"A proposition?" Dec asked curiously.

"Yeah" Ant grinned and plonked himself down beside Dec on the kerb.

"What kind of proposition?" Dec mused.

"Well" Ant replied "I've been thinking and I'm obviously in a good position to be able to help you get back on your feet,you know,off the streets"

"I'm not taking anything else from you Ant" Dec replied defensively "the occasional sandwich and coffee I can do,but I won't take your money"

"It's ok" Ant laughed "that's not my plan anyway"

"So what is your plan?" Dec enquired curiously.

"Come and work for me?" Ant suggested.

"Er...what?" Dec frowned.

"Come and work for me" Ant repeated.

"And how would that work?" Dec frowned "the amount I know about law is exactly between zero and nothing"

"You don't need to know anything" Ant laughed "I'm not planning to train you as a lawyer overnight"

"What then?" Dec asked.

"Well" Ant smiled "you could kind of be like an office boy,filing paperwork,getting coffee for people,that kind of thing"

Dec didn't reply,he wasn't actually sure of what he thought of Ant's offer.

"And don't think it's a demeaning role" Ant stated,attempting to read Dec's thoughts "we all have to start somewhere"

"How would it work though?" Dec enquired.

"Well,in return for the job" Ant replied "my firm would pay for somewhere for you to live and give you a small wage"

"Really?" Dec smiled,that did sound appealing,but something was holding him back,even if he wasn't exactly sure of what it was.

"It'll only be somewhere small" Ant stated "like a studio flat maybe,but it's got to be better than living on the streets surely?"

"Yeah" Dec nodded unconvincingly.

"Look Declan" Ant went on "it's just a suggestion,you don't have to decide right now,have a think about it ok?and I'll come by again tomorrow and see what you've decided"

"Ok" Dec agreed.

"And Dec?" Ant smiled.

"Yeah?"

"I'm not trying to turn you into a lawyer,so you don't need to worry about that" Ant grinned.

"Just as well" Dec laughed "I wouldn't have a clue"

"And not to mention the years of training" Ant sighed "but this could be a step in the right direction for you to find the job you actually do want to do"

"It is an amazing offer" Dec smiled "I do really appreciate it,but you'd better be getting home,it's late"

"I'll talk to you tomorrow then ok?" Ant smiled.

Dec waved to Ant as he made his way off to hail a black cab.

Dec thought about Ant's offer constantly throughout the evening.

Why did he have doubts?

Would he be mad to turn it down?

Would he be happy in a situation like that?

Was he now just too uncomfortable with Ant's never ending kindness to accept it?

As Ant pointed out,surely anything was better than being on the streets?

He eventually decided that of course he would be mad to turn the offer down,only a fool would do so and he reasoned that he didn't have to stay at Ant's work if he wasn't happy there,he had nothing to lose by giving it ago.

Dec ran Ant's proposition by Betty the next morning,who was absolutely delighted on his behalf and told him he should absolutely go for it,but made him promise that he would still come and see her occasionally.

So when Ant appeared that evening,Dec was looking forward to telling him that he would indeed love to accept his very kind offer.

"That's brilliant" Ant beamed when Dec told him the news.

"One day" Dec announced confidently "I will pay you back tenfold for everything you've done for me"

"I don't doubt that" Ant laughed "but there's really no need"

"Oh,there is though" Dec insisted.

"Well,maybe I'll just be rewarded at the pearly gates when my time comes" Ant joked.

"Definitely" Dec grinned.

"Anyway" Ant smiled "I'll get onto finding you somewhere to live first thing tomorrow"

"You'll have time for that?" Dec frowned "isn't your job incredibly busy?"

"Well,when I say I'll get onto it" Ant laughed "I really mean I'll delegate it to someone else"

"You can do that?" Dec frowned.

"I'm the boss" Ant grinned "I can do what I like,anyway you don't need to worry about that,it'll all be sorted soon enough"

And it was!

Ant had connections,so just a couple of days later,Dec was standing at the door to a ground floor studio flat with Ant beside him.

"It's all yours" Ant announced,handing Dec the door keys.

"All mine?" Dec couldn't really believe his luck.

Once upon a time,there was no way in the world he would have even considered living in a place like this,but now...?

Now it seemed like an absolute palace.

One large room with a kitchenette and a separate shower room,there wasn't much else he needed.

"Thank you" Dec suddenly turned to Ant and hugged him.

"You're very welcome" Ant smiled as he patted Dec's back "now I'll leave you to get settled in"

After Ant had left,Dec had a good look around the flat and was astonished to see what else Ant had done for him.

The fridge that had a microwave perched on top of it,had been stocked up to bursting with cheese,butter,juice,eggs,salad,mayonnaise,milk,sparkling water,vegetables,various dips and many other things and the small freezer box was also crammed with as much frozen food as it could hold including fish fingers,burgers and scampi.

He curiously opened the kitchen cupboards,wondering what might be in them.

Bread,crackers,cereal,crisps,cakes,jars of pickles,bags of pasta,potatoes and tins of tuna and soups to name but a few.

"Oh my God Ant" Dec exclaimed as he sat down on the bed "what are you doing to me?"

He couldn't help but get slightly emotional at what had been displayed in front of him,no one had treated him this well for years,if ever,but curiosity soon got the better of him and he made his way to have a look around the bathroom,glancing at his reflection in the cabinet on the wall before opening it to reveal it's contents.

Plasters,pain killers,vitamins,a packet of disposable razors,toothbrush and toothpaste.

He then went over to shelves situated above the toilet and started examining each and every item.

Shampoo,conditioner,shower gel,sponges,hairbrush and comb,even some aftershave,Ant really had thought of everything,although Dec wasn't completely sure what Ant expected him to do with the bottle of talcum powder,that was something he probably hadn't used since his mother used to smother him in it when he was a baby.

But Dec was so grateful nevertheless and decided the first thing he would do was have a shower before making himself something to eat.

He decided on the scampi with some vegetables,thinking that would be a lovely first meal in his home and other than the peas he'd had with the barbecued spare ribs and jacket potato at the hotel,it had been a long time since he'd had any kind of vegetables at all and his body was crying out for them.

He also thought it wouldn't be too rich for his stomach and he wouldn't end up a pukey,aching mess again like he had that night in the hotel.

Dec enjoyed his evening settling into his new home,still not quite believing his luck and after a good nights sleep,he was startled to hear a knock at the door the next morning.

"Ant?" He stated after opening the door,surprised at his unexpected visitor "what are you doing here?"

"Just came to see how you're settling in" Ant smiled,as Dec beckoned him to enter.

"It's perfect" Dec smiled "and thank you so much for stocking all the cupboards up,that was so thoughtful of you"

"Well,it wasn't me personally" Ant replied.

"Yeah,but I bet you arranged and paid for it to be done didn't you?" Dec probed.

"Yeah,I did" Ant nodded sheepishly.

"Well,thanks,I really appreciate it" Dec smiled "thought you would be at work?"

"It's Saturday" Ant pointed out.

"Yeah" Dec nodded "but I know for a fact you work practically every weekend"

"Well" Ant laughed "I've decided to take a day off,it does happen occasionally"

"Good" Dec smiled "you deserve it,you work too hard,so what's your plan for your day off?"

"Lunch maybe" Ant mused "clothes shopping,are you up for that?"

"Me?" Dec asked surprised.

"Well,I don't see anyone else here" Ant laughed "and you'll need some new clothes for Monday"

"Oh" Dec frowned "I...er...I hadn't even thought of that,what do I have to wear in your office?please tell me I don't have to wear a suit?"

"No,you don't have to wear a suit" Ant smiled "just smart,casual stuff,you know?"

"I've only got the stuff you bought for me" Dec frowned "and my street clothes"

"And that is exactly why I'm taking you shopping today" Ant beamed "you ready?"

"Er,no" Dec looked down at himself "I'm still in my pyjamas"

"Come on then" Ant urged "get your arse in gear"

Dec made his way into the bathroom to take another quick shower,not that he needed to,he had only had one the previous evening,but he was loving it so much.

Meanwhile,Ant sat down on the bed and turned on the small television,absent mindedly flicking through the channels.

Dec hadn't been planning to do anything today,he was looking forward to relaxing in his new home,but he didn't feel like he could turn Ant's offer down,although Ant had more ordered than offered and as kind and generous as Ant obviously was,Dec was starting to feel like Ant was running his life and he wasn't sure if he was comfortable with that.

He pondered whether to speak to him about it,but decided that it was way too early in their friendship to rock the boat and maybe he was just being over sensitive,Ant didn't have to do anything for him after all,but he had done a lot.

First,Dec would start his new job on Monday and see how that went.

He was still in total disbelief at the fact he had gone from living on the streets,begging for a few coins here and there,to having a job and a home in the space of a few days.

He did actually have a very enjoyable day out with Ant in the end,with Ant treating him to a delicious lunch and kitting him out in suitable attire.

That night as he lay in bed,he started looking forward to starting work once again,it had been so long since he had been amongst a lot of people and he enjoyed that,he had always been such a sociable person,but living on the streets didn't give him much opportunity to talk to people,the general public avoided him like the plague,only Betty gave him the time of day,no else one had much time for him.

So Monday was going to be great,he would get to be busy,which he liked,be able to talk to people and earn a wage.

But unfortunately,it didn't all go to plan!