The first time I ever saw Creamy she was sitting on that pier kind of leaning forward looking down. She had on a green skinny top and orange shorts. I thought she looked like a funny parrot so I made what I thought was this bird noise to get her attention, though actually I’d tensed up a moment, telling myself: parrot-girl might be a jumper. Even at a distance she looked too pale. Too white for summer. When she did turn in my direction, acknowledging my stupidity by puckering her lips in a mean way, then getting up slowly, like a coil unwinding, she did so like she still wasn’t sure which way was up, or down. And I saw she was really tall. I saw she had a few inches on me, and I’m six-one. This girl is a monster, I’d thought. A freak of nature.

Susan Tepper's short short story KNIVES appearing in Drunken Boat #12 will be performed as part of the Sweet! Actors Reading Writers series TODAY, March 3rd, 2011. Where Three of Cups, 83 First Ave @ 5th St. (F/V to Second Ave) When March 3rd, 7:30pm