Ugh.

Only managed to get a few coppers today, Allan, and I think we've about dried up this place. Some other girl came right on up to me today and started givin' me a real earful about me usin' her corner, stealin' her clients. I ain't got a clue what her problem is. Wouldn't lose any regulars if you spent a bit more time lookin' like something that wanna scew, let me tell you. Ain't my fault that you ain't competin' quality.

But I don't wanna start no fights, not when ... well, not when it could call some attention we don't need, none. Maybe it's about time to move on, again.

[Filter: Allan]

Hey, I ain't sure I done this right, but if somebody else is readin' along, it'd be real polite-like of you to be lookin' away, now, cause it's private.

I'm just wonderin', Allan ... you ever think about my dad any 'round this time of the year?

Well, my man didn't do too great a job actually introducing the two of us when he wrote here this past week. I've been readin' real close here, and I think I just about got how this all works. You're a buncha folk, just like us, scribblin' away whatever thought comes to your head and sharin' it with people the whole world over. Is that about it?

Well, I wanna play too! Ain't no one who couldn't benefit from a little more company in their lives, so long as they know how to keep their valuable secrets safe and secure in their own heads.

So, bearin' that all in mind, I thought it'd be right proper to make a few introductions to you all. I'm Catherine, but you can call me Caty, and my husband who wrote a few days back, that's Allan. He can be a mite unfriendly, but he's got a good heart and means well~ We're just your average gutter rats tryin' to make it by, so don't worry too much about nothin' we say, how's bout?

I guess that's just about it. Far as I can see, there's some real fancy people around here, but some simple folk like us, too, who don't hide themselves none for the nice company, so I think I'm just gonna follow that lead and see where it takes me, for now.

Nice meetin' you all, in advance.

s