1 Sleep had been hard coming for Bridgette and it showed on her face the next day. Her hair hung limply around her face and small black circles were forming underneath her eyes. On top of it all, it'd taken her twice as long as usual to get to work. It seemed the bus wasn't running her particular route that day and she was forced to walk. She glanced over head every few minutes at the angry storm clouds growing above her. It looked like they were in for a doozie of a storm. By the time she got to work it was nearly five o'clock, she was well over an hour late. Mama Truveau looked up from her needle point behind the counter. She inspected her young employee carefully from head to toe and knew something was wrong. She decided not to hound the child about her tardiness, the hour would come out of her paycheck and that would be punishment enough.

"Bridy" she said, using her pet name for the young woman, "Why you got such bags under your eyes. You not be sleeping well again?" she asked in an immigrants broken English.

Bridgette made her way behind the counter to the time clock and punched in, "It's not too bad Mama really. The charms worked lovely but now they just sit outside. Most stay on the ground but some come up to the fire escape. They can't get in but I still hear them. I can still see them."

Mama nodded quietly. She felt bad for the child. Not many were born with the gift of sight, and still fewer made it as far as she did without going crazy. "The dead want you deary. You are like savior to them. When most die they go to the after life. The ones that don't gotta finish business. They see you as their ticket. You just have to try harder to block them."

"I know" she said quietly before reaching into a canister of dandelion root. Her hand came out clutching at least half a cups worth. Pulling a pink marble mortar and pestle off the shelf she dropped the roots in. Bridgette ground them down into a fine powder before disappearing into the small back room returning minutes later with two steaming glasses of water. The powder roots were poured into two cheese cloth tea bags and steeped in the hot water . "Here Mama" she said handing the hot tea to the older woman.

"Thank you darling." she said taking the cup in her arthritis crippled fingers. "I be thinking lately..."

The old woman stopped what she was saying as a young man entered the store. Bridgette recognized him from the night before. She gave him a small smile and wave. A small blush crept across her face when he returned her smile with a lopsided grin of his own. A point which did not go unnoticed by Mama Truveau.

"Back so soon?" Bridgette asked.

"Yeah got some things I need." he glanced around pretending to not know where to look. He hoped his plan worked. He'd never get to know her if her couldn't get her out from behind the counter Mama looked on seeming to read his mind. She understood what he was trying to do. As far as she was concerned it was about time someone showed interest in her Bridy.

"Bridy, you go help the man." she said giving the girl a little push. A few drops of tea sloshed over the edge of Bridgette's cup. It was amazing how strong she was for an old woman. Setting her drink down she walked over to the Chas.

She looked him squarely in the eye and was again taken aback by the feeling that flew threw her body. It seemed like a swarm of locusts had taken up residence in her stomach. Finally she was able to stutter out. "What can I help you with?" He quickly handed her a list. Nothing extraordinarily long or difficult but a list none the less. She went to work filling the small plastic tubs they kept around with his order.

Chas was lost for a second. How was he supposed to proceed with this? 'Small talk I guess' he told himself. He glanced over at the elderly woman behind the counter. She waved her hands a little, encouraging him on.

"So you work here long?" He asked finally

"Nah, about nine months. Just since I moved out here." she said as she scooped a cup of jasmine leaves from a canister.

"That's cool. Where're you originally from?"

"Michigan" she stated plainly. She wasn't trying to be rude or stand offish but she wasn't used to men talking to her. She just didn't know how to react.

Chas sensed a little tension in her voice at his last question. He decided to move on, "So how you like it here?"

"It's warm all year long." she answered with a grin. "Back home we only had nice weather about three months out of the year. It's a big change" She turned back to him as she finished marking a tub that contained some St. Johns Wort. A moment later a flash of lightning lit up the night sky and than there was no light. The thunder rumbled above as Mama rushed around finding a few candles. Bridgette stood close to Chas as the rain began to pelt at the buildings windows. She loved the rain but she hated to dark. More than ANYTHING she hated the dark.

"You O.K.?" a voice came from next to her.

"Yeah I'm fine. I'm just not a big fan of the dark." She said stiffly. Chas smiled to himself reaching in his pocket he fished out a small silver lighter. Nothing as intricate as John's but it still did the job. He flicked it on it's small glow casting shadows across the room.

She stared at him by the light of the Zippo. "Thanks" His pulse sped up instantaneously. Something about her in this light made her look so angelic. An image of her lying naked wrapped snuggly in his comforter crossed his mind. It disappeared almost instantly as the flash light Mama carried nearly blinded him. The back of his hand quickly covered his eyes as Bridgette gave the old woman a stern look. A chuckle came from behind the beam of light.

"Well Bridy. I'm not going to sit here in the dark. I think I head up to my apartment. We close down early tonight." She shown the light outside "You not going to walk home in this are you?" she asked.

Bridgette hadn't thought about getting home yet. An hour walk in the rain couldn't be healthy. "I don't really have much of a choice do I?" she said sullenly. Chas looked at Mama than at Bridgette. 'She's helping me' he thought finally realizing what the woman was trying to get him to do.

"I can give you a ride." he said suddenly.

"No I couldn't bother you like that."

"I insist, I'll even let you sit in the front of the cab." he said with a grin. Mama looked at her lone employee.

"You go with him Bridy. He be a good one. I know these things." she than looked as Chas "You give her ride tonight you get your stuff for free tonight." He nodded in return at her silently thanking her and God for the stroke of luck. Bridgette finally gave into to the two of them and made her way out the door. Chas rushed ahead of her and held the passenger door open. After she got in he rushed back around the car and hopped in the driver seat.

Mama Truveau watched as the two kids drove off. A smile played at her lips as she locked the front door and made her way back to the counter. Before heading up to her rooms to sleep she opened up the fuse box and flipped the breakers back on. "Sometimes God need a little help in his work."