Fat, unshaven Mediterranean men walk in, see two older women and walk out again. Police come for payoffs. Tricks get threatening. Harriet likes doing old gents best; she feels kindness for them and nothing else.
Last night her 16 year old son came in . She heard his voice and her heart stopped. He doesn't know about her job.
She stayed hidden in a curtained room with a handsome, brutish Aussie. She was toweling her hand when she heard Charlotte call, "You still busy, love?"
"Mmm hmmm," Harriet said, disguising her voice. She heard curtains close. The trick growled at her; she let him go and stayed hidden. Afterwards she peered between the curtains and saw only her son's back. Tall, skinny, alone. She wished he had a nice girlfriend instead.
"Fancied the Aussie, did you?" was all Charlotte said, over their usual morning cup of coffee. Harriet stared at her and thought: you've had my son.