Sophie knew where to go.
She nudged me into the corner store, and carefully I opened the door. Again I could feel eyes on me. People watching, waiting to see what I would do to myself. Skimming the shelf with my fingers, I walked slowly down the store isle, searching.
“Hey,” a man spoke up behind me, “who let the freak out of the circus?” A chorus of laughter filed out, and I felt myself go pale.
I kept silent as I picked up a loaf of bread, ignoring whispers and laughs. If I could have done something, I would have, but my own disability left me weak. I groped my way to the counter. With shaky hands, I pulled out my wallet from my pocket.
“Can you please take the amount of money I owe out of my wallet?” I pushed it forward to the cashier. Big risk, I knew, but I couldn’t feel the difference between ones and twenties.
“Of course, ma’am.” I felt him take it. “I’m sorry the way that man acted,” I heard him say. “Some people just don’t understand.”
“Yeah, right.” I murmured, and headed out the door.