Bank Robbers Read Free Page B

skinny.”
    â€œYeah. I lost a lotta weight this past year, what with Fred being so sick and everything.”
    â€œWell, here we are, both skinny again. Like when we first met.”
    â€œYeah,” Teresa muttered softly and they both silently thought to themselves, ‘and nobody’s here to see it.’
    Teresa moved over to the stove and lit a fire under a dented old teapot. She took out a small jar, and two cups.
    â€œAll I got in the house is instant,” she said.
    â€œThat’s fine.”
    â€œSo, Roberta called from California and said you was in the hospital. You better now?”
    â€œAs well as I can expect.”
    â€œWhat do you have again?”
    â€œOsteoporosis.” Dottie watched Teresa shrug, unknowing. “It’s a debilitating bone disease. Your bones get so weak they break easily.”
    She watched Teresa shudder.
    â€œBut you’re okay now,” she said, her back to her.
    â€œNo. It’s wiped me out financially, and Medicaid won’t pay for this new procedure that would slow it down.”
    Teresa let out a bitter cackle.
    â€œThose bastards, they don’t pay for nothin’. Jeez, I had to go in there beggin’ for chemo for my Fred.”
    â€œYes, and I’m tired of it. And I’m going to do something about it. Do you know they actually escorted me out of their offices, like I was some kind of common criminal? Well, from now on, the government is going to pay for everything.”
    â€œYeah?” Teresa chortled.
    â€œI have a plan, and I need your help.”
    â€œMe? I can’t do nothin’ for nobody,” she said after a moment, turning around to look at her. Teresa peered down at her, her eyes narrowed. “What’d you want Fred for?”
    Dottie looked her straight in the eyes. “I need the number of a fence.”
    Teresa’s eyes grew round, and she looked quite stunned.
    â€œYou lookin’ for an appliance?”
    â€œA gun.”
    Teresa’s face went neutral, the way Fred’s always had when he was discussing business, but she didn’t take her eyes off Dottie. Her hand shot out and grabbed a pack of cigarettes on the counter. She pulled one out and lit it with a lighter. She exhaled hard.
    â€œGimme that again?”
    â€œI need a gun.”
    â€œWhat, you gonna go shoot everyone at Medicaid?”
    â€œNo. I’m going to rob a bank.”
    Teresa’s eyes stayed fixed on Dottie and she sat down at the table.
    â€œLike the guy in the News? ”
    â€œThe guy in Minnesota?”
    â€œThere was a nut in Minnesota too? Naw, the old guy from—hold on, I’ll get the paper, it was just in it.”
    She watched Teresa open the closet door. Inside was a waist-deep stack of yellowing papers.
    â€œI hate that stupid law they put in about recycling, I never know when to put the stuff out, what you tie it with…” Teresa was muttering as she sifted through the top of the pile, which was mainly comprised of gossip sheets, and magazines that followed celebrities.
    Dottie shook her head at all of them.
    â€œHow can you read all that garbage?”
    Teresa looked up, a bit surprised.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œAll those gossip rags? None of it is true.”
    â€œIt’s all true,” Teresa informed her, holding up a copy of the Star.
    â€œYeah? What’s that headline say?” Dottie asked, and Teresa looked at it.
    â€œ IS YOUR DOG A SPACE ALIEN ?” Teresa read aloud.
    â€œThere, you see?”
    â€œWhat? I took that test.” Teresa said seriously.
    â€œYou—you don’t even have a dog.”
    â€œSo? My daughter’s got a dog. You think I want some alien around my grandchildren? This test come out of a university. Besides, even if it is silly, it’s got all the good dirt on all them celebrities.”
    â€œWho cares about some celebrity?” Dottie sniffed.
    â€œI do.” Teresa looked confused.