Runaways (Orphans 5)

"Enough for that," Crystal replied.

"That's not what I asked," she snapped. Crystal held her gaze for a moment and then looked at our money.

"We have eleven dollars and forty-three cents," she told her.

"Total?"

"Yes, ma'am," Crystal said.

"How far are you going?" she asked. Raven started to squirm in her seat. Butterfly looked more terrified.

"We're supposed to get to California eventually," I said, "but we were robbed last night and that's all we have."

"No kidding?" she asked, scratching her head. "How were you robbed?"

"Someone we trusted took our money while we were sleeping," I said.

"Damn," she said. "And so you have only eleven dollars left, huh?"

"And forty-three cents," Crystal corrected.

"Right, forty-three cents." She sighed deeply and shook her head. "Just call me Mrs. Soft Touch," she declared, turning toward the cook. "Charlie, four pancake specials." The cook nodded.

"But we can't afford that," Crystal said anxiously.

"No one leaves Patsy's place hungry," she replied. "It's a rule of the house."

She returned to the counter. We watched her pour four glasses of juice for us.

"That's very nice of her," Raven said warily. Raven wasn't about to trust a stranger again so quickly.

Two more customers arrived and before we got our food, three more customers followed. Patsy was very busy. I saw the cook put our plates up.

"I'm going to help her," I said, getting up from the table.

"What?" Raven said.

Patsy was taking an order but saw me move behind the counter. She didn't complain as I picked up the plates and began bringing them back to our table. I had worked as a waitress before and knew how to carry four plates. I served the girls and sat.

"This is good," Raven said between bites.

"Very good," Butterfly said. "The eggs are just like I like them, too."

Patsy had to take orders, work the counter and bus the tables. Her restaurant obviously had a good reputation with the local people despite the slow service because more customers arrived and all seemed to know her. Everyone looked patient, but eager. I ate quickly and then rose again before the girls had finished.

"What are you doing?" Crystal asked.

"Helping her," I said. I began to clear the dishes off the tables where customers had left. I found the tray for dirty glasses and dishes behind the counter and beside it, a clean wet rag with which to wipe down the tables. As soon as Raven was finished, she rose and began to do the same.

Patsy stood by smiling at us and shaking her head. "Got new hired help?" someone asked.

"Looks like it," she replied with a half-smile.

When we had cleared the empty tables, we began to set the tables with clean silverware. A young man with red-gad- hair complimented Raven on her waitressing abilities and I could tell from her shy smile and quiet "Thank you" that she was flattered.

"Thanks for jumping in," Patsy said as she hurried by me with an order.

"Should I see if anyone wants seconds on coffee?" I asked her after she shouted another order at the cook. She stared at me a moment.