Page 22 of Something Like Hail

Noah smiled at the mental image.“Seriously.”

“I’ll have enough saved upby then to retire. Or to do something else I love. Just don’t askme what because I don’t have a clue. What about you?”

“I plan on staying righthere,” Noah said, thoughts becoming abstract. He heard Haroldsnigger in response, felt the hand on his shoulder squeeze tighter,but the words spoken were too distant to understand. He wasn’t tooconcerned with them, only wanting to sink deeper into the blissfuldarkness that cradled his consciousness.

Chapter Four

Noah was stretched out on the couch, a heavyquilt covering him to his neck. He blinked, watched dust motesfloat through a sunbeam of morning light, then forced himself tosit up. He was still in Harold’s living room, but saw no sign ofhis host. Noah felt momentarily embarrassed for having passed out.Mostly he was glad for the solid night of sleep.

After using the restroom, he padded into thekitchen for a glass of water, noticing the time on the microwave.The hour was later than he expected, the day creeping closer tonoon. He found a note on the counter. The handwriting was so messythat he could barely decipher it.

I’m out with my mom. It’s her birthday! Helpyourself to some cereal or whatever. If you need me tonight, justcall or stop by.

An open invitation? Cool. Noah tookadvantage of the privacy to snoop, starting with the kitchen. Hefound health food in the refrigerator and cabinets. After helpinghimself to a bowl of granola with almond milk, he decided he wantedreal food and prepared to leave. Before he did, he snuck down thehall to Harold’s bedroom, which wasn’t different than any other,but he committed the details of the bed (queen-sized, browncomforter, unmade) to memory for a future fantasy. Then he left thehouse.

The day was rainy, but he refused to letthat get him down. Noah used his phone to locate the nearest branchof his bank. After walking there and depositing his check, he leftagain, nearly strolling into traffic while looking at his accountstatement. Nine hundred dollars! A little under that, actually, butholy shit! He felt filthy rich as he continued on his way to theshelter.

The doors to Jerusalem wereopen, two familiar faces sitting behind the reception desk. One wasthe Bouncer, stoic and frowning as always. The other was Edith, whowore her usual welcoming smile— No, scratch that! The older womandidnotlookpleased as she shot to her feet.

“Where have you been?” shedemanded, her accent sounding German today. Or maybe it was thehissed anger giving him that impression. “Two nights now!Where?”

Noah’s mouth moved as he grasped for anexplanation. “I stayed with a friend.”

Edith slowly sat back down again. “You areokay?”

“Yes,” he said, deciding toinject a little humor. “I promise to call next time,Mom.”

“This isn’t funny,” Edithsaid, matching the Bouncer’s body language. “If you had a phone, Iwouldn’t have to worry.”

“Actually…” he said,pulling it out of his pocket. “Do you really want me to call nexttime?”

Edith seemed concerned by this revelation.She quietly asked the Bouncer to watch things. Then she stoodagain, took Noah’s arm, and led him deeper into the shelter. “Whatis going on? Where did you get that?”

“I have a job now,” Noahsaid.

“Since when?”

“Two or threedays.”

“And they pay you inadvance? Enough to get a phone?” She stopped in the hallway andturned to face him. “What have you gotten mixed up in?Drugs?”

“No!”

Edith’s lips pressed together briefly.“Other things?”

Noah opened his mouth to protest again, butthen realized that she probably meant prostitution, which isexactly what he was doing. “I’m fine,” he stressed. “Really.”

Edith’s eyes closed. When she opened themagain, they were pleading. “You need to be safe. Do you understandme?”

Safe in terms of sex? Or who he chose to bewith? Either way… “I will. I promise.”

“I’m glad you have a phone.Here.” Edith took out her own, a model that was much older anddented around the edges. “I’ll give you my number. If you don’tmake it here before the doors close, you can call me and I’ll letyou in. I’ll save you a bed no matter the rules.”

Noah shook his head. “I might not be hereevery night. I appreciate it, but I don’t want to cost someone abed.” An idea occurred to him. “Actually, do you have any privaterooms left?” Why not! He could definitely afford the thirty dollarsa week.

Edith thought about it. “Mr. Carvajal hasn’tpaid in two weeks. All he does in there is drink. He thinks I don’tsmell it on him? Time for him to go. That’s what he gets fortouching my boobs!”

Noah laughed. “What?”