I knew it.

Elicia gave me enough money so I could pay for a single day at a cheap downtown hotel, but I just lazed around for about a week until the owner got the cops to get me out of there.

The prefectures’ homeless shelter is where I am now.

- Hey, Jack!

Oh shit, here she comes.

This is Amanda, the shelters’ Social Agent. She’s in command around here and tries to “socially rehabilitate” everyone.

Gotta hide.

Gotta go fast!

- Jack?!

Pheww.

Somehow, I managed to do it.

Marvel at my wondrous hiding techniques! You can’t ask something of someone if you don’t know where they are, haha!

Even though, hiding under the bed may have been a very bad idea, you know.

My face is touching something smelly, and I’m pretty sure there are things here I don’t want to know what are.

Oh god, please don’t let it be the famous “homeless cheese”, please don’t let it be that…

- Jack?

Shit woman, get out of here, would you?!

Please?!

She let off a sigh and finally went out of the dorm.

Or so I thought.

- Jack? What are you doing there?!

Aahh… running from you, of course….

Amanda was standing at the door, checking at a mattresses’ smell. I guess it’s’ user (the famous “smelly Kelly”) left it in a very poor condition again.

Her face is awful right now.

Well, one good thing about Amanda is that she doesn’t seems to feel contempt for anyone. I guess you can’t live surrounded by half-crazed homeless people all day long if you don’t have either a big heart or a secret agenda…

- Well, anyway, you need a bath… and a new set of clothes. You are lucky for having that bag of yours, because these ones definitely need to be incinerated immediately. After that, get to my office. I have just the right job for you.

That’s it.

What I feared the most.

A job proposal.

I have escaped quite a few of them already, but I can’t run forever. Everyday the Social Agents urge us to go on at least a couple of job interviews, and if we don’t… well, the prefecture isn’t paying for us to laze around.

I want my mothers’ milk bread… it was such a good bread…

****

- So, pretty good, isn’t it?

I can’t believe it.

I seriously can’t.

This…. I want this!

My head is spinning around. Seriously. I think i…

[- OUCH!]

- Jack! Are you okay?

[- Sorry, yeah, just… does that even exist ? For real?!]

- Well… it’s not considered properly a job, but at least it will give you a place to sleep and food to eat.

And that won’t be coming from the tax payers’ money, I get it….

[- So, how do I get there?]

- First we need to send them the papers, and only them will you be evaluated for the position. But I think you have good chances of being accepted.

Sure. Even if these people want the bottom of rock bottom of society, they don’t want any menaces on their building.

Not having a criminal record and having finished high school surely are good factors for that.

And age too!

Youngsters are too naïve and impulsive. No one likes this kind of people.

At least no one in business that is.

He. I guess I will be getting myself a good new life from now on.