She looked at her mama with degree of uncertainty reserved only for children'the I'm gonna take a leap of faith and believe everything you say even though you don't seem so sure yourself because I don't know any better look, a look Sarah may be seeing on her child for the last time.

'It is going to be all right, monkey.'� Sarah put her hand on the back Nadia's small neck'a touch Nadia would remember for the rest of her life as being safe and protective.

Nadia's half-belief collapsed into sullen withdrawal. 'Okay Mama. Okay.'�

They walked through the crowd, gathered outside their luxury loft to hear three days worth of music. Thousands having paid $45 a day to listen to the audience sing their favorite band's biggest hits, while the aging singer dances around, moments away from a heart attack. They passed by the $6 hot dogs and $35 t shirts. Mother pulled child through, not knowing how her daughter would ever forget this day with its colorful teenagers and Mardi Gras beads.

Nadia pointed at a shaved ice cart and glanced at her mother, longing in her eyes. Only $4 to make her daughter believe that life could never be any different than it is just now'a small splurge in exchange for her daughter's trust. Sarah gave in and steered her daughter into line.

With the wait longer than she would have liked, Sarah glanced back over their path. No sign of him; no sign of a scene. She counted out four one-dollar bills to the chubby woman with the ice scrapper. Nadia picked bubblegum, no memory of fluoride at the dentist's office haunted her yet. She handed her small flowered suitcase to her mama so she could hold the plastic cone in both hands. Sarah juggled her own bags, losing her free hand to hold onto her daughter.

Nadia walked to the nearest curb and plopped her blue shorts in between gum and wrappers. 'Don't sit there Monkey.'�

'Why Mama?'�

'Because it's'�'� Last night's beer and cigarettes clashing with squashed falafel and mushed cups could not make this day any more memorable.

The child did not get up or stop scooping ice into her mouth. Looking at her daughter, Sarah took a deep confidence building breath, a small smile on Nadia's face quickly becoming sticky and pink.

When Nadia's ice was safely contained fully in the cup, they walked through the swarm.

Sarah glanced back one last time as they turned the corner towards the residents' exit. If he did wake up, maybe he would think they were just watching a band or grabbing a bite of forbidden carnival-like food. Maybe he wouldn't notice the missing clothes; she had left the toothbrushes.

An orange cab waited just beyond the exit'having been promised an extra twenty to maneuver through festival crowds'and mother and daughter made it to the car without a word. Sarah watched her daughter climb across the back seat and settle in, leaning against the door.

'We're going to the airport. Terminal 2, American,'� she said to the driver as he put the few bags in the trunk.

'Getting away for the weekend? I don't blame you.'�

'Yes, just a little getaway.'�

Leather seats stuck to their legs in the unusual Labor Day heat. Around $28 to the airport including the extra $20, plus a $5 tip for good measure, maybe $400 for the tickets; they might just make it off the money stashed in a cookie jar over the forlorn year. Atkins obsession kept the man of the house out of the cookies.

'Mama, are we gonna stay in a hotel?'�

'Sure, monkey.'�

'Does it have a pool?'�

'I bet it does.'�

'Is daddy gonna be mad? He likes to swim.'�

'Well, we won't tell daddy, okay?'�

'Sure, mama. Our secret.'�

Want to comment on this Short Stories? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Short Stories and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...