Snuggled in the arm of my Guardian Angel, I walk with him through the center of the city, holding a hellhound of the breed "Shiba Inu" on a leash that bares its teeth at passersby. People avoid the beast by a wide margin, and I look with fascination in my eyes at the store windows, which display dresses from the front pages of newspapers.
I stop in front of the glass and gaze with infatuated eyes at a flared dress in powder pink.
It is perfect.
- You graduated from a good college, so I didn't think you'd be interested in working in a boutique.
I shift my gaze to Andy.
- What?
- If you're not looking at the announcement card, what are you looking at?
- At the dress.
Angel rolls his eyes.
- Ever since you stopped studying, you don't do anything but fool around all day and watch TV with those two misfits, Thomas and Victor.
- And aren't you my sponsor, since you gave me a second life? It seemed to me that as a result of your being my caretaker, I am provided with a roof over my head, food and all minor expenses. - My mouth takes on a sad shape, when I realize that this miracle will not be in my hands when I am out shopping with Andy. I wish I had taken Lisa with me. She would have stolen that dress for me. - Speaking of Tom and Vic. Don't they smuggle chickens?
Andy looks surprised.
- What are they doing! - he asks in a raised voice.
- They sneak out at night, steal white chickens from farms and strip them of their feathers. They create artificial wings, which they sell to fallen angels at the flea market. - This is the best way to bribe an angel. - Doesn't this count as work? After all, they make money... Whoever is not canny these days has nothing. - I shrug my shoulders.
- For the next six months they won't leave the house....
It's been a long time since I've seen him looking like an angry sheep.
- So will you give me money for a dress for selling you the information? - Andy pulls his wallet out of his pocket and hands me a black no-limit card. - I love you, Angel.
Frightened screams of people can be heard from the distance.
Meanwhile, I polish his card against my blouse, blow on it, then hide it in my bra.
Garm begins to bark furiously. I look with interest at the people who are jumping aside or running ahead, afraid of the crowd of bald, enraged chickens that are running down the sidewalk toward us.
I smile at this sight.
- I don't know where they stored the poor things, but they didn't do a good job since they escaped. - I look at Andy and see that he has turned frighteningly pale in the face. - Are they okay?
- They stripped them alive.... I feel sick.
Angel faints in my arms, a flock of chickens runs after us, and Garm pulls himself out of my leash, intending to treat himself to dinner.
- If he loves it, he'll come back," I mutter under my breath, with a concerned look on Andy's face. - You lie on the sidewalk for a while, and I'll go quickly to buy the dream dress, okay?
I grab him under his arms and drag him under the building, leaning his back against the wall.
- Has he fainted? - asks me one of the women, to which I wave my hand and smile charmingly.
- He's fine. He drenched himself in a dead body.
- So young, so handsome, and already he's sinking to the bottom. Don't look at his beauty, girl, run away while you have the chance. An alcoholic in a relationship is no good.
The woman looks at my Angel with disgust.
- He is my sponsor, he provides me with a house and food. I can't walk away from him.
She looked disappointed with my answer. Probably in her eyes, I am a keeper. Well... it's true.
*
Dressed in the purchased dress, I stop in the middle of the garden and look at Garm, who is sitting in front of the entrance to the house with a bloody chicken in his mouth.
- You redheaded sadist.... You are the same as your master. One and the other," I turn to him, looking at Thomas' amused face. - And what amuses you so much? Do you know that all the bald chickens ran out into the street?
The blond man comes up to me and grabs my chin.
- I'm excited to see you. - He measures me from the bottom up and raises his eyebrow. - You look insane in that dress.
It's not bad. He notices that I bought myself something new. That's admirable for someone.
- Andy already knows about your illegal work, so I'm glad you like the dress, because it's payment for betraying you and Victor.
I force a mischievous smile.
- Payment for betraying us, you say?
I show him my tongue, and then he grabs the hem of my dress and beastly tears it.
I lower my head and, with my mouth open, look at the half-torn dress, which at this point looks like a cardigan.
I'm standing in front of Thomas in black lacy underwear, and it's barely a moment before I fly into a rage and knock him to the ground.
- I'm going to kill you! - I scream, sitting on top of him with my arms around him and trying to strangle him. He merely bursts into laughter, repeating that he is ticklish.
It seems to me that the sky is falling when Andy comes home, emanating such anger that Thomas and I are the first to get their asses kicked by him.
- No one will entertain on my property! Get off his back! - He grabs me by the shoulders and forcefully puts me on my feet. - How do you look! Cover yourself, for God's sake! - He shouts at me, then points his finger at the dog. - You little red-headed beast! Spit out that chicken, but that's it!
This was the first time the dog was afraid of him. Although he always bites Andy and chases him away from all corners, currently Angel is in control.
He obediently spits out the bloody chicken, panting loudly with his tongue out.
Andy yells at Thomas, listing all the punishments he will have to comply with for his illegal work, while Vic stands on the porch, watching in silence. He watches me as I cover my underwear with a torn dress.
I want to approach him and tell him what happened, but he throws me a furious look, letting me know not to speak to him.
What does he mean?
Is he also furious that I betrayed their left deal to Andy?
I shrug my shoulders and go inside, not intending to explain myself to anyone. I bought a beautiful dress, but that idiot Thomas tore it to shreds in an act of revenge.
I hate him. He is my curse.
It seems to me that since I have lived here, he and I are like Tom and Jerry. We tease each other at every turn.
I wish those chickens had pecked him to death. I would have had peace of mind.
*
- Still that pinhead was missing here.... - I mutter under my breath as I sit in front of the house, sipping my drink.
I look at the beautiful Irene, dressed in high-waisted short shorts, as she heads toward the front door, wearing high heels on her feet.
She's admirable, since she hasn't turned eagle yet. She moves in those shoes better than I do in sneakers.
Why did she come here?
I roll my eyes as she greets me in a sweet little voice. The drink immediately stops tasting delicious to me, because I know that this scion wants to seduce my Guardian Angel at all costs. I don't understand why she has chosen him as her target, but I always have a good feeling about fake chicks.
I'm not going to look at her anymore, but the heavens love me, nonetheless, because this idiot falls over the bloody chicken that Garm left in the middle of the road. She lies like a log, face down on the sidewalk, and I choke on my laughter.
The dog licks her legs, and I wipe away tears of amusement.
- What are you laughing at, little bitch? - I'm no longer laughing when I get a drink in my face.
I don't know if it's possible, but Irene can control the human body. I just found out for myself.
I look at her, noticing how sinister her eyes are as she rises from the sidewalk.
- Did you do it?
She folds her arms across her chest and approaches me with an arrogant expression on her face.
- I don't think you know who you're messing with, human girl.
- What do you mean?
- I see that you are trying to get in my way at all costs. Are you afraid that your guardian angel will lose his head for me and not for your friend?
What an insolent bitch!
- I don't know what you're talking about...
- Lisa is in love with Andy, but she won't win with me. Do you know why? Because she trembles with fear at the sight of me, while you show stupid courage, human girl.
I'm so furious that I'm turning red in the face.
- Lisa has reason to fear you, since you rank higher than her in the infernal world. I don't feel that fear. I have a weapon. Andy is my weapon. Please keep in mind that he is my Guardian Angel. You can't hurt me.
I look into her eyes, not intending to let go. I want to show her that I'm not afraid at all.
- You are sweet, Jennie. - She leans over my ear, then whispers. - But will you be a weapon for your sweet, still inexperienced, little boy? Please keep in mind that Victor is a demon.... Don't jump up too much if you want to protect him, hm?
I watch her as she walks to the door and presses the bell. The door is opened to her by Thomas, who invites her in.
What an otter! I feel like shooting her in the face! It's a great pity she didn't knock out her front teeth when she fell!
Does she have the nerve to threaten me?
Let her just lay a hand on Vic or my friends, and I swear I'll strip her of all her hair with a garden mower.
- I'll show you, your unwashed, worn-out rag. - I set the glass down on the table, then turned to the dog. - Garm, we're going home! And next time you have to bite her ass, not lick it, got it!
The dog obediently runs inside, and I follow him in and slam the door, intending to show this devil woman a worse hell than the one she just came from.