“Urh,” Carl said. He shuffled his feet a bit. His cheeks were greasy, but I thought I saw a flush of pink. “Here and there. Here and there. High security turnouts, so I can’t discuss it. We have to keep a cover.”

“Don’t worry a pinch,” she said, a finger to her lips. “I won’t tell a soul.”

Her name tag said “Marion.” She winced when she saw me. “Oh honey. You poor bird. I know just what you want. A milkshake’ll fix near anything.”

Then I felt something tickling my neck. Hairs from Carl’s beard. He was really close to me. “Faulty. The man in the truck was faulty,” Carl whispered. “We picked the wrong transportation, Magic Boy. She wants me to tell you real ones are different. Real girls have hairs and rolls and wrinkles. Urh. They’re way better.”

I nodded, but the heat rushed up my chest and neck and the pulse in my tooth got worse.

Marion brought two milkshakes and a plate of fries.

“Mind your lip,” she said.

I took tiny sips and bites and chewed way at the back of my mouth. It tasted so delicious I forgot how much my chin hurt. Out of the corner of my eye I watched Carl eat. It was not what I’d expected. I thought he’d push the fries into his face as fast as he could, but instead he was very particular. Almost thoughtful in the way he took a reasonable mouthful, chewed slowly, and swallowed with a small drink. He didn’t slurp or belch. He used a paper serviette to clean his fingers, clean a dot of ketchup off his beard. Standing up, he dropped the serviette over his plate and walked away.

I took a few more bites, and when I swung around on my circular stool, I couldn’t find Carl.

My mouth went dry. A ball of fries lodged in my throat. I searched every table, but he was nowhere. Just like that, Carl was gone.

He’d ditched me. He was probably out on the road trying to climb into a new truck. He could be going anywhere. Was he leaving Girl? Would he hurry back there, grab her, and then take off before I could find my way? Was I so bad he couldn’t stand to be around me? Had he just used me to steal food? I couldn’t pay. Marion would call the police. Squad cars screeching, sirens blaring. They would arrest me. I was filthy and I didn’t even have shoes on. They were going to push me into the back of a car and take me right back to Gloria.