After a few seconds of silence, she gripped Howard's hand tight and said softly,
"Howard, that rag he's wearing is nothing worth having. The style's been dead for years."
"And it's soaked in dirty water. You'd catch a cold the second you put it on. We don't need it—come on, I'll take you to buy something new..."
"No!"
Howard shoved Judy out of his arms.
Tears spilled down his face instantly.
"I want Dustin's coat—I want that one! The only reason you won't give it to me is because you feel sorry for him, isn't it? He matters more to you than I do?!"
"No, I just think it's ugly and it's wet..."
"I think it's beautiful! I don't care if it's wet, I want it!"
Judy's body went rigid for two seconds.
"Judy, you obviously feel sorry for him..."
"I don't!"
The words snapped out of her without a breath's hesitation. Then she turned to me, voice flat and cold.
"Dustin, you heard him. Howard wants the coat. Take it off."
I looked at the wall of people packed tight around us,
then stared at Judy, my voice barely holding together.
"Judy... you want me to strip? Right here?"
"Strip!"
The word hit the air and the crowd went feral.
They crushed in tighter, eyes crawling over every line of my body, faces twisted with vicious amusement.
"Strip! Miss Henson said strip—what are you waiting for?!"
"That's right, Miss Henson! Teach this creep a lesson! Show him who runs this city!"
The man closest to me saw I still hadn't moved,
He grabbed the hem of my shirt and yanked.
*Riiip!*
The shirt ripped apart in his hands—two ragged halves, just like that.
The crowd erupted in a jeering cheer.
Judy rushed over and shoved the man aside, pulled off her own jacket, and threw it over me.
Then she turned to Howard.
"Howard, the shirt's already ruined. We don't need to—"
"I want it!"
Howard cut her off again.
He must have seen her still wavering,
because he reached into his bag, pulled out a knife, and pressed the blade to his own throat.
His whole body was shaking. He looked at Judy, voice cracking.
"Judy, my mom and dad died overseas—you promised you'd take care of me, that's the only reason I came back…"
"You can't even do this one small thing for me. How am I supposed to trust you? I'd rather just die…"
"Don't!"
Before Howard could press down,
Judy lunged forward and grabbed the blade with her bare hand.
Blood ran down her wrist like a thin stream.