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     “No, no, jus’ cold s’all, and it’s rainin’ now, was        wondering if I could kip here for the night? Me        spot is crawling with Coppers...”

     “I don’t make promises-” Her stomach gave loud grumble and       she looked at her shoes, “I’ll try, right?” She backed away from       Irene, going to collect her things, tossing aside the gum, sweet       wrappers and dirty tissues from her hat, pouring the few bits of       change she’d managed to collect into her shoe, “Oi I don’t take       handouts yeah, like to earn me way so uh, I owe you, yeah?”

     “I wanted t’start again, a new start.”

     “I ain’t supposed t’talk t’strangers...”

     “That home is shit, I hate it.”

     “This is my patch, so fuck off.”

     Her bottom lip trembled and tears welled in her eyes, hair       falling limply in front of her face as she looked up at Irene       through her lashes for a moment, before she blinked a few      times and grinned at her, “Works a treat, 'specially with old       birds way older than you, usually gots grandkids... were ya       serious 'bout tha' sandwich? Holmes don’t pay much...”