"Oh, a peanut sat on the railroad track
Its heart was all a-flutter
Around the bend came Number Ten"

Two coins clinked together as they hit the bottom of the tin can. Eve interrupted the smooth rhythm of her song long enough to thank the passing stranger for his generosity and then continued singing loudly and slightly off key.

"It ain't gonna rain no more, no more
It ain't gonna rain no more
How in the heck can I wash my neck
If it ain't gonna rain no more"

Eve inconspicuously removed a few silver coins from the day's take. Based on years of experience, she recognized that if she let the can get too full, people would stop contributing. She was considering packing it in for the night, when she caught some movement out of the corner of her eye. A tall man, dressed in a crumpled blue suit was being tossed unceremoniously out of the Rockin' Rideau. The man noticed Eve watching and approached her with purpose.

He stooped to add a Lincoln to her collection. Her breath caught momentarily in her throat as his eyes traveled the length of her body. At not quite 16, Eve was not used to the look in his eyes. During the day, while she worked crowds for a bit of money, she was used to people looking at her with pity. She was used to people looking at her with disgust. She was used to people pretending they did not see her at all. She never cared how they looked as long as they lined her pockets.

This man was leering.

" 'eh pip, hows abouts you come with me and make a li' more?" he asked, slurring slightly. Somehow Eve understood his meaning without thinking. She flattened her hands against her too thin stomach, and prepared to upbraid the man harshly. But when her lips opened she paused and thought about her empty pantry, "h-how much?" she replied weakly.

He leaned forwards and took her arm gruffly, "Wait-" she exclaimed and tried to pull away as he guided her towards the alley next to the bar, but his strength overwhelmed her. "I have enough doll, don't worry," he murmured as he continued to propel her forward. Before Eve had time to really think about what was happening, he had stopped, and pushed her against the brick wall of the darkened alley. His hand moved quickly from her elbow to her hip and leaned towards her. NO! was the only thought in her head. She pressed her hand to his chest and attempted to push him back, this was definitely a mistake.

He must have felt her struggle, but did not give way. Instead he slid his hand around her body and cupped her buttock hard. His other hand dug into her thick brown hand. His fist closed around her locks and he pulled hard, causing her to yelp in pain. He kissed and bit her exposed neck, and Eve shivered in revulsion. He stank of liquor and smoke. In desperation she stopped pushing, and leaned back to lessen the pull on her hair. As she did so, her hand slipped and she felt the bulge of his wallet in his jacket. Thinking fast, Eve feigned a soft moan and wriggled toward him. Her fingers quickly clasped around his wallet, and then she jerked her knee up hard to hit his groin. The man cried out and stumbled backwards drunkenly.

Eve did not miss a beat. She ran faster than she had ever run before. She didn't stop until she closed the door of her tiny studio behind her. Sinking to the floor, Eve panted, trying to catch her breath. How much? How much? What the hell had she been thinking... begging every night for her meals and rent was obviously not working. She needed a better plan. Remembering the wallet, Eve wrenched open the clasp to count the take. $1032. More money than she had ever seen in her life. She could hardly believe the extraordinary luck.

The next day, Eve packed her meager belongings and purchased a ticket to New York. Maybe she would be able to find some work...