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She had her regular spot on the central square, and no beggar would dare take it. They had respect for tradition amongst baggers, she made sure of that. The old mime was doing her act there for nearly twenty years. It was on a warm summery day that a new bagger joined the permanent residents of the noisy square. He had a slim figure and a delicate face, shy and it was obvious this life were new to him. Maybe he was some college student runaway, she mused, as she watched his show from across the street on a rare brake, her black and white motley wet from sweat. He was a graceful dancer and it made her wonder, what made him abandon his dance college in favor of a street life? She made up her mind to meet and talk with him. From their talk it was clear her assumptions were correct: he was a college student, and he ran away from his far away school because the hard life of learning were too difficult for him, but he was petrified of his father, that demanded he will study to dance at every cost, and his mother's disappointment. So he ran away, choosing the ultimate freedom over a life of drudgery. She was charmed by him, and they became good friends. Such good friends, she was willing he will perform with her in her spot, and add his ideas to her act, and one day she even let him teach her his own act. They were pretty good together, the old, experienced mime, and her new young, enthusiastic student. It was quite a shame, but she had to kill him after a while. After all, she had a reputation to preserve. |