“So this is the big bad Johann or whatever. He ain’t gonna do shit missy.” And he quickly added. “He’s a little pussy and is gonna watch yours get torn up.”
Johann did not say a word but went and snatched up the man with one hand. As the man yelled and screamed like a little girl, Johann turned to Rissy. “Rissy are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine, but..but..but how did you find me?” Johann spoke in a matter of fact way. “You called me, so I came.” Rissy shook her head. “How could you hear me?” She finally looked at the little beast struggling in Johann’s grip. “My heart heard yours Rissy.” She dropped the subject since there seemed to be some unfinished task that needed to be completed. “Well Rissy, what should I do with this trash since you won’t allow me to kill it?” The man struggled hopelessly now realizing that whatever was going to happen was going to be placed in the hands of his victim. Rissy waved her hand as she chanted softly and then man’s clothes fell off. “Please don’t kill me. I promise I won’t do it again.” The man had feces all over him and was soaking himself with urine. Johann looked at Rissy. “My love, please tell me what you want me to do with this pitiful being. He smells like shit.” Rissy could not help herself and began laughing. Johann had always been so polite and proper until now. “Johann my love, we could take him to the mote at Fort Pulaski; there are alligators there.” She smiled viciously at the scum. “No Rissy, that’s too far out and he’ll ruin my clothes with his foulness. What about that old crypt in the cemetery?” Johann said flatly. “Oh ok. Wait you mean the crypt that the old witch was supposedly buried in but no one has known for sure. That’s one of the most wicked witches I ever heard of. That’s fine Johann and better than any silly alligator.” The man continued to scream but to no avail. No one even looked in their direction and this scared him more. He thought he was dead and no one could hear his screams. When they finally reached the old crypt, Rissy opened it and Johann threw the man in not caring if the man had broken bones or not. When Rissy closed it, she left a small place for the man to be able to look out and even put his hand out. She giggled at the thought of people thinking he was a zombie. The man screamed and cried but not a soul heard him and would not for a day.
“Thank you, Johann.”
“You are welcome, Rissy.” He then turned to leave.
“Johann, where are you going?”
“For a walk.” Johann spoke plainly.
“Can a girl go with you? I won’t be any trouble. I don’t want to be alone right now.” She said sheepishly.
“If you would like to come with me, you are more than welcome.”
They walked in silence through the squares and Rissy was almost positive that they had gone through all of them that were left in the city. She had time to think and Johann walked at a pace that was easy for her to keep up with. Rissy began to shiver and Johann wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. She never attempted to protest and it occurred to her that in his arms was where she belonged and wanted to stay. They walked past a clothes shop that sold both men’s and women’s garments. Johann had bought some of his clothes there and he realized that Rissy needed some new ones since she looked pitiful with dirt and grass stains and a little blood on her dress and who knew what else might be on them. They turned around and he led Rissy in and took her to a saleslady he had met on a visit.
“Excuse me please. I know it is late but this young lady needs clothes and is there somewhere she could wash up a little?”
“But of course sir.” The lady cheerfully rang out. “Come on miss.”
Rissy began to follow her and asked her to please call her Rissy but of course the lady said “Yes Miss Rissy.” She continued mumbling about Rissy making sure to clean herself up in the shower in the apartment upstairs. Rissy adored the old building like this one with the stores downstairs and the living quarters upstairs and had even gone so far as to price a few for herself. Miss Castetter made sure that Rissy had everything she needed and then looked at the size on Rissy’s dress but asked Rissy what size she wore. “I wear a large size about a fourteen, sometimes a twelve depending on the cut.” Miss Castetter laughed. “Your gentleman friend told me the same thing before we left downstairs. How do you think he knew?” Rissy stuck her head out from behind the shower curtain, “I don’t know. He’s not seen me without them if that is what you are insinuating.” The lady laughed again. “I knew that. Charlotte told me all about you and Mr. Johann and that you are still a virgin.” Rissy pulled the curtain back and was blushing. “That girl needs to keep her mouth shut. I swear I am going to have to talk to Johann about muzzling that girl.” Miss Castetter realized that she had hit upon a sore subject and changed it quickly. “Let me lock up right quick. It’s past closing time.” She went to close up and Rissy followed her downstairs forgetting that Johann was there until she almost walked out into the shop. Miss Castetter brought some panties and a bra and some clothes already picked out. “Miss Castetter, how did you know my preferences and pick them out so quickly?”
“I didn’t pick them out Miss Rissy. Mr. Johann handed them to me as I walked by.”
“Well thank you just the same.” Rissy was not too surprised to find out that the clothes were a good match for her. She picked out a few and then put on a pair of jeans and a light blue blouse with butterflies on it. She really did not like it but it was one thing Johann had not picked out. When she came out to pay for the clothes, she realized that she did not have her purse and that she must have dropped it in the alley. A bit of fright caught her but then she saw Johann at the register and saw that he was paying. She ran up and told Miss Castetter to wait and she would get the money tomorrow and that she would just wear her dress for now. Johann looked crossly at Rissy. “I am paying for these and that’s final.”
“I promise I’ll pay you back Johann, tomorrow after I go to the bank and get them to handle all of my lost credit cards and change the checking account.”
“Why would you have to do that Rissy?”
“Because I lost my purse when that…that…incident occurred.”
Johann held up a purse. “This one?”
“Yes, but how? When?”
“I picked it up when I arrived.” He said smiling at her the whole time. “Right before the man saw me holding it and called me a ‘pussy’. I don’t know why he called me a cat but then I know little of American customs.” Miss Castetter and Rissy snickered at Johann not knowing what the word meant. Rissy got on her tiptoes and whispered the way the word was being used by the man and Johann blushed.
Miss Castetter showed them out and Johann and Rissy thanked her graciously for her assistance. Johann had also placed a large tip on his tab. Rissy saw Johann’s car as they began walking. Knowing what she was thinking, Johann explained. “I had Randolf bring it and Charlotte followed him to take him home. I called while you were in the shower.” Johann showed her his cell phone and she laughed. “Charlotte had bought it for me saying that I might need to call them if there were ever any kind of an emergency and I reluctantly took it. You should have heard all the ‘I told you so’s coming from her mouth. I swear I’m going to muzzle that girl someday.” Rissy burst out laughing. “I told Miss Castetter the same thing when she told me that Charlotte told her that I am a virgin.” Johann stopped dead in his tracks. “I swear I’m going to beat her little ass. Wait she likes that. I’ll make her help Randolf in his duties which means he’ll supervise and she’ll do all of the work.” They both laughed envisioning the look on Charlotte’s face.
“Rissy, would you care to dine with me tonight?”
Without hesitation Rissy answered with a “Yes”.
Johann helped her into the car and found his