Soul Man

This is the short story I wrote a year or so ago that i am using for a base for my National novel writing month story. most of whats in here will probably make it in the novel in some form or another.

The sun was bright through the light fog as it rose over the city on a Tuesday morning. Out side a burned out office building near the north side of town waited a young woman holding a large briefcase. She had her coat pulled tight against the morning chill and was tapping her foot impatiently on the ground. She stood there watching a man in a tattered coat and hat make his way down the street towards her. He too was carrying a large briefcase and just like everything on him, it was tattered and torn. The lady looked at him disapprovingly the whole time we was walking to her and increased the look when he finally stopped in front of her.

“Good morning Ms. Passway, are we ready?” he didn’t seem to notice her looks and continued walking towards the burned out building, not waiting for a reply.

“Yes sir, we have a room on the first floor and all the residents have been informed of your coming.”

“Good good,” he took out a scrap of paper from his coat pocket, looked at it and put it back. “I see we have six today, Should be easy enough.”

“I see you did not read the report last night sir, as of yesterday afternoon we have seven.” The tattered man stopped just short of the door and let his shoulders drop even further then they had been.

“Please please tell me it is because of a miss count or bad record keeping.”

“I’m sorry sir; it appears to be a squatter.” The tattered man let out a sigh. “Do you want me to get him first?”

“No no, let’s get as much done as we can. Hopefully we can wrap this all up by noon.”

They went into the burned out office building and Ms. Passway led the man into a room just off the entrances. When he came in he saw six people sitting in chairs looking nervous, only one of the stood when he entered. It was a young soldier in his dress uniform, and he had snapped to attention but remembering himself he quickly became at ease and began to fumble with his hat in his hands. The tattered man made his way past them to towards a table, and as he passed the solider he took the time to pat him on the shoulder and told him he could be seated. The tattered man took a seat behind the table and pulled a large stack of files from his briefcase. He then looked at the people waiting in the room trying to decide who to start with. Other then the soldier there were two other men and three ladies, all of them seemed to be dress for office work.

“Ms. Passway I think we will start with the ladies today. How about you take these gentlemen with you and see if you can find our guest.”

“But sir...” Ms. Passway started but the tattered man cut her off.

“Good good, I have complete confidence in you.” He turned his attention from Ms. Passway to the woman sitting nearest him. “We can begin with you ma’am, the rest of you can please wait in the hall.” They all got up and shuffled out except for the woman whom the man had indicated. When they were alone he motioned for her to pull her chair up to the desk and asked her name.

“It’s Gloria Right sir, and my I ask your name?” She asked very politely.

“No no, you may not. Sir will do for now. Let’s see here…” he shuffled through his files until he found the one with here name on it, “ah here you are.” He peered over the file for a few moments before addressing her again. “It says here that the only reason you wanted to stay was that this is the only place that felt like home to you. Is that true?”

“Yes sir.”

“That’s a pretty poor reason. It says that you have a mother and father who are waiting for you. Don’t you want to go see them?”