A fat lot of nothing

“No, unfortunately we’re not hiring at the moment.”

“I’m sorry the position has been filled.”

“We can’t rent to someone without a verifiable income.”

“Have you tried applying for affordable housing?”

So no, it actually wasn’t okay tomorrow. Or the next day. Or the day after that. She had about 120 den to her name, give or take some loose change in the pockets of some dirty laundry. The old adage rang especially true today. A den owed is more than a den saved. Still, she pushed on. At least she wasn’t paying for transit.

She found herself somehow wandering hopelessly in an aging district near the waterfront. Squat brick buildings with broken windows covered by rusted corrugated panels lined the wide street empty of all living souls, save for her.

“You know… I recognize a soul down on their luck. How fares thee?” She jumped. Hooves made sharp clops on the pavement. She looked around wildly. Before seeing him. He had been caught on the chain link fence surrounding some kind of empty lot. He hung upside down, suspended from his snagged pant leg. He was dressed nicely wearing what looked to be wool trousers, dress shoes and a button up shirt that was slightly torn, likely from his escapade coming over the fence. He was also covered in a thick layer of soot.

She stepped over to him cautiously. “Um, would you like some help?” He looked up at her, smiling. “Oh, you know, as much as I can get.” Her brow knit together as she assessed the situation. She stepped up to him, and reached behind him grabbing his belt with one hand and the collar of his shirt with the other and heaved and twisted and the snag on his pants tore with an audible rip. She flipped him in a single motion and he landed on both feet, before popping up to his full height arms out like a gymnast at the end of his set, wobbling from the sudden head rush.

His face began to lose much of its red color, gained from spending an unknown amount of time upside down. “Thanks.” He smiled. “Hmm, and now to repay you in kind.” She started to protest that it was something that anyone would do, but then he peered at her, and his face dropped. “Oh, lass, I’m so sorry.” He pulled out a piece of cloth and wiped soot and tears from his face. “Well, it seems our threads were meant to cross.” He pulled a set of keys from his pocket and pushed them into her hands. “You need a place to stay and I can’t exist there anymore.” She still wasn’t entirely sure what was happening and started to protest again. “No, no, no.” He pointed. “Go take a look around before you say no. Deed in the desk when you’re ready.” He pointed at a padlocked gate. She looked, and when she looked back for him he was gone.