Truman

“Maybe I should be a superhero next.” Truman stood by the fireplace facing the empty living room of the abandoned house. Not a single person was in the room to listen. Lots and lots of bacteria, but they didn’t care and wouldn’t pay attention anyway. He decided he needed someone or something to talk to. Reaching out a hand, he conjured a squirrel, sitting on the floor facing him.

“Aye, but what would your powers be?” it replied. “Besides, you already have a job, you are a Homeless Space God.”

Truman stared at the squirrel, “Mind how you say that, it’s not ‘Homeless pause Space-God’, it is correctly said ‘Homeless-Space pause God’. The distinction is important.”

“Sure, however you like. Either way you are stuck here. Ha, you can be the superhero of dust motes. A lame-ass version of Magneto.” The squirrel waved its paws in the air mockingly.

Truman closed his eyes, counted one, two, three. He opened his eyes and the squirrel was gone. It was his way of removing conjurings that were no longer useful.

Looking out the broken window he could see evening was coming. He would be busy soon.

Old Bob stumbled in the front door hole. He did not speak. Bob never spoke. Truman knew he would not be around much longer. Being homeless was like the low parts of a roller coaster ride, sometimes you zoomed back up. But eventually you just slow rolled into the final station. Bob took a seat in the far corner, wrapping his torn pants around his legs. It was the best corner, away from the broken windows and with a little bit of residual warmth from the afternoon sun soaked into the plywood floor. The others allowed Bob to have this spot, out of deference. Finding so little compassion out there in the world, the homeless who called this reeking shell a home were ever so careful to show compassion to each other.

Quick Jimmy came in next. He was carrying a paper bag in the shape of a bottle. He stopped and looked over at Bob, offering the bottle in an outstretched hand. Bob did not notice the gesture. He was already asleep. Jimmy sauntered over to Truman. “I did good today! One hundred and forty-three dollars! That new intersection I found is virgin territory, as long as the rat-bastard cops don’t come along I can make a mint. Got me some top shelf stuff today.” He swung the bottle around in his hand.

Truman frowned, “Jimmy, we’ve got to get you off that booze. Did you eat today?”

Jimmy ducked his head, “Didn’t have time. You know how it is, go, go, go. All day long. I’m a busy man.”

Truman reached behind his back, conjuring a styrofoam container. “Here, I found this. More than I could eat. You can have what’s left.”

Jimmy opened the box to find a half-eaten cheeseburger and cold fries. His eyes lit up, “Thank you my friend, I am touched by your generosity. In exchange I will give you a pull from this here bottle.”

Jimmy handed the bottle to Truman. He lifted the bottle to his lips and pretended to take a slug. Jimmy placed the food on the floor and began carefully removing his pants and shirt. He tucked the clothing into a paper bag, being sure not to let them touch the dirty floor of the house. Jimmy donned a set of old dirty clothes and took the bottle back from Truman. “Have to be careful, can‘t get my good begging clothes dirty. People don’t give money to dirty people. Funny thing, I guess they only want to help people they think are like themselves.”

Jimmy sat on the floor with his bottle, quietly singing an old song to himself. He ate most of the burger, placing the rest back in the container and carried it over to where Bob was sleeping. He put the food down next to Bob’s head where he would find it when he woke.

He turned back to Truman, “I’m worried about Bob, he hasn’t been looking very good lately. I wish I could do something for him. I’d like to take him down south, out of the cold. We could hop a train, but I don’t think he could make it. I know you asked me to take care of him when he showed up. I’ve tried my best, you know that. Having him here has stopped me from going completely off the edge a few times, I owe him that much.”

Truman made a decision. “Jimmy, tell me about your sister, you mentioned her the other day.”

“Oh well, she lives in Tucson. Has a couple of kids. We don’t really speak much these days. Honestly, I don’t want her to know I ended up here. She would be embarrassed -- I would be embarrassed. She looked up to me growing up and I don’t want to be a disappointment to her.”

Truman asked, “Can you tell me about a time when the two of you had fun together?”

Jimmy smiled, “There was this one time in school…”

They talked for hours. Truman guiding the conversation to the pleasant times Jimmy had with his sister. Truman felt it was time for the big question. “Why don’t you take that money you got today and get on a bus? I’m sure she would be happy to help out her big brother.”

Jimmy thought for a moment. “Aye, that might be an idea.” He glanced over at the corner, “But what about Bob. I can’t take him with me, that would be too much of a burden on her. And I can’t leave him here by himself, he would starve. I don’t know.”

Jimmy yawned, “Right now I’m tired. We can talk about this in the morning.” He climbed over to his corner and wrapped himself up in the old tarp he found at a construction site.

Truman sat back. It was time for something he had been waiting for these past several months. He stood and walked over to where Bob was sleeping. He bent down and stroked the back of his head. Truman whispered into his ear, “He’s ready.” Bob smiled and nodded.

Truman backed away and sat in his own corner, waiting for morning.

Jimmy was up early. He went through his routine, cleaning up with an old rag and changing into his good clothes. He glanced over and noticed Bob had not touched the food. He walked quietly over to the corner and placed a hand on Bob’s shoulder. It was cold and stiff.

Jimmy sat on the floor next to Bob, quietly mourning the old man. Truman stood and walked over, placing a hand on Jimmy’s shoulder. “It was his time to go. Be happy for him, he has done his work here and is now free.”

Jimmy gestured, “What do we do with his body? I don’t want to see him dropped in a mass pauper grave, forgotten forever.”

“I will make sure he is taken care of. It’s time for you to leave, there’s a bus waiting. I think Bob would wish you the best and encourage you to move on.”

Jimmy stood and walked to the door. “Truman, I don’t know how to thank you for your help. I would be dead in some gutter if you had not taken me in from the street. You should come with me.”

“No, I don’t like the heat. Besides, your sister does not need strangers appearing at her door.”

“I get it. Once I am on my feet, I will come see you, or come see me in Tucson if you get the chance.” He walked out the door hole and began his journey back up.

Truman turned and looked at the body in the corner. He closed his eyes and counted one, two, three. When he opened his eyes, the room was empty.