped his cap lower over his eyes.

The bus bumped slowly along, and it seemed to Molly that they could have traveled far more swiftly on foot. They passed through several stops where people got on or got off, and never once did Charlie stir. Finally, he lifted his cap and said, “This here’s our stop.”

As they alighted onto the pavement, Molly said, “Are you sure? I’ll be very cross if this isn’t the right place.”

“This way,” said Charlie confidently.

They walked down one street, made a diagonal through another intersection, and wandered over to a broad thoroughfare that was dimly lighted.

“I think we’re lost,” said an angry Molly, coming to a stop because Charlie had halted.

“Look at the street name on that buildin’,” he instructed.

When she did so, Molly knew that he was right. “Oh, I see. Now we just have to look at numbers, of course.”

“It’s that one,” said Charlie, pointing at a flat-faced, sad-looking building with dark windows. They walked over to it.

“You’re very quick to spot things,” said Molly.

“Blokes like me got to.”

“Do you ride the bus a lot? I thought that would be expensive.”

“It is if you pays for it. The buildin’s dark. You sure your dad’s here?”

She knocked on the door three separate times, but no one came.

Molly frowned. “It might be that my father has already headed home. We might have passed him, do you see?”

Charlie scratched his chin and nodded half-heartedly. “S’pose,” he said.

She took out the coin and held it up. “But you still earned your wage,” she said.

Charlie looked at the half crown and his fingers rubbed together in anticipation of seizing it. But his hand stayed by his side.

“Well, take it,” urged Molly. “It’s yours now.”

“How do you figger to get back?” he asked.

“The bus, of course,” she said. “I have more coins. We just reverse course. Well,Ido. I’ve no idea where you might be going.”

He shook his head and pointed at another clock tower. “Don’t think so, seein’ as how we were on the last bus to come through here tonight.”

Molly whirled round to look. “Then what do I do? I have to return home.”

“We can walk,” opined Charlie, looking down at her fine, buckled shoes with a doubtful expression. “Though they don’t look too good for walkin’.”

“Your shoes don’t look so comfortable, either,” countered Molly.

“They ain’t. They pinch somethin’ fierce.”

“Well then?” she said.

“We can take ’em off.”

“That is quite ridiculous. I havestockingson. They’d be absolutely ruined. So I cannot countenance your suggestion.”

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