Monterra's Deliciosa & Other Tales & by Anna Tambour

Author:Anna Tambour [Tambour, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Short Stories (Single Author), Literary Collections, General
Publisher: infinity plus
Published: 2003-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

The Magic Lino

I picked up the piece of linoleum, and phew! The underside stunk. By the way it curled, I'd use it underside up, ugly side to the world, and the smooth pretty side against me—scuffed cabbage roses.

There's a tap in the park for dogs, so I thought to wash it there, but first brushed a few snails from the scored brown underside.

"Hey! Mind your own business! Leave my friends alone!"

I looked around to run. This early in the morning it's usually alright. A good time for scrounging, in fact. My trolley's packed with finds just like this nice piece of lino. But I can't take chances or all my things would get pinched, so I had a mind to scurry away, but couldn't figure where the danger was. I'd have to go at crippled trolley pace even if I could run, which I can't.

No further yells. No one around. Just traffic. Must have been some tiff, already blown out.

I uncurled the lino again and spread it underside up on the pavement, kicking a clod free of the mid—

"Kick yourself, you bastard!"

Whoa! That fight had started up again, and sounded awful close.

I jumped off the lino, picked up the edges and rolled it fast.

"You deaf?"

That did it. My feet were moving, anywhere but away from that voice. My elbows sort of steered the trolley while my hands hovered over my possessions, looking for a place to fit the unwieldy, stinking roll.

"Oh no you don't. Not with them," the voice menaced, now inches from my ears. "Stop where you are!"

And there I was, stuck, holding that stiff roll, now filthy on both sides, with me unable to move.

"That's better. Now let's take it real slow. Nice and gentle, put me down."

I put the lino down.

"Unfold me nice and slow, roses up."

I unfolded.

"Hang onto my edge. Don't grab! Delicate ... That's the ticket. Nothing wrong with you a bit of earwash won't cure."

I didn't need an ear wash, I don't think. Maybe I don't smell the freshest, but considering who was talking ...

"Speak for yourself." I answered. "I can hear every word!" I could feel them too, rumbling through my fingertips.

"Sit."

That sounded good. My haunches were getting sore in this crouch holding onto the edge.

"Not on me!"

The seat of my pants caught, I shoved myself off so fast. "Now look what you've done!" I only had one spare pair, and it was in worse condition.

The lino was unrepentant. "A bit of respect please. And now what are you?"

"What? Now?"

"Whenever," said the lino with surprising gentleness.

"I was a prospector."

"Huh. Ever find anything?"

"Once in seventy-two."

"Keep you long?"

"Ten weeks."

"Drink it off?"

"No! Not all of us drink!"

"Girls?"

"No."

"What? They came free?" The scepticism stung enough to make me check the safety pin in my fly. Cleaned up, I wasn't bad in my time.

"Not much of a strike if it only kept you for ten weeks."

"I spent it on history books, and took a trip to Chichén Itzá in Mexico."

"You don't have to state the obvious."

"Oh." I wasn't sure about this conversation.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.