�I gotta take your blindfold off to wash your face.�
�So?�
�What did I say before about that?�
�Go get the mask.�
Kawan exhaled loudly. �Fine. I�ll be back.� Kawan left the bathroom and returned wearing the mask. He removed Marisa�s blindfold.
�Where�s Plug Two?� she asked, blinking.
�Don�t worry. He won�t be coming in here,� said Kawan, rubbing the rag across her forehead.
�You figured out what to do about that situation?�
�No. I know we ain�t killing you.�
�That�s good.�
Kawan laughed. �You know, you are absolutely gorgeous.�
Marisa sucked her teeth. �I wish I could say the same for you.�
�You can say that.�
�Not if I don�t know what you look like.�
�Well, that ain�t happening.�
�If you give me my legs back, I figure I�ll be grateful enough not to turn you in.�
�Right.�
�I�m serious. Plug Two has nothing to worry about.�
�I don�t believe you.�
�I understand. It�s true, though. Getting to know you over the past few days, outside of the tickling me all the time, you seem like a pretty stand-up guy.�
�Is that so?�
�It is so.�
Kawan laughed. �Well,� he said, picking Marisa up from the toilet, �it�s time to wash the legs and feet.� He sat Marisa in the bathtub facing him. �Wanna watch?�
Marisa blinked. �Uh, okay. This�ll be weird.�
�I imagine so.�
Kawan sat on the toilet and placed Marisa�s feet in his lap. He dipped his rag in the soapy collection of water in the sink, squeezed it, then touched the rag to the ball of one of Marisa�s feet. She squealed and curled her toes. �Be gentle,� she squeaked. Kawan stroked Marisa�s arch with the rag, forcing cackling laughter from her throat.
That night, Kawan could hardly get Marisa to stop talking.
�Plug One.�
�What?�
�Lemme see what you look like.�
�No.�
�Come on.�
�What did I say?�
�I�m telling you, I�m not gonna turn nobody in.�
�Sure.�
�You don�t believe me?�
�Marisa, go to sleep.�
Marisa sighed.
�Have you figured out a solution to our problem?� asked Ren.
�No.�
�Well, I�m just gonna have to off her.�
Kawan laughed. �Dude, you ain�t offing nobody. What you gonna do? How you gonna kill her?�
�I�ll stab her.�
Kawan laughed again. �You know how long that would take? She�ll be screaming and shit.�
�I�ll slit her throat.�
�You don�t know how. It�ll probably take you three or four slits to get it right.�
�Well . . .�
�Yeah, I thought so. You ain�t no killer, dude.�
A pause in the conversation allowed the boys to give a more attentive ear to Marisa�s wailing in the background. Ren looked at the bare feet convulsing under the strokes of Kawan�s feather and shook his head.
�She said she wasn�t gonna turn us in,� said Kawan.
Ren frowned. �You believe that?�
�No. She seemed pretty earnest, though.�
�Of course she did. She want you to let her go.�
�Yeah.�
�Anyway, I might have a solution.�
�Word?�
�It�s not a perfect solution, but it�s better than nothing.�
�What is it?�
�I�ma move out of the country.�
Kawan�s brow furrowed. �Move outa the country? Where?�
�I been thinking about moving to Europe.� Now, would be the perfect opportunity.�
�Don�t you think this is a little irrational?�
You telling me what�s irrational?�
Kawan paused. �Okay, you got a point.�
�I ain�t going to jail. I�m too pretty to go to jail. They�d turn me out like a two-dollar whore.� Kawan burst into laughter. �That�s not funny, man,� said Ren, without a hint of humor.
�Nah, it�s not,� said Kawan, composing himself. �What the hell you gonna do in Europe, though?�