SIMS

THREE: Meerm Chapter 13

  NEWARK, NJ

  "Hey, you sim. "

  Finger poke Meerm. Open eyes and see sim look in face.

  "You new sim? You no work. Why you ride?"

  "Cold. Hurt. Sick. "

  "Beece tell drive man. "

  "No!" Meerm sit up. Look out window. Bus on bridge cross water. Whisper, "No tell mans! Mans hurt Meerm!"

  "Mans not hurt. "

  "Yes-yes! Mans hurt Meerm. Make Meerm sick. Please-please-please no tell mans!"

  Other sim look round, say, "Okay. No tell mans. " Sit next Meerm. "I Beece. "

  "I Meerm. " Look window. "Where go?"

  "Call Newark. Sim home there. "

  Ride and ride, then bus stop by big building. Meerm follow Beece and other sim out. Up stair to room of many bed, like room of many bed in burned home.

  Meerm say, "Mans hurt here?"

  "Mans no hurt. Mans feed. Sim sleep. Sim work morning. "

  Beece show Meerm empty bed. All other sim go eat. Meerm hide. Beece and other sim bring food. Meerm eat. Not yum-yum food like old burned home but not garbage food.

  Meerm sleep on empty bed. Warm. Fed. If only sick pain stop, Meerm be happy sim.