It’s Monday evening, the sun just set and the clients started to form a line to get into the shelter. The smell of urine rises as the more people get in line. A few wait on the side walk, by an igloo made in a snow bank. They smoke their cigarettes while pointing at an empty stained igloo in between a few words that they exchange.
The igloo can fit about three people inside of it, if you crawl in on all fours. It has about two dozen empty coffee cups inside and a pair of pants hanging on the top of it. It’s been stained ten times over with a mixture of browns, yellows, grey, and even a hint of blue.
Where did the blue come from? Who made this igloo? How did they make it in the middle of a street?
I try to ask a few of the clients waiting outside about these thoughts, but no one can give me any answers.
Once everyone got inside and was settled, a regular client and gentleman, Gabby, comes up to the main counter in jeans, a t-shirt and a zip-up sweater. He has a Rolex watch that has a black leather strap with silver lining, a silver face and rim. It glimmers in the light if he twitches his wrist just right. He asks Terry, a crisis worker, if there are any movies to watch, but Terry only directs him to Alex, another crisis worker, because he’d probably have a movie or two.
Gabby, built like a bulldog with peppered hair, walks with a stride and crooked smile as he looks for Alex. They both returned shortly after to choose a movie, but Alex only has “Walk the Line” and offers Gabby some juice. They both swing it back as if they’re doing shots of tequila at the bar, finishing the entire jug in a matter of seconds.
“Wait, why do you only have this movie? It’s so depressing!” Gabby asks Alex.
“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? Johnny Cash is AMAZING!” Alex responds, defensive and energetic.
“Nah, he’s just depressing. I don’t need anymore depressing stuff in my life.”
“It’s not depressing. Johnny Cash is a good singer and has some catchy hits!” Alex points out as he starts to sing some lyrics, “I hurt myself today…”
Gavin, another client, overhears the conversation and abruptly puckers up to finish the lyrics, “And I burned, Burned, BURNED… In a ring of fire!”
Gabby and Alex burst out laughing immediately after the off pitch, “ERR!” finished.
“Gavin, that’s not how the song goes!” Alex informs him. “In fact, that’s an entirely different song.”
Gavin sinks a little from embarrassment but quickly starts laughing as well.
“I don’t wanna hurt myself in a ring of fire today or any other day, jeez!” Gabby wipes his eye.
On the QT. 