Woman in White, Part 1

Manny and Julio tucked themselves under the awning to the left of the school doors, where it was the darkest. This is where they did business most nights and were waiting for their next customer.

Across the street and catty-corner from the school came a lone figure; a woman in a short dress, cut above her knees, with a flowing white train breezing behind her. She was tall, dark hairs and shapely, definitely a Latina.

The two men watched in silence as she casually walked by. Their surprise was more than mild, when she looked their way and smiled broadly.

She continued to walk down the uneven sidewalk, her heel-clicks growing fainter with each step.

It was Julio that said it first, “I don’t feel so well all of a sudden.”

“Me neither,” Manny confessed.

“Weird, right?” asked Julio.

“Yeah, dude,” answered Manny, adding, “I’m gonna head home.”

“Good idea.”

The woman continued down the street, passing beyond one overhead light to the next. Soon she was joined by another woman; also of Latin descent and dressed much more conservatively.

“I she you’ve done away with your mask,” the woman said.

“Why not, it is the 21st century after, sister.”

“Don’t call me sister.”

“Whatever.”

“Is this necessary?”

“Is what necessary?”

“Spreading this virus?”

“Yes and it’s easier on my vocal chords, too.”

“You know it isn’t any of these innocent peoples fault don’t you, that you drown your babies over a worthless man?”

“There’ no one innocent here or anywhere,” the woman in white said as she faded into the darkness, leaving the other woman by herself.

Soon that woman, too had faded into the night time.