New friends

I woke to fur in my face.

Scrap was sleeping on my face like a cat. This was going to take some getting used to.

I unburied my head from under the mass of my new pet. He rolled off my bed with a THUMP. Scrap quickly woke up and scurried over to a book shelf on the side of the apartment. He carefully pulled a book from the shelf and carried it carefully over to the bed.

I sat up stretching as he dropped the book in my lap. Its was "King Rat" by James Clavell.

"You are a strange rat, you know that?"

Scrap responded with a knowing look.

"Hey scrap can you bring me... 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell?"

Scrap scurried over to the other side of the room and pulled another book from a shelf. I discovered it was indeed "Animal Farm."

"I could use you in the shop."

Looking at the electric clock next to my bed, I leaned over to scratch Scrap's head.

7:17

Maybe I'll go up to the roof top before work. I slipped on a sweat shirt and stepped out onto my balcony and climbed the ladder.

The air was heavy with mist. The fog rapped around the building like a blanket. The fog caste a ghostly dim light over the roof.

I looked down to see Scrap by my side. How in the world did he get up here?

Looking around more I found someone sitting on the edge looking out over the fog.

They wore a orange marshmallow jump suit.

"The day I escaped, the sun won't shine."

Scrap scampered over to the convict and  nuzzled their hand. The convict turned to reveal an old scared face and rubbed Scrap under his chin.

Well if Scrap trusts him . . . 

Slowly I walked over the roof and sat on the other side of Scrap. The fog opened and closed to reveal small parts of the town like a selective eye. 

"You got a name kid?"

"Um . . . Will." 

"Alright then Will you won't be going around telling people I'm up here will you?"

"If Scrap likes you . . . I might as well give you a chance."

He nodded slowly.

"So that's my furry friends name, huh?" 

"Are giant rats common in prison?"

His face instantly darkened at the mention of prison. 

"I didn't mean to-"

"It's is alright, it's just to soon to tell if I'm free." 

I looked at him as he looked out into the fog.

"You know the world seemed so bright from behind bars?"

A door opened behind us opened. We both turned to see a snooty looking young man.

"Who are you? Never mind that you are not worth my time."

Then he left as quickly as he had appeared. 

That was Richard Knapp, quite an irritable fellow I thought.

"What was that about, Will?"

"That was Richard Knapp one of the more interesting people that live in this building. He mostly spends his time complaining and stomping around."

"I think I'll fit right in here."

Scrap

The rain would not stop.

Since before I woke the clouds loomed of the city as if waiting for something.

I opened my eyes to the steady patter of rain on the windows. The water droplets slid down the windows tracing through the dust creating clean spots for the light to intrude. Turning to check the clock . . . WOMP . . . I fell off my bed. 

Rising I rubbed my side and strode over to the kitchen to find food that was not there. I really needed to go to the store and buy some food. The last of my ramen ran out last night. So I looked into the cabinet to find a grand prize of crumbs at the bottom of a cereal box. I poured it into a bowl anyway. I turned to get into the fridge that a awkward island/breakfast bar. 

As I was reaching in the fridge I found about half a cup a milk. Dang, it will have to do. I really needed to go to the store.

I backed out of the fridge and into something squishy. A large network of lightning struck dangerously close to my apartment and the power went down. 

BOOM!

Thunder shook the building like an earthquake. I started to question the stability of the building. I turned to find a large furry animal face first in my breakfast crumbs. 

I stared in shock as it stopped and slowly rose its head and turned to me. I turned and dove over the breakfast island and into the main space of my apartment. I landed and rolled and crouched in a stance I saw in a kung fu movie once. 

I sat in the stance until I had the confidence to creep over to the opening of my little kitchen. The bowl was in the ground and I saw a long rat like tail disappear into the large hole in the wall next to the kitchen. 

Nope. Nope. Nope.

Time to go to work. I grabbed some jeans and my trusty leather jacket and my backpack. I almost ran out of my apartment. and down the hall. I stopped in the stairwell and caught my breath. 

What in the world was that? Why did it have to eat my pathetic breakfast? 

I felt my stomach cramp up from hunger.

I looked at my watch.

7:13

I had to be at work at 8.

I stumbled down the endless flights of stairs into the lobby to find two tropical birds squawking at each other like a married couple. Boxes littered the whole room in a strange arrangement. The boxes seemed to be in a modern chess battle with the birds as angry players on each side of the room. I skipped and dodged through the battle and the birds flapped in anger. I hate birds, they are only rats with wings to me.

I stood at the end of the lobby and stared at the sheet of water that poured from the sky. It was raining so hard the awnings down the street had water cascading through holes like waterfalls. 

I walked out into the rain to instantly become soaked. Wondering down the street I saw multicolored lights and found an empty diner. I walked under its awning to read the menu. 

Nothing special, but food is food so I opened the door and stepped in. It smelled wonderful and I quickly sat down at the themed 1960's breakfast bar.

I looked around and saw one person sitting by themselves at the edge of the restaurant. Head deep in a newspaper that seemed to almost cover the the entire table in which he sat.

I turned to find a tired looking waitress looking at me expectantly.

"Thats Thomas Roberts if you were wondering. He don't talk to anyone."

"Hmm"

"What will you be having on this fine sunny day?"

The waitress said sarcastically.

"Um, what is there to have?"

"We got eggs . . . and probably some bacon."

"I take that I guess"

She disappeared through a swinging door with out another word.

I stepped out from the awning of the diner to the sheet of rain that imposed on me. My footsteps were heavy with the new weight of loads of eggs and bacon. I skipped from awning to awning trying my best to not get wet.

Finally I reached "city lights" soaked despite my efforts to stay dry. I reached into my wet jeans and pulled out my keys. Out of the wet reflection I saw a red lights of a black limo pull up. A man in a black suit rushed around the car to the passenger door with an umbrella. He opened the door under the umbrella for "C" my boss. He stood outside of the car and scanned the street and found me. He nodded to me. Then him and the his escort walked down the alley.

I stopped my feet on the mat and was greeted with an old book smell. I had come to like it over the last week of working here.

All I did was clean. Dust seemed to accumulate from the books themselves. I found that the store is surprisingly big due to a large store house in the basement. It seemed to be twice the size of the topside store. I guess i would never have to order books for the shop.

I was worried to find several large holes in the walls around the shop, just like the one in my apartment. Could be they some how be connected?

Later that day I stood outside my apartment holding several bags of junk food and a head of broccoli.

Urging myself to unlock the door. What if that thing . . . was still there?

Finally I found the courage and unlocked the door.

the only light on was an old florescent in my kitchen casting a strange spotlight. I walked quickly and quietly over to the island and placed my bags down carefully.

All seemed safe.

Something brushed my leg. I turned and slipped.

I found myself on the floor with the head of broccoli in my hand. I looked up right into the face of the beast.

I held the broccoli between us, as if it was a sword.

It sniffed my weapon and took a bite.

I was so surprised I dropped my great green sword.

I found myself looking at a giant fluffy rat about the size of a small dog. I thought back to the note the previous apartment dweller left me.

Could this be scrap?

Finishing the head of broccoli it turned to me and leaped on my chest forcing me to the ground. It tongue smothered me with kisses.

I forced my way up and the rat rested in my lap looking up at me expectantly. Slowly I started petting it like a dog. I responded in kind and seemed to almost purr like a cat. Around its neck was a collar with a name plate that said, "Scrap."

Looks like I have a new pet.

Dead end jobs. Dead end lives.

I had to leave.

The day I graduated high school, I took a train to the city. I took a job in a book shop called "City Lights." The job provided an apartment in an building across the street. The pay was low just enough for basic living. I did not care. All I wanted was to not be in that soul sucking town I left.

The job started 8:00 AM sharp, as I was told by a snappy voice over the phone. I arrived at 6:25 AM and decided to walk around the area until my performance interview.

My new boss sent the keys to my apartment in the mail. I climbed out of the stairwell from the transit station that opened next to the new store I would be working.

The shop looked like any dusty old book shop. The shop had only been closed for a week and already the every shelve was caked with dust. The door was tied with a heavy cast iron chain with a large lock that looked older than the book shop. I looked closer and on the back wall of the shop I saw a large gapping hole. For a second I thought I saw, eyes. I shook my head and decided to explore the area in which I would be living.

I looked down the street and saw an old statue in front of he largest building in town, I guessed this would be my apartment building. I decided to see my new home and drop off my back pack.

The side walk was dirty, but seemed to be clean of any litter. As I walked I remembered the little town I came from.

No one wanted to leave or even dream bigger than working in the steel mill. I never heard anything that did not pertain the steal mill in one way or another. My father was the mill floor manager. My mother was the office floor manager.

Dead end jobs. Dead end lives. I wanted nothing of this future, so I disappeared into the night.

I walked up the street a ways past a laundry mat and an old church. An old statue of a war hero stood in the middle of the street. Beyond it stood a sort of run down building with a sign that read Maplewood Crest. I walked across the empty street into the building. I walked to the stairs not wanting to speak to anyone.

I climbed and climbed to the top floor. In the envelope was a note that read:

The apartment is not marked by a number only a large scratch over the door.
Take care of the place it is one of the nicest in the building.
The coach is a fold out bed.
Take care of Scrap for me.
- J.B. Johnson

The note was more of a list of thoughts than a note.

I reached into the envelope to find a rather large key that turned to sound a satisfying click. I open the door to find, books. Shelves lined every wall except one wall of only windows. Light streamed in the large room to rest on a worn coach and a dog bed in the center of the room.

I looked to my right to find a small kitchen that seemed slightly outdated but in regular use.

This was amazing.

I walked over to the kitchen and found a large hole in the wall the same size as the one in "City Lights."

I decided to investigate later. I walked over to the wall of windows and found a small door off to the far left. It led out to a small balcony that had sturdy wooden chair and another dog bed. As I turned to go back inside I found a wooden latter. The latter led all the way up to the roof. I ran back inside and tossed my backpack across the large room onto the coach.

I climbed the latter to the top of the building and found a run down roof top garden. Instead of exploring I sat on the edge of the roof and watched the city wake.

Cars started streaming through the streets like mice. I could see a network of trees surrounding a giant weeping willow that was then surrounded by shops. I could even see the "City Lights" from here.

I looked down at my watch to see it was 7:30 AM. I climbed down the latter and back into my new home. I walked out of the apartment and locked the door. I walked down countless flights of stairs and walked out of the entrance without seeing a single person, strange.

I walked down the same block back to "City Lights" passed the commuters that seemed to have sprung up with the sole purpose to clogged the sidewalk.

I arrived to find a man wearing a purple Zoot-suit standing outside the store. The moment I saw him I knew I was not going to like him.

"My name is C, and yours?"

"Call me William."

I reached for his hand, but he stepped back and shook his head."

"There will be none of that, William."

A silence stretched for several seconds.

"This is the shop... I believe you will find a list of directions on the counter."

With that he handed me a key ring and walked down the alley next to the book shop."

I unlocked the door and walked in to my new future. All that mattered to me was that this was not a dead end job and that i would not have a dead end life.