Resident Intruder

Jamie woke up at the voice, her head pounding as she sobered up. Looking up, she yelped in embarrassment as she saw a homeless woman her age in ragged clothes standing over her, not looking pleased.

"What the hell are you doing in my house?!" The woman demanded.

"I... I'm sorry!" Jamie stammered as she got to her feet, wrapping the faux fur wrap around her body as she blushed. "I just -"

"I don't want to hear excuses!" The Woman shouted, "I want your carcass out of my house right now!"

"Okay, okay. Just let me grab my clothes and -"

"You mean these?" The Woman asked, holding up Jamie's dirty outfit in her hands. "Sorry, Sweetie. It's finders keepers here in city underbelly."

"What?! But those are mine!" Jamie shouted.

"And this is my house!" The Woman said as she gestured to the entire subway tunnel. Pointing to the area where the water was dripping, she added, "And that's my shower! What's your point?!"

"Please, just give me my clothes back!" Jamie begged, "It's not fair!"

"Be thankful I'm letting you keep that furry thing you're wrapped up in!"

"Look, I've had a very bad night, and -"

"Oh, you had a very bad night, huh?" The Woman asked with a sarcastic laugh. "Tell me something. Were you disowned by your folks and **** to live on the street at the age of ten, struggling to survive for fifteen years? Were you constantly treated like refuse by the city because you never had a penny in your pocket?"

"Uh..."

"No? Then get the hell out!!" The Woman snapped. "Or perhaps you'd like to get acquainted with Peppermint."

"Look, I really don't need a dog after me right now." Jamie whimpered.

"'A dog'?" The Woman asked with a chuckle. She then gave a series of clicks with her tongue...

As a skunk waddled into the room and stood at her feet, making Jamie's stomach drop.

"This is Peppermint. I raised her from a newborn kitten when she was abandoned by her mother." The Woman said, "Since she sees me as her mother, she won't spray me. You, on the other hand..."

The Woman made a few more tongue clicks as Peppermint turned to face her, raising her tail at a nervous Jamie.

"N-now, wait a second." Jamie stammered, not wanting tonight to get any worse for her. "L-let's talk about this."

"Here's the deal, Sweetheart." The Woman said, "You're leaving my house right now as is, but you can choose how you leave. You can leave here smelling like a daisy, or you can leave smelling even worse than when you broke into my house. Which is it?"