She steps carefully off the train, her white gloves slightly soiled from the rails, thousands of hands before hers leaving their own mark on the pristine cloth.  Taking a kerchief out of a small handbag, she dabs lightly at her throat as she looks around the crowded station.  Brilliant green eyes sparkled with mischief as she spies a copper on patrol, his gut pressing outward over his belt, a sap hanging on one side.  Never one to pass up an opportunity, she takes her suitcase in hand and strolls leisurely  over to the officer of the law and smiles.

"Good afternoon, Officer.  I do hope you can help me" She beams, looking up from beneath a broad-brimmed straw hat perched on smartly coiffed titian curls.  As he looks down, his gaze travels down her form and up again to that emerald gaze.

"What can I do ye for, Miss?"  Brandi smiles and thickens her southern accent just a touch.

"Well sir, I do declare this city is just so big!  My cousin Luanne told me to visit anytime and since I just lost my job back in  Irwinville, I thought it might just be time to take in the big city"  The words came out in a rush, the accent bringing to mind hot, sticky nights, cicadas chirruping and bullfrogs croaking.  Leaning slightly, she held up one hand to whisper "She left a few years ago...a bit of a scandal at the school where she taught readin'" She glanced up, noting she had his attention.  "So here I am, lil ole me in this big ole city and I can't remember whether Luanne told me to catch a cab to 8th street or 33rd!  I'm such a ninny with numbers and directions; why my momma used to say if I was on a straight road I'd get lost between one end and the next!"  She beamed, sliding her hand under his elbow. "Do you think you might be able to help me find her road?  I know she said there was a grocers on one corner, and a dressmaker on that same side of the road...I think she said it was called  Michele's Vet..vet...vitamins?  I remember she said it had a French name..."

As the officer listened, a look of concentration on his features, she pretended to stumble, slipping a hand in his pocket and grabbing something before tucking it back into her own, depositing the little treasure without even glancing at it.  "Oh my! Clumsy old me; I'm so very sorry Officer."

"Name's O'Rourke, miss.  Sure I can help you; let's find you a cab."  Brandi grinned, pressing her hand to her breast like a silly, empty-minded female, then walked with her hand still tucked at his elbow to the nearest cab.  He handed her in, placing her suitcase at her feet, then doffed his cap. Welcome, Miss Brandi; I do hope you enjoy your stay."  She waved as the cab turned to go in the direction Officer O'Rourke had indicated, then smiled more broadly.  Opening up her hand, she saw a small medal with Saint Michael on one side, the patron saint of police officers.  She rubbed the coin thoughtfully, wondering if she should try to sell it or keep it as a lucky charm, her first successful theft in the big city.