Little Benny went down to the street corner store near the projects. He needed to get some bandages. Benny was bleeding because he got cut on the arm by someone that tried to rob him. He beat up the robber pretty bad. Little Benny was upset and angry. Tommie girl worked in the store and was surprised to see Benny. She watched Benny with concern wearing her glasses, baseball cap, jersey, and jeans. When Little Benny asked for bandages, Tommie girl got them and opened them up to wrap Little Benny’s arm. “How much are they?” asked Benny.

Tommie Girl would not answer right away. She just helped Benny with his arm. Then she answered, “No charge.”

“Are you a guy or a girl?” asked Benny.

“I’m a girl,” answered Tommie. She did not seem to mind Benny asking her.

“Oh!” said Benny, “I think I see now. Your cap was hiding your face.”

Little Benny thanked Tommie Girl for helping him. He rushed out of the store because he wanted to hurry up and get down to the park. Not knowing that it was Tommie Girl that he was talking to in the store, he waited to meet her at the park in the evening. But, Tommie Girl did not show up for several days. Little Benny was sad because he was really starting to like Tommie Girl.

Tommie Girl stood off from a distance and saw Little Benny looking sad at the park. “I can’t let him into my life,” she thought. Tommie felt Benny needing her friendship, and she was needing his too. She thought about her mean boss, Cigar Keys. He was powerful. “I don’t want Benny to get hurt.”

Little Benny looked up and saw Tommie Girl, but he was looking at the tomboy he saw at the store. Tommie Girl saw Benny walking towards her. She stood and waited for him. When Benny got close to her he asked, “Aren’t you the girl that works at the corner store?’

“Yea, that’s me, and I bet you are looking for Tommie Girl,” Tommie said. She knew Benny didn’t recognize her.

“You know her?” asked Benny.

Tommie said, “ Yea, she lives a dangerous life. Forget about her.”

Benny asked, “What do you mean?”

All that Tommie girl had to do was just say one word. “Cigar Keys.”