Chapter 15

"I am a child of Hell. I am lonely."
The tattooed girl could care less about a book.
"The tattoos she had given up trying to make sense of. Like stains that are faded but will never fade out."
The guys she had trusted in akron valley had fucked her over. Alma looked like the cut up girls in her brother's comic books. She hadn't seen her brothers in eight years since they disowned her like her daddy had done. She was restless and couldn't sleep, the jew was out with some woman. Alma teared through the pages of her witch book. Siegel would always tell alma that if she ever needed anything to just ask, but she could never bring herself to it. What was she going to say, "I need someone to love, but not you"? Dmitri had not cared about the tattooed girl lately, she had looked much better then she did when he first found her. He had time to ask her for money though and it made her furious.
"Alma's eye moved upon a crude drawing of a girl with long tattered dark hair and a pure madonna face, half naked, bleeding, kneeling on the floor of a dungeon and praying with doomed eyes cast heavenward." this was Jehane de Brigue. (189)
The witch craft book made her skin crawl; it related to her. It's as if it was a childhood book she had grown up reading. The tattooed girl was too shy to be so curious. The Jew knew everything. Alma thought maybe God had given up on her, but she still went to church. The tattooed girl was made to feel unwanted in Caramel Heights; where as in Akron Valley she felt welcome at church with her friend Emmie. The tattooed girl would walk into stores being judged and watched as if she was going to shoplift. Approached: "Can I help you, miss?" Not in a "welcoming" tone, but in a "you aren't welcomed here" tone. Sometimes out of rage she would abuse the clothes she tried on and laughed to herself.
"That isn't me, that's someone they made me be."
Alma liked the attention in Carmel heights, but not the rudeness that came along with it. The tattooed girl cried in bed, hugged he knees into her chest; she missed Akron valley. She could never go home though. She could clearly see the faces of her mom and daddy. Alma wanted to go back, but her parents would never forgive her for she had stolen from them. And they had never seen her disgusting face. Alma had come home smelling of beer, sweat, and sex. In Akron Valley, girls envied Alma, she was mature; pretty; boys flocked her. Boys used her and over used her. She laughed reminiscing the time she brought coil wire, but we don't need to go into the depth of that, th point was alma could fight back. Then she had awoken from this flashback. Siegel had needed her, finally. Alma was overjoyed and rushed outside to help him. The tattooed girl laughed, she was excited and nervous. She guess the remission had ended.

Chapter 14

Dmitri, the name so magic to her, never had anyone ever been like him.
"Sexy guys who didn't mind you knowing how they loved themselves best. And, loving you, it's maybe themselves they are loving."
Look for a gun. A gun? what would the tattooed girl do if she was to find one? just leave it, for now at least. The tattooed girl looked through the house. She thought of where her father had kept his gun, like all the men in akron valley in arms reach. Siegel would never suspect anything of Alma going through his stuff. The tattooed girl was ashamed to disappoint her lover that she had not found any firearms, she didn't think Siegel was the type to have one anyways. But Dmitri was irritated by that. "Anybody's a man to own firearms, babe. Like anybody's a man to want to use them."

Chapter 13

Sondra left many messages for Siegel, each one the tattooed girl erased. He now often gave Alma Bush her night off; like she had a place to go, or as if someone was waiting for her. Alma could smell the gross women that had been with Siegel the nights before.Disgusting. Siegel was always up to work in the mornings; most valuable to him. What was her jew employer doing. You could feel the heat and energy coming off him as if he was about to crash, but never did.
"In remission means you aren't sick now. But it can return any time."

Chapter 12

Many days had past and Siegel still felt great, he was redeeming himself and getting more work done then he ever had. He went to pick up Sondra and Ethan for their dinner date, Siegel was tired and out of it, but hoped his guest didn't notice. After dinner Siegel sped home; faster then Sondra felt comfortable. Ethan went inside and Sondra was heart broke. "Over the phone you sounded like you cared about me. Joshua this isn't fair. You draw me to you then push me away." He grabbed Sondra's face and kissed her and kissed her. He retuned back to his home of the cafe everyone was glad to see him and noticed he was lacking his cane. Siegel liked the change.
"In chess we are perpetually the age we were when we first began playing."
Everyone wanted to play Siegel in chess now that he was back. He played Fen, one of his biggest components, and the ex professor of medieval philosophy john. Both men whipped him off the boards. He insisted on a rematch. Siegel was shaken from his sleep, had he dreamt this. Siegl was relying on his luck in this game, why was he loosing? Everyone was watching with intensity, even the waiters. He took a break in the bathroom and fell into a light sleep beside the urinal. WHat was his deal.
"For Christ sake don't revere me, I'm not worthy of you. You have lived, and I have not lived."
Siegel treated his opponents and cafe staff to drinks and sandwiches. He laughed at his loss and toast were made to Siegel and the new year. His opponent John objected to siegel driving home, although he looked steady holding his drink. The waiter Dmitri offered to drive Siegel home. DId people think he was drunk just because he loss a chess game? ridiculous. Siegel took a long stop at the river on his way home.

Chapter 11

Spontaneously, Siegel woke up feeling brand new. Could it be his new medication? He was no born optimist so he tried to keep calm. He looked at himself in the mirror to see that almost all his color had been replenished. He felt it was time to give Sondra a call. Alma looked at his astonished he was shaved and cleaned up. Siegel called Friedman, his doctor, and shared the news that he was cured without the help of him. Siegel called Sondra wanting to see her and explain himself and why he had not returned any of her calls the last four months, but Sondra couldn't meet him that evening, or any other evening. Siegel decided he needed to marry her and adopt Sondra's son, Ethan. Siegel didn't get more then 3 hours of sleep a night, he believed sleep was for the week and a waste of time.

Chapter 10

The tattooed girl was funny once she got comfortable. Although Siegel was kind, she hated her employers. She tried not to pity him, he treated her better then any of her other employers including Dmitri, but she was in love with Dmitri. As a child her father beat her. She tended to trust people that shouldn't be trusted, like the men who drugged and tattooed her. She hated Siegel because he had money, lots of money and didn't even use it. He couldn't do anything for himself. When Jet slapped Alma it was like she knew she was the enemy. Alma only wanted Dmitri to love her; stealing from Siegel when he wasn't looking doing anything she could to please her lover.

Chapter 9

The new year brought Alma into the lower level of Siegel's house into the guest room. She was now his full time assistant. Siegel was happy to have her offering her comforting instructions about the house. Alma was thrilled to tell Dmitri but hesitated to tell him the cost of how much her salary was being raised.

Chapter 8

With the new year came the cold. Cold meant snow, damn those steps thought Siegel. He was scared to ask Alma for help up the stairs. Was an assistant really obligated to do such a task? He had Alma help him a couple times, but eventually swallowed his pride and went though the side door avoiding the 19 snow covered steps.

Chapter 7

In the new year much would change. Siegel excitedly prepared him self to ask Alma to begin working longer hours of the day and perhaps move in. He was excited to ask this young 20 year old girl who always seemed to frown.

Chapter 6

"Where do you live, I live in Hell. I am a child of Hell. I am an American and a child of Hell. Ask me if I'm happy, I am." Mostly everyone has left Akron Valley. The mines in Akron valley burned, I blame the politicians. Akron Valley was hazardous, people were evicted from their house, although some chose to stay. We shouldn't have to leave Pennsylvania! It's civilized here the tattooed girl claimed. I live in Hell. " If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her cunning."

Chapter 5

He was actually happy to have Jet visit. On the way home he drove her around places where they spent their childhood. He got to his house and struggled up the 19 steps carrying two of Jet's suitcases. When they got inside Siegel introduces Jet to Alma. Hardly out of ear shot, Jet started talking about Alma's tattoos that Siegel had thought to just be birthmarks. Siegel was surprised by how Jet noticed something in a matter of seconds that he hadn't noticed in weeks. Alma went on her way out at the usual 6 pm. Jet went back to questioning Siegel. After their parents died its like alma took both their places asking every nosey question one could think of. Unlike Jet, Siegel didn't care to know the details of her life, he learned from her troubled days it was best he stayed out of things. Jet and Siegel played a game of chess, something Siegel greatly exceeded in. Siegel won the first game and Jet insisted they play another so she could redeem herself. In the middle of the game Jet has a vision and claims she dreamt of this game. Siegel laughed at this annoying Jet. Jet was insulted she claimed that that's the reason she knew something was wrong with her brother, because she dreamt it. She believed their brain cells were linked together in some way. The next day Jet saw Alma sorting Siegel's papers and was furious. She thought the reason she has come was to assist her brother and felt betrayed, but in Siegel's defense he didn't ask her to come in the first place. Siegel had left to run errands and when he came back he walked in on Jet drunkly slapping Alma. Siegel ran in and Jet disappeared with her bags.

Chapter 4

Jet, Siegel's sister calls him with her casual nagging. The first thing Jet says is, "Is there anything you need to tell me?" How could she have known that Siegel had been sick, or maybe she heard about his new assistant. Jet insisted on coming even though Siegel told her not to. Before he could even say anything else Jet told him the time her plane landed and hung up the phone. The next day Siegel picked hisser up from the airport and he could barely recognize her. She looked so different, but good even though she was a heavy smoker. Turns out it was Siegel's health Jet was concerned about, she had heard he walked with a cane. Jet had a certain glow to her, if you were a stranger and looked at her yo would have thought she was a movie star. She was crazy though, doctors had described her as bipolar and schizophrenic. Jet was self-centered, vain, spoiled; skilled at manipulating others as a puppeteer. Somehow you were drawn to jet and wanted her to like you. His sister's motto was,"What i want to do I do." Finally siegel cracked and told his sister, who he had vowed not to tell out of all people, what had been wrong with him. Surprisingly, he felt relieved; Siegel didn't notice how lonely he was.

Chapter 3

The tattooed girl was in love with Dmitri and wanted to die. She wanted to say "I have a new life, a job, a place to stay and I'm treated with respect; I don't need you. He abused her, but she kept coming back. She proved Dmitri she was loyal to him through the crystal meth. The tattooed girl provoked Dmitri. Alma's grandfather despised jews, but she didn't see anything wrong with them, its just how they were born. She told Dmitri about how Siegel now carried a cane and how he was sick, it amused him. She gave him the money she made for the day. Alma told Dmitri how she could make Siegel love her maybe even steal from him.

Chapter 2

Alma had arrived to be Siegel's assistant. She got out of the cab and starred up at Siegel's large house. Alma insisted she was helpful and told him she said she could type, but Siegel couldn't picture her being able to spell the words he would want to use. Siegel would try to make jokes with Alma, but she just wanted to be told what to do, she didn't care to have actual conversation. Alma was shy, not stupid.  He informed her of his medical condition, but didn't go into detail. She only heard the things she needed to and blocked out what was unnecessary. The first day Alma filed for Siegel then went home at 6 p.m. She didn't stay the night. He made it clear alma was his assistant not his servant. Siegel tried to to overpay or over tip so he wouldn't give off the wrong impression. Siegel hoped that we would eventually learn what the marks on Alma's face were from.

Chapter 1

There was hope. Siegel's had a habit of scribbling notes to himself. Anything he could find he'd write a little note on. Siegel wanted to remember everything, he laughed to himself. The Fever was back.

II Assistant

Chapter 9

The community was surprised to see Siegel with a cane. He tried not to use it, but remembering the incident in the cemetery he always carried it with him. Friedman was no longer "the" neurologist but "his" neurologist. He wanted to know how much longer he had to live, not breathe, but actually live and be capable. No diagnosis had been given to him, with nerve diseases there are 1,000 possible things that could be wrong. Was it a coincidence that he was living the life of his book "The Shadows?" Siegel's sister Jet whined to him on how he never called to check in, but Siegel didn't want to tell Jet about the neurologist, he didn't want to tell anyone. He began to take a small do age of steroids to slow down the growth of the disease. Siegel was fine when he was sitting, but standing brought him troubles. Siegel went into the book store and noticed there was a new girl working, she had a smudge on her face, some kind of blemish. Siegel wasn't usually drawn to women like her but he questioned the girl. She looked so familiar, then he remembered he met her at the cafe. "Come work for me Alma."

Chapter 8

Dmitri took the tattooed girl to the Easy Inn, a place Dmitri was quite familiar with. Alma was scared "don't hurt me," she cried. She told Dmitri how smart she was and how she had finished high school. Alma wasn't worthless. Dmitri was kind to her; fed her; nourished her; gave her a place to go. She knew she owed Dmitri and was thankful for his services so she gave him what he wanted. After he finished with her he did his continual ritual of giving the girl meds, she forced them down her throat. He had gained her trust; insuring that he loved her. He wanted to do other things, but she refused so he beat her. Not Alma, but the tattooed girl. Alma and the tattooed girl were in the same body, but different people. Alma listened to Dmitri, she knew she owed him and obeyed his rules while she "worked" for him at the inn. Dmitri left for 2 hours to work at the cafe and came back to see Alma curled up in a ball on the floor reaching of vomit. The last customer had beaten her, but could you blame him. She looked unconscious when Dmitri approached her she looked up with her big sleepy eyes pleading that there must be another way for her to work.

Chapter 7

Siegel was jogging that next morning and collapsed on the gravel road. He was in pain, but more embarrassed that he was lying on the ground in public and couldn't get himself up. He had fallen in the cemetery, ironic isn't it? The day before he had dinner with his lady writer friend, Sondra. He didn't tell her about his visit to the neurologist. She had suggested Siegel to hire an assistant and was confused to as why he declined. They started talking about Siegel's books filling him with emotions. Siegel wanted to reach out and grab Sondra's had, but he knew she'd get the wrong impression. Oddly enough their waiter's name was Dmitri. Back to his fall… he felt a numbness in his right leg. Laying there with no cell phone he wondered how he could get help. If Siegel did have a cell phone though who would he call? Not Sondra, but maybe Essler the man he regretted not hiring as his assistant. Siegel went back into his day dreams and thought about his mother and how all she wanted him to do was get married. Siegel's broken watch still reading 7:20, hoist himself up onto a grave and massaged his leg and began to return feeling. He called out "hello? help…" no response.

Chapter 6

Siegel went to the doctor, neurologist that is. His illness was not contagious but possibly by spirit. Siegel has a "minute loss" of muscle tone in his face and neck, perhaps it was myasthenia gracias. Siegel had done his research and thought it might have been Lou Gehrig's disease but maybe his symptoms were just undetected allergies. Although he was sick, Siegel was always smiling and thankful for the life he had. The day after his appointment he felt brand new and all his pains were gone.

Chapter 5

He had dreamt of the tattooed girl and waking up next to her warm body the next morning. He quickly stopped his train of thought for his brain had been pressed with more aching matters.

Chapter 4

Dmitri is introduced in chapter 4. He works at the cafe and from what i can tell Dmitri is a scum bag who only cares about getting with women. Alma catches Dmitri's eye when she sits at a dirty table Dmitri had not yet cleaned at the cafe. He looks at Alma with such amazement, there was something different about her, she was attracted to what repels others. Was in exhaustion he saw in her eyes? He watches as Alma eats the left over crust of bread off the table then sees her slither to the other uncleared table eating their scraps. Dmitri approaches her with the pure intention to be able to get her into bed with him by the end of the conversation. He ask her upfront personal questions trying to break down a girl he doesn't even know. Siegel comes to the cafe and sits at his regular table to play his game of chess. Even though Dmitri hated jews, he knew to tend Siegel for his generous tips. Why would a man give such a large tip, maybe he was embarrassed by the about of money he had. People would often disturb Siegl when he hate asking for autographs and what not, but dmitri was quick to escort them. Siegel was classy, he smoked but never had cigarettes on him. Dmitri checked on Alma assuring her everything would be okay. Before the cafe closed siegel went to the bathroom swaying back and forth walking as if he was drunk. On the way back from the restroom Siegel stopped in front of Alma, examined her, then left abruptly. Then cafe closed and dmitri and Alma left. Alma moved in the direction Dmitri told as if she was being held hostage.

Chapter 3

Alma. The main character of the book, Alma the tattooed girl. She does not have a last name for she is mysterious. In this chapter we look at Alma as she goes down Mt. Carmel Avenue from place to place with each one saying they are closed, even the church

Chapter 2

In this chapter we meet Josh Siegel, a 38 year old writer of holocaust novels. Josh has grown up living a lonely life with only his sister who he isn't even that close with. As Josh approaches the middle age he comes to an idea of having an assistant. Siegel decides he cannot have a female intern for everyone of them seems to fall in love with him or sexual desires get in the way of work. A number of men come in for interviews with outstanding recommendations, but none of them make the cut for Josh. With each assistant Siegel finds they are shown to the door by the end of the day. Not one intern has worked for him until Siegel comes to the realization he wasn't just looking for an assistant, he was looking for someone who could outlive him.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 is short and sweet, the last sentence of the chapter is, "I can't live alone any longer." This chapter does not introduce us to any characters so it has us wondering who can't live alone and why.