Life's Interlude

I sighed, what the hell was I doing here again? A woman passed me and I could hear the muttered "slut" and other profanities as she passed. Oh, that's what I was doing. Begging for change on the street corner, sitting on the street vents of Washington D.C. If it was New York would she have spared me any change? I shrugged, how was I to know; I'd hitch-hiked from Bristol, Connecticut when my family threw me out.

Watching the people pass by, I let my mind wander. When, no-if, they dropped something in my can I'd look up and thank them. How I wished I had someone to thank right now, my stomach was growling. A small, red-haired boy bounded up to me, the puppy on his leash wagging it's tail cheerily.

"HI!!!" He said, smiling broadly.

"Morning," I replied. I doubted he had any idea who or what I was, a homeless faggot as others so eloquentlty put it. They had built up an impressive vocabulary living on the streets.

"Mommy says not to talk to you," The kid babbled on cheerilly, like he was talking about the weather. "She says you're bad, otherwise you wouldn't be livin' on the street vents... 'Cause of somethin' or somethin'."

"If she says not to talk to me, you should listen," I advised. Yes little boy, take the advice of some loser on the street corner in early December without a coat. I'd only been here a year, and trekking through the states had kinda been more important than a coat. Now I wished I had thought that out, too.

"Nu-uh, Mommmy said to give you these," He handed me a parcel and an envelope, "But not to talk to you."

"Right... Thanks," I said, accepting the gifts. What were they? Damned if I knew.

"Welcome!" He said, bouncing slightly. The puppy yipped and he laughed, I raised an eyebrow and said nothing. "Oh, Mommy wants me! Bye-byes!! Maybe I'll see you again!" Then bounded off.

"Bye," I said, smiling. Of course he'd see me again, There was no way in hell I was getting off my street vent now. Unless a snowplow came by.

Curiously, I looked down at the items in my hands. Shrugging, I opened them. Hey, if it was a bomb or something dangerous I would find out sooner or later. Always better Sooner. Knowledge is Power, BABY! Opening the parcel first, I was shocked by what I saw. I had guessed it was fabric from the weight and bulk, but I never would have expected the three slightly fading flannel shirts I saw. Touching them, I suddenly realized how cold I was. Hell, it was December and I was wearing my baggy, torn jeans and my tee-shirt with the sleeves torn off. While there was snow on the ground around me. No wonder people thought I was a freakin' moron.

Slowly, I pulled one on over my clothes. Sighing with content as I was instantly greeted with warmth I lay the others out across my lap. Should I have stood up the muted blue button-up flannel shirt that I was wearing would have gone halfway down my thighs, but right now it was simply helping me retain the heat from the vents. Oh, how I loved that kid's mother right now... Just, not like that.

Finally getting over the contented feelings that came with the new warmth, I turned my attention to the envelope. Tearing it open, I wasn't suprised to to see the letter in it. What I was suprised by were the two one-hundred dollar bills that fluttered down next to me from it's insides.

Briefly, I looked at the letter, an adress catching my eye. 347 Allentown Road. And a request to go there.

xXx

Skitty's Corner: Well, this is the first chappie of Finneus's story.. aka "I". The narrator of our story. I'm a CT native m'self, so when we get to that explanation I'll be all on ya with details, but as for the "DC Arc" as I'm calling it, things are gonna be vague and more than not correct. So it'll be kinda a fictional Dc. Sorries, I only visited there in 8th grade. Well, hope you enjoyed and I'm looking forward to reviews!