Flower of the Sea - I

The tattooed rabbit sat alone at a small table in Monica Leap's bar. She was drinking spiced rum on the rocks and, apart from ordering her drink, had spoken to no one since she came in.

"That old lady has been sitting there for over an hour," said Monica. "Do you know her?"

"I don't think so," said Amy. "She's quite unusual looking, isn't she?"

Amy Rubbert was on her way back home from her yoga class and had just popped into the bar to chat with Monica and catch up. It was still early, and the bar was quiet. Monica was serving on her own for now.

"She hasn't said more than two words to me since she's been here," said Monica. "I'm curious about her. She's ancient—just look at her skin—I've never seen so many wrinkles, but her hair is in long dreadlocks, and you don't see many old ladies with a large anchor tattooed on their arm like that either. I bet she's got a story to tell." Monica, the psychologist, was always interested in other people's stories.