Cole and His Dog

Chapter 1 Cole adjusted his backpack as soon as he was standing on the sidewalk outside of the house. He wanted to scream how unfair it was, but knew it would make no difference. So, he began walking, refusing to look back at the only home he had ever known. The atmosphere there had been toxic for the last two months, after he came out to his parents. His father’s only words, when he had finally stopped berating Cole, were, “I’ll feed and clothe you until you turn eighteen, then you’re out on your ass.” His mother had nodded in agreement. Cole would have left home that day, except he knew if he was going to survive on his own he had to graduate from high school. That happened a week before he turned eighteen, and true to his word, today being Cole’s birthday, his father had ordered him to pack his belongings and leave. “A hell of a birthday present,” Cole muttered in reply, earning him a swift smack to the back of his head, before his father pointed to the door then left Cole’s bedroom. Cole’s mother watched from the hallway. He had the feeling the look of disgust on her face had nothing to do with his father’s actions, and everything to do with the fact that she was equally happy to see the last of her gay son. He filled his backpack with what clothes he could get into it. He also managed to squeeze in a towel, and a pair of gym shoes. He figured he’d need the shoes, when the weather became too cold for the sandals he was wearing. Two paperbacks went in one exterior pouch, with his packable rain jacket in the other along with a plastic bag holding personal care items, including soap and a washcloth. After adding a bottle of water in the side pocket, he hefted the pack and decided it was manageable. He looked longingly at his laptop on his desk, knowing it would do him no good at the moment. Most of what I might need to know I can access on my phone, anyway. At least it’s paid for, for the next three months. After that…He sighed, patting his pocket to make certain the phone was there. His wallet was in his other pocket, with his ID and sixty dollars he’d managed to save from his pizza delivery job. Something I won’t be able to do now, since ‘my’ car wasn’t in my name so I can’t take it. I can see Dad reporting it stolen just to make things even worse for me. He walked to the corner of the block, took a right turn, and then headed to the bus stop. While he waited for the bus, he debated where to go. He’d looked up addresses for homeless shelters, finding two close to the 16th Street Mall, downtown. Research told him the mall wasn’t the safest place to be. The police patrolled it day and night, trying to keep the homeless from begging there, or sleeping in the alleys. In fact, it was against the law for them to sleep anywhere in the area. Something called the ‘No Camping’ law. I don’t have a tent, so I wouldn’t technically be camping. He smiled dryly as he got on the bus. Like that matters to them. What he really needed, and he knew it, was an area where he stood a chance of finding work, and that would be safe for him to crash if the shelters were full. He decided to try around Sloan’s Lake, where a drop-in place, The Haven, had opened two years ago. From what he had read online, it was small but with the resources to help homeless kids, although it wasn’t allowed to take them in overnight. The reason it appealed to Cole was the fact that it was far enough from both downtown and his…My used-to-be home, up until today. He sighed deeply, getting a commiserating look from the woman seated beside him. Thankfully, she didn’t ask what was wrong. The bus dropped him at the Civic Center bus station, where he caught one going down West Colfax. Fifteen minutes later he stepped off into the heat of the early summer afternoon. Adjusting his backpack, he began walking down Colfax, looking for the cross street he needed. As he did, he also checked out the shops and restaurants along the way. There were several car dealerships—new and used—an abundance of restaurants and fast food places, and even two pizza shops, as well as a couple of convenience stores. Discounting the car sales lots, there were still plenty of places where he could try to get a job. If he got lucky and did, he could save his money and then find a cheap apartment. If I don’t…He didn’t like the idea but he knew it was a definite possibility. In that case, he’d be spending his nights on the street, or in an alley, and hope he could crash at The Haven during the day. He came to the cross street, following it for four blocks until he saw a house with The Haven’s sign out front. There were kids sitting on the stoop who eyed him warily as he passed them to go inside. He found himself in a living room with several sofas scattered around. Teens were sprawled on them, some watching TV, others talking or reading. Through an open arch, he saw another room with a pool table in the center and shelves full of books along one wall. Cole tried to figure out who was in charge, since everyone he saw appeared to be his age, or younger. Just as he was about to ask one of the teens, a handsome, dark-haired man came through a doorway at one side of the room. “You’re new,” he said, walking over to Cole. “Yes, sir. I’m…” Cole hesitated, uncertain what to say. “Homeless?” the man asked, before introducing himself as Adam Franks. Cole nodded. “Since this morning.” “Oh boy. Folks kick you out?” “Yeah, they did,” Cole replied, his mouth tightening angrily. “How did you find out about us?” “Online. I…umm…didn’t want to be downtown, since I don’t know the…I guess you could call them the rules about how to keep it together.” “Like how to spange, or find a safe place to stay the night.” “Spange?” “That’s what we call panhandling,” a blond-haired guy who looked in his mid-twenties said, coming over to join them. “Hi. I’m Bret. I live here. You are?” “Cole,” Cole said. “You live here? I thought that wasn’t allowed.” He took off his backpack, setting it on the floor by his feet. “He and a couple of others stay here in exchange for helping me out,” Adam told Cole. “Unfortunately, you’re correct in terms of our not being able to house homeless kids. You can sleep here during the day—if we have a free bed—and we serve meals, as well as offering counseling, etcetera. But overnight is not an option.” Cole chewed his lip. “That means I have to go back downtown or somewhere else, to one of the shelters, if I want to spend the night off the streets.” “I can give you a list of places,” Adam told him. “There’s no guarantee they’ll have a space, and if they do it would be short term.” “Figures.” Cole turned to leave, then had a thought. “Do you let guys use this as an address if they’re trying to find a job?” “You bet,” Adam replied. “I can also recommend a couple of places that might hire you. Again, no guarantee—” “That they’ll be looking for someone,” Cole broke in. “Got it. It’s always like this, isn’t it?” “It can be,” Bret agreed. “You don’t have any relatives or friends you can stay with until you get on your feet?” Cole snorted. “No one in my family will have anything to do with me. To them being gay is a bigger sin than killing someone. As for friends…” He shrugged. “I wasn’t the guy people at school took to. I had acquaintances, sure, but that was it. I just didn’t fit in.” Bret chuckled. “You are sort of, excuse the expression, geeky looking.” “Meaning I’m not tall and athletic, like you. Yeah, I know I’m skinny and trust me I paid for it when the jocks decided they wanted someone to pick on.” He sighed, clenching his hands. “That can change,” Bret told him, patting his shoulder. “Yeah, right. I’ll lose even more weight, living on the streets.” “Show up here every day for meals and we’ll keep that from happening,” Adam said. “Give me a moment and I’ll get you the names I was talking about.” He returned a couple of minutes later, handing Cole two handwritten lists. “These are the shelters, and these—” he tapped the second list, “—are three restaurants that are always seem to be looking for waiters and bus help.” “Thank you,” Cole said, folding them carefully to put in his pocket. “Stick around, if you want,” Bret told him. “Dinner will be ready in a couple of hours.” “Naw. I should check out the other shelters. Maybe I’ll get lucky. Thanks, both of you.” “Not a problem, Cole,” Adam replied. “I meant it when I said you’re always welcome here, whether it’s to eat, or use one of the beds during the day.” “Thanks.” Cole picked up his backpack and took off.