When I first saw Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome I was knee deep in trash. Literally. I was sifting through a dumpster behind the local grocery market for food. It's a common misconception that food is old on the day the sell by date says. Most stores toss the food out. The amount of food that the U.S. throws out could stop world hunger, so there wasn't any reason for me to go hungry.
Mr. TDS was walking out trash bags to the dumpster. I didn't see him or register that anyone was there until I had bags of trash hit my head and make me fall. I stood up quickly, getting my balance in check before I looked up and saw him. His mouth fell open in shock before he closed it with a snap and glared at me.
"You know, I'm supposed to report to my manager when I see rats in the dumpster."
I could feel my spine straighten and glare back at him.
"I only see one rat here and it isn't even close to the dumpster."
TDS looked at me before he threw his head back and laughed. He rubbed at his apron before he smirked at me.
"Lucky I'm the manager then, huh? You have five minutes to get out of there before I call the cops D.R."
He was already walking back inside before my brain decided to clear and make me speak without a filter.
"What did you just call me?"
He paused before stopped and turned to look at me.
"Dumpster Rat. Three minutes."
He walked back in with a slam. I stared numbly after him for a few seconds before I got in gear. I already found a decent horde before he came out. I threw it in my bag before I hopped out of the dumpster and walked away. It was usually a thirty minute walk back home.
By the time I crawled under the fence and walked the other five minutes down the abandoned path to the clearing it was dark.
"Oi!"
Everyone paused and looked up. There was a second before everyone walked up to me and held their hands out. Everyone got something and I gave the kids extras. Usually at the end there's only a little bit left for me, but I didn't have a problem with it. I like making sure everyone in the park got some food.
At the end of the night, I ended up by a barrel with Terrance standing next to me. I sighed a little and saw him glance at me.
"What's up, By?"
"I got caught today by the manager. I'm going to have to find another place to add to my list for a while."
He nodded his head. He rubbed his hands together.
"We can always send someone else to that one for a bit. How long do you reckon it'll take for him to forget your face?"
I suddenly felt tired, older than my age.
"I don't know. We talked a bit, anger was involved. Probably a month or so? I don't want to put someone else on it. The guy gave me five minutes to get out and gone after he caught me. I'll go tomorrow and give it a chance. Maybe go at a different time or something."
Terrance nodded his head, smiled a little.
"We appreciate what you're doing for us Byron. I want you to know that."
"It's the least I can do after-. After."
He nodded his head once more and walked over to his tent. I stared after him for a second before I looked down at the fire. I sighed again and went off to sleep. Another long day tomorrow.
