Ma Chester snapped, “Don’t you worry these gentlemen. You get on an’ eat.”
Chrissie began to bolt her food. She had an enamel mug of milk by her plate, and when she drank Dillon could see the milk running down her chin on to the front of her dress. He was suddenly aware of a sour smell coming from her, the same sort of smell small children have if they’re not looked after. He felt a little sick and pushed his plate away. Then, muttering something, he got up.
Ma Chester said, “Here’s the coffee.” She banged a pot on the table. Dillon reached out and poured himself a cup and took it to the window. When Ma Chester went back to the stove, Chrissie leant forward and scooped the ham Dillon had left on to her plate.
Roxy laid down his knife. “You’re hungry?” he said, for something to say.
She looked at him and gave a pleased little smile. “Yes, I am,” she said. “Will you give me a ride, Mister?”
Roxy nodded. “Sure I will.”
“You be quiet,” Ma Chester said from the stove.
A sudden blank look came over Chrissie’s face and she began to mumble. A little saliva ran down her chin. Ma Chester walked over to her and rapped on the top of her head with her knuckles, just like she was rapping on a door. Chrissie pressed her head against the old woman’s breast, a look of contentment coming over her bovine face.
Ma Chester said to Roxy, “She’s simple, but she’s a good girl. There’s something wrong with her head. She gets like this sometimes. I rap her nut like this, an’ it helps her.” The old woman’s face had softened while she was speaking, and she looked down at the girl with a rough tenderness that quite altered her face.
Roxy sat there staring with a morbid fascination. “She’s quite a big girl, ain’t she?” he said at last.