Bedlam - Sunday

[xp_daytripper]

"Once upon a time there was a great Magician, and he had twenty sons and twenty daughters. And the sons and daughters were bright and brave and beautiful, and they all had a magic power, every one a power of their own. And the Magician was so proud of his children, he sent them out into the world - he wanted everyone to marvel at the children he had made..." The words are an almost inaudible mutter between clenched teeth, drowning out the rasping of the chalk on the footpath. Crude stick figures march across the ground surrounding her. "And people saw the children, and some were amazed, because they were so beautiful and brave, but some were afraid, because their powers meant they could do anything they wanted."

There is a plink of money hitting the concrete beside her, and the girl looks up, momentarily startled out of the world she'd been dreaming. Or was it remembering? She gets the two confused. A pound coin is lying on the ground by her boot, and she reaches out and snatches it up, looking up. The girl who dropped it is already turning away, back to her friend. Carefully styled red hair gleams in the daylight. A conspiracy of red. She needs red chalk.

"What did you go and do that for?" asked the girl's companion, glancing back over his shoulder. For some reason, she thought the blond boy ought to be speaking in French. "You know she'll just use it for drugs or something."

The red-haired girl gave an embarrassed laugh. "I don't really know. Those drawings... they're like something a child would do, but at least she's trying. Not just sitting there waiting for a handout?"

"See, Mary, you're too soft. People like that only take advantage, you know." Another glance, and then the couple continued on.