Beyond the Station Lies the Sea. Jutta Richter

sonny!” calls another. And up front, at the bar, a lipsticked woman cackles loudly into the blue haze.

      Niner hesitates. He feels like turning around and running back out into the night to Cosmos.

      The one who yelled out that this is “no kindergarten” slides off his bar stool and approaches Niner slowly. He’s just like Mama’s new guy. Niner knows the type. He can smell it. He’s the kind that hits.

      Niner looks around. It’s only a few steps to the door, but suddenly the other one is there. The one who yelled “get lost!” Both of them are approaching him now. One from behind and one from the front.

      Niner is trapped. He quickly plans to wait them out, then duck away, under and through their arms. And then take to his heels and run.

      Out of the corner of his eye he sees a woman in a fancy suit with a string of pearls around her neck sitting at a nearby table. Suddenly she stands up and says: “That’s enough!”

      The two men stand still and the place goes dead quiet.

      “Sit back down,” says the woman, “and leave the boy alone!”