Twenty

Nina bit her lip and looked at me but didn't answer.

I shrugged like it didn't bother me that she ignored my questions whenever she felt like it. 'Dole bludging works for some people - I guess,' I said. Harsh? I didn't think so.

She stopped and frowned at me. 'I was working...' She couldn't seem to decide what to do with her arms and hands, dangling them straight down then twisting them together and finally making fists that almost met in front of her abdomen. 'I... got fired...' she said, in a voice barely audible above the rush of the waves.

'Pffttt, I've been fired. No biggie. Get caught photocopying your arse?'

She turned away and looked out over the white crests of swell. 'My boyfriend died in a car crash. The last time I talked to him - I - I shouted at him - told him he was a useless prick... that I wouldn't forgive him this time. He'd forgotten to pick me up... again... They think he was hurrying... when it happened...'

I swallowed. 'Oh.'

She turned her head away again but I caught the glint of tears in her eyes.

'So, have you ever photocopied your arse?' I asked.

Twenty One