Max Tanner was hungry. He walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator to get something to eat. There was nothing there to eat.
I HAVE GOT TO GO OUT TO PICKUP SOMETHING, HE THOUGHT. MONEY WAS A LITTLE SCARCE, FOR A lonely janitor at a local shelter. He was lucky to have that job. Working all day at the McKinley high school and being the night janitor at the 7th street mission shelter. The money just barely covered his daily expenses. If it were not for the two jobs, he would probably be in a shelter himself. He had forgotten to stop at the market on the way home. Pulling on his old raggedy gym shoes, he walked down the stairs from the second floor of the building. It was only three blocks to the 7-11 on the corner of Roosevelt and Ridgeland. In the doorway stood Smelly Jack, the local beggar. He looked at Max with his soulful blue eyes. Jack was hungry, too. No one was giving anything up tonight. Jack did not beg, but you could tell this time he was really in need of some food. Max could not stand to see a man go hungry, so he paid for a hotdog and pop for jack. Sitting with Jack near the corner, they enjoyed the feast of the evening.
“You know, Max, people don’t share like they used to any more. I could always count on a meal every evening if I waited outside near one of the 7-11 stores. People would always offer a sandwich or a drink. Now they all they do is look at you and sniff. You are the ONLY ONE WHO always understands a man’s pride. I don’t have to say anything and you give to me .”
“Yesterday, a man came into the store and bought two lottery tickets. As he left the store, he noticed that the clerk had not given him the correct numbers on his tickets. He looked at me and said ‘Here , you can have these.’ He gave me two one dollar tickets for the mega lottery tonight. Here is one for you. I can’t give you as much as you have given me over the years. This time I can give you something in return for your generosity, tonight.”
Jack reached in to his pocket and pulled out a cellophane baggie. This let Max know that Jack had high hopes of some remuneration from these tickets. They were clean and fresh as the day they were purchased. A hundred or more dollars would be a big help to both Jack and Max. Dreams are made of this sort of thing. What had made the man give these tickets to Jack of all people?
Max stood up, turned to Jack and said “You have just made my day. I feel as if the world has given me a new start. Maybe nothing will come of these tickets, but I now understand that having hope at the start of your day is what makes the difference in life.”
I walked thru the front door. Nothing seems to be out of place. All of my stuff seemed to still be here. I could see the TV sitting on the stand in the living room. The radio was on the top of the refrigerator where I usually kept it. I had not been a fool to leave her in the house by herself. I figured that anyone who would bring me home in my condition and not touch my wallet or steal my car could be trusted to stay in the house. The two towels I had left on the chair next to her bedroom “(I mean the bedroom she had used to sleep in last night.) had been used and were hanging on the towel rack in the bathroom. I smelled the scent of some kind of perfume. It was stronger in the bathroom as I walked past. I guess it was a shampoo or soap or something that I smelled. The bathtub was still wet from use. I could see she had taken the time to clean up after herself. Now where was she?
I called out “Is anyone in the house?” What is her name? I said to myself. What am I going to do with this woman? She may not be willing to leave when I ask her.
I heard someone say “shit”, he’s back. “What the hell is he doing home at this time of day? I was hoping to be gone by the time he came home.” There was a brief period of silence followed by a noise like someone was grabbing some things in a hurry. I continued to walk toward the kitchen with the bag I had brought home with me. Placing the bag on the counter, I turned to come back to the front. Suddenly, she came out of the bedroom. She had a towel wrapped around her and a butcher knife in her hand.
“What is that for? If you wanted anything you could have gotten it and gone by now!” I said
“It’s 2:00 p.m. most men who leave to go to work don’t return before 5:00pm, I thought you came home early to get something and I want to assure you that it is not me., she said. Doesn’t your job require you to drive that truck all day? Most lunch wagons run from 6 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon.
“Why are you sitting around wrapped in a towel? “
“Well, I washed my clothes and they are not dry, yet. I didn’t expect you to come home this early, so I was in the room waiting for them to dry.”
“Are they in the dryer?” I asked.
“What dryer!?”
“I have a dryer in the laundry room. Didn’t you see it? It is here just off the kitchen.”
“No! I didn’t go wondering around your house while you were away. I did what I needed to do while you were gone and stayed in the room.”
“Would you feel more comfortable wearing a robe while your clothes are drying? I said. “Then maybe we could do without the knife.”
She stared me down and said “I will accept a robe, but the knife stays until I am dressed.” Going to my room I retrieved the robe I had gotten on my trip to Vegas last year. She said, “Thanks.” I watched her as she went back to the room to put it on.
. She came out of the room wearing the robe and gave me a hard look, the knife still in her hand. She looked different. Her hair was down around her ears. She looked to be a sweet and skinny little girl. I knew it wasn’t so because the cold stare was still on her face. I showed her where the dryer was and how to use it. “I didn’t get to see you this morning”, I said. “We should take some time to discuss the situation. Put that damn knife down! Is that knife really necessary?”
“Yeah, until I know more about you! she exclaimed. I have had some so called ‘good people’ turn on me. So, I have learned to trust very little and to depend on myself.”
“Well, I have learned that negotiations, work best over a meal,” I said. I had brought something home to eat for my dinner at 3:00 pm. “I stopped by Boston Market and got two meatloaf dinners, would you care to have dinner with me? We can talk while your clothes are drying,” I added.
I had put a small round table in another room off kitchen and called it my formal dining room. Since I did not expect to have any company, it was just big enough for two people to sit comfortably. The table was already set, we used the place settings on the table. She sat down across the table from me and I brought out the Meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, mixed vegetables and cornbread.
“This smell delicious.”, she said.
“I am glad you think so”, I quipped.
“Yeah, I haven’t had anything to eat today.”, she said.
“I’m sorry, I usually leave quickly in the morning and I forgot that you were here.”
Taking a bite of the macaroni and cheese, she said,” You said something about discussing our situation? First, I want to thank you for helping me last night. I was totally out of it and your help was sorely needed. I had some bad news and was drowning my sorrows. The last person I could call my friend had died while I was searching for him. Me and old Willie came through some really tough times, but we always took care of each other. Now that things are starting to look up. I wanted to make sure he got his share of good luck. “Seems I waited too long to get in touch with him.”
“Yesterday morning, I saw you coming out of the shelter with several bags. You were frowning and mumbling under breath.”
“I asked one of the guys helping about you while we were setting up for breakfast. Benny said, they had just put you out for using force against another patron. Last night you didn’t have any bags when you helped me. You didn’t leave after bringing me in. I hope you have some place to stay because I don’t want any trouble, especially someone who threatens me with a knife”, I said with a smile.
“Now that I am put out of that shelter, I don’t have any place to stay, right now. I am not looking to shack up with anyone, either!!. I am not without funds to support myself, I just don’t have any special place to stay. My bags are with a friend at the diner, where I work. I work nights at Stanley’s Bar and Grill. Staying in a shelter allowed me to save some money. Now, I will have to look for a new place to stay”, she said in almost one breath.
“I wish you the best of luck. How soon will you be able to move on?” I asked.
“I am going to need at least a week to find something. Stanley has my things in his store room. I will be going to work, tonight and will pick up my things. I am going to bring them back here with me tonight. If that’s alright with you?” she said.
“I owe you for what you did for me. Yes, I can give you a week to find a place. For that period of time we can live like two strangers in a hotel, I said.
“You don’t come to my room and I won’t come to yours!!, she said.
“Well, I said, ” I am sure we can work around each other’s schedules. If you need to come in after working hours, call me and I will be glad to open the door. No visitors or company are allowed while you are staying here. And I won’t invite anyone else in while you are here.” I emphasized.
“Ok, let’s not let this food get cold. It is not as good if you have to reheat it. We can make any other adjustments when we get to that situation. I am sure we can make this work. Let’s talk about this after we have a chance to think about it. I am ready to hit the sack. I have been up since four this morning.” I yawned.
” Okay!, You are right.” she said. “Thanks for dinner, I am starved. “she stated. She put the knife away in the pocket of the robe.
The phone was ringing, so I had to get up to answer it. I threw back the covers. Walked over to the dresser and fumbled for the cell phone. It should have been right here on the dresser next to the clock radio. I was sure I had put it on charge last night before falling asleep. However these days I can’t be too sure of anything. Since Iris moved in on me, things have changed in my life. She is not a problem as much as a change of pace. Thirty days now and she still can’t find a place to live. This is something I had not anticipated, I am getting used to her being here.
“Hello, This is Max speaking, How may I help you?”
“Hello Mr. Tanner? This is Maria Costello, I need your help. My little one is turning 9 this year. She is beginning to pull away from the good things in her life. I have noticed that she seems to want to be outside on the streets instead of studying. Her voice dropped to a whisper. I would like to give her a birthday party to show her that her family still loves her. I want it to be a surprise. So I would like to have it someplace other than my house.”
“Why don’t you have it at McDonalds or Chucky Cheese?” I suggested.
“Those places are too expensive and so crowded all the time. I am trying to keep my baby at home, not introduce her to things outside.”
I got my slippers and robe from the foot of the bed. This looked like it was going to be a long conversation. Mrs. Costello seemed to want something special from me and until she got her way, I would be holding this phone. As I opened my door, Iris came from the kitchen with a cup of coffee. “Hey, that smells good, is there anymore in the pot?” I asked her.
She said “Yes, I just made a fresh pot.”
“What did you say, Mr. Tanner?”
“I’m sorry, I was talking to my tenant, she made a pot of coffee that smells just wonderful.” I spoke into the phone.
Iris said, “I have never seen you on the phone so early. It must be very important.” She had a slight accent, I could not identify it as Hispanic or Italian, but I liked it.