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was
being so polite. He used to be a good
boy , she told herself. Being nice to him
might help bring him back to the Lord. “It ain’t no part of wanting
to not go alone,” she said. “I just ain’t got no money to buy a
proper dress for the occasion. Can’t show up at the Courthouse
wearing rags. Would be disrespecting on the Baron.”
    “ Why Ms. Rue, that does
settle the matter, then.” Joseph flashed a wicked grin that set the
hair on the back of her neck to standing. “If I recall you do have
a birthday coming up soon.”
    “ Lawd, I been trying to
forget.”
    “ Don’t be silly. Birthdays
worth celebrating. On that we can all agree. And I know mama been
wondering what to get you.” Joseph reached into his pocket and
pulled out a wad of money. Rue’s eyes widened. She hadn’t ever seen
a wad of money that thick. He pulled a few bills off the pile and
handed them to her. “Now why don’t you get yourself a nice dress,
and then I’ll be escorted both you ladies to the Court come the
open session.”
    “ Oh boy, I can’t be taking
that from you!” she said as she held up a hand in protest.
“Besides, I can’t waste good money on no dress when…” she hung her
head and sighed. “Just have your mama come over when she be
home.”
    “ Ms. Rue, please,” he said.
He took her hand and placed the money in it. “This is something you
deserve. You a hard-working woman and you have as much right as any
to something nice for yourself. Now why don’t you tell me what
troubles you and let’s see if I can be of help.”
    “ Don’t suppose you know
your way around a wrench? Water purifier is broke. Been broke for a
week now.”
    “ No, can’t say I know much
about fixing things. Mr. Hank ain’t had no chance to fix it, I
guess?” Rue shook her head. “Well, if you need some water in the
meantime, I just conjured up a bunch for mama. She surely would
expect me to oblige you in your time of need.”
    “ I’ll see it replaced soon
as the purifier is up and running again,” Rue insisted.
    “ Oh, no need to worry about
that. We got plenty. It’s only right to share the bounty with my
mama’s friend.” Joseph went back into the kitchen and returned with
three gallons of water. “Would you like to me to carry it over for
you, ma’am?”
    “ Child I can’t accept that
much! Your mama—”
    “ Never you mind about that.
A good son takes care of his mama. No need to worry about
her.”
     
    * * *
     
    Rue slept in fits and
starts. Hank was late coming home from his scavving trip to the
Central Business District. She always fretted when he went out
there because of all the gangs in the area. He always said the
gangs don’t pay scavengers no mind and some of them were right
friendly. But if they were so friendly wouldn’t make no sense for
the Baron to pay bounties on their heads.
    Usually Hank and a bunch of
his friends just scavved around for scrap metal and electronic
parts, as the Engineering Commission paid good money for anything
that could be recycled and used for the reconstruction efforts.
They normally stuck to the borders of the CBD, where they were
least likely to come across anyone that might be looking for
trouble. But this time Hank was on a special job for the New
Orleans Historical Society. Rue wasn’t up on all of the details,
but Mr. Horton had put out a call for someone to go out to one of
the old Consulates deep in the center of the CBD and see if there
was anything of historical importance there. Seemed a waste to Rue
to spend money on salvaging old books and painting with so many
people just barely getting by with enough food, but if they were
gonna be paying somebody to do it they just as well be paying
Hank.
    But he had said he would be
home around Monday, and now it was Wednesday and no sign of him.
That left her to worrying whether or not he ran into
trouble.
    It wasn’t just Hank being
late that had her tossing and turning in bed. Joseph had been
bringing water by