She's hungry, it's ages since she had something to eat. The food was yucky today. Stew, with meat in it. Training always makes her hungry. Usually they're in a hurry to get home to supper, not like now, Maria has to talk and talk and the guy with the cap keeps asking her things.

No animal. No car. No sweeties. No need for any of that. They're talking to him and that means everything is fixed. When they talk, it's fixed. He looks at the slightly plump blonde. She, who dared to speak, and he hadn't thought she would. She, who's naked.

He smiles. They like it. If you smile, they trust you. When you smile, they smile back.

Only the blonde. Only her.

'You're kidding. Have you been training? Training for what? I'm just curious.'

The slightly plump blonde smiles. He knew it. She's looking at him. He grabs hold of his cap, twists it round half a turn until the visor is in front. Then he bows to her, pulls the cap off, raises it, holds it in the air above her head.

'Hey, do you like it?'

She raises her eyebrows, glancing upwards without moving her head. As if fearing that she might hit her head against an invisible ceiling. She pulls herself in, makes herself small.

'It's great. Marwin's got one like that.'

Only her.

'Who's Marwin?'

'My big brother. He's twelve.'

He lowers the cap. That invisible ceiling, he's pushed through it. He strokes her pale hair quickly. It's quite smooth, soft. He places the cap on her head. On that smooth softness. The cap's colours, red and green, suit her.

'It's good on you. You look great.'

She doesn't say anything. The brunette is just about to speak, so he'd better be quick.

'It's yours.'

'Mine?'

'Yes, if you want it. You look pretty with it on.'

She looks away, gets hold of the brunette's hand. She wants to pull them both away from the park bench, away from the man who had been wearing the red and green cap.