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There was a pause on the other end of the line

"You’re getting too involved, Blakely She’s not a stray cat you put out creah "That’s my point We’re kinder to stray ani their conversation

Todd slammed the car into reverse and drove in the direction of the first shelter on his list and growled, "Sonofabitch, where the hell did she go"

Myra walked down the crowded street, looking at all the faces Unlike her village, where people s, everyone here seemed in a hurry She smiled and said a quick hello to soreeting, the others sent her puzzled looks or avoided her eyes altogether The constant hu by at such a fast pace, both fascinated and amazed her One step into traffic and she quickly realized the cars wouldn’t stop to let her pass She followed the crowd and learned what the lighted signals meant and when it would be safe to cross the street

Myra, buzzing with excitement, realized she was alone in a crowded town No one asked where her fa a busy street in her tierous No one here appeared to mean her any harm

For the first time since she’d arrived, she relaxed and enjoyed the freedo ti from clothes to household wares

Furniture stores and places to buy food, both ready to eat and not, were on every corner

She wandered aimlessly for quite a while before she asked a shop clerk for directions to one of the addresses on her paper He sent her a puzzled stare

He eyed the band she wore around her wrist from the hospital and stepped back

He thinks I’m mad

"The mission is down on central"

"Where is that?"

He pointed her East "Four blocks that way, take a right You’ll see it"

"Thank you, sir"

"Whatever" His eyes followed her as she exited his shop

Once outside, Myra removed the hospital band and stuck it in her sack

The Mission was a stark white building covered with letters and symbols Inside, a woman sat behind a desk, her skin the caramel color of the social worker at the hospital "Can I help you?"

"Aye" Myra looked around at the people sitting in the chairs scattered around the lobby The s from their un-bathed bodies nauseated her

Their eyes watched her movements "I was told you provide shelter here"

The woth of Myra’s body "We do You need a place for the night?"