Escaping Dodge

By Neil P. Allen

Astral is a homeless transgender teen living on the streets, being prostituted and doped up by her pimp. She "happens" onto a ring that could be her ticket out of Dodge. Astral grabs the chance and runs with it. While she's trying to escape she runs into her pimp and ducks into a building to hide then discovers she's in a woman's shelter. It is a reprieve with hot showers and meals and possibly more but Astral panics and goes on the run again. Will she finally escape Dodge? Find out in this short story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Neil P. Allen
• Release date: Mar 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370853915

Neil P. Allen

I am a writer of fiction and non-fiction for kids and adults with several eBooks available on Amazon. I've worked as a reporter, freelance article writer, newspaper editor, magazine editor, and book editor for a small publisher. I especially enjoy editing and writing short stories.

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Escaping Dodge

By Neil P. Allen

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Cover Art by Caitlin Cavanaugh

Published by Neil P. Allen at Smashwords

Copyright © 2017

Updated © 2019 by Neil P. Allen

Dedications

This eBook is dedicated to the people who helped me make the story better — AW, MC, and A. Thank you for your support! And, to my daughter who created the cover. Thank you for sharing your talent!

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book.

These stories are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Astral Hamilton slipped through the crowded sidewalk, looking for her next target. She spotted a group of three well-dressed middle-aged women carrying several shopping bags from the ritzier stores at the mall. They were caught up in their gossip and not paying attention to anything happening around them.

She moved in close, her pace matching theirs. As Astral came alongside them, her pale white dirty hand dipped into the bag closest to her as she inhaled the nauseating combination of too much hair spray and perfume. She quickly grabbed the first small item her nimble fingers touched and pulled it out then shoved it in her faded blue dress pocket without looking at it.

The women were too giddy from their afternoon of shopping to even notice her or what she’d done. People not seeing what they wanted to pretend didn’t exist was something Astral was more than willing to take advantage of. After being on the street for more than a year, not being seen was something the 17-year-old welcomed.

Astral dropped back, allowing distance to build between her and the women, then ducked into an alley. She looked up and down the