I’ll have two cheeseburgers. Small fry. And two Cokes, Ben told the kid behind the counter.

Is that for here or to go?

Bag em.

Work looks hard, Meg said. Standing on your feet for eight hours. Getting burned by hot grease. All this pressure, she said. I couldn’t do it.

And you wanna be a Rockette? Ben asked. Talk about pressure. How’s that dream coming along?

Shut up, Ben. They both laughed.

You can be whatever you want to be little girl, Ben said. Just like that night when I first met you. I told you that.

Yeah. You said come with me. I’ll show you the world. Look at me, Ben. Look at me.

Two cheeseburgers, small fry, and two Cokes, the kid said.

Thanks. Ben walked over to the condiments and got catsup packages and a load of sugar. He stuffed them in his pocket. Go into the bathroom and clean up, Ben told Meg. You got shit all over your face and lips.

Do I look like a crack whore?

You look beautiful.

Ben placed the items on a table. Put straws in the drinks. Said a prayer and crossed himself. He waited until Meg joined him to start eating.

Frank sat down across from him. He slid into the booth like a runner stealing second base. He grabbed a fry from Ben.

Hey.

Hey.

How’s tricks? Ben asked. Frank smiled.

Met this reporter from some magazine. Talked to me about hustling and being homeless.

Pay you?

No. Took some pics. I’m going to be famous.

Great. A famous homeless hustler.

Right. I got his card.

Let me see.

Frank pulled out a stained white card and handed it to Ben.

John Cortz. Reporter for Gotham. Well, well, well.

He said to call him if I needed anything.

I would call him.

Oh yeah.

Yeah. You’re definitely in need.

Meg came out of the bathroom with a fresh paint job. Lipstick, eyeliner, hair brushed. Ben whistled as she approached the booth.

You look good enough to eat, they laughed. Jimmy Dean says that to Liz Taylor in Giant. He says, You look good enough to eat. And then Rock Hudson bitch slaps him. They don’t make em like that anymore. Meg and Frank looked at each other and smiled.

Where you been staying?

Manhattan. Riding the trains at night. Sucking dick during the day on 8th.

Those old queers love you. Don’t they? Frank nodded.

They blow me, I blow them. Either or. You know the deal.

No. No, I don’t know the deal, Ben said. Not sure I want to. 

It’s a living.

Got any money? 

Yeah. Tons of it. Frank laughed. I just look this way for the hell of it.

Right.

Ben and Meg sucked on what was left in their cups. Meg chewed on the ice.

Let’s ride the trains tonight. Like old times, Frank said. We’ll sleep like Kings.

Go ahead. We gotta a place marked below the bridge. Hid our shit down there.

Got your radio?

Yeah. Still got it.

Nice.

So, business is good? Ben asked.

Yeah.

Throw me a twenty.

Sure. Frank handed Ben a crumpled twenty dollar bill. Took his cup from him and took the last slurp. There is charity among thieves.