The Kiss

More Tolerable

AN: Unless otherwise stated, the PoV will always be from Liz's.

   s**t, another hot day today. I hate the weather here sometimes. It's quite unpleasant for homeless people in the summer.

   I really got to figure out how I can prevent some of this nasty heat on my skin. My current house consists of four rather large cardboard boxes that I have set up as a makeshift hut, even equipped with a wonder cardboard door with a cardboard cutout window and a cardboard doorknob. I am saving the environment with this house I tell you!

   The roof has been ruined from rain many times, but I patch it up with ripped tarps and other cloth scraps I could find laying around. I do avoid clothing though, just gross.

   Beautiful I know, but when you've been living on the streets for 6 years, you just get really good at arts and crafts. I even managed to find a really long extension cord and have it plugged into the outside plug of the Starbucks (that I live behind). I managed to find a broken lamp that I got working that lights the hut and I stole someone's cell phone last year for reading purposes, such as neat apps called w*****d and Dreame.

   Life isn't the greatest, but at least it's something. My parents threw me out and to make matters worse, I didn't have a job or any saved money at the time. So I quickly learned the hard way what happens when you have neither.

   So here I am, living behind the world's shittiest Starbucks as I mean, the damn place is falling apart and there is hardly any customers anymore due to its location. But the manager is a really sweet old lady who gives me food and drinks, especially when they close up. She even allows me to continue using their electricity, how nice!

   Sometimes she even gives me money and offers up her house to stay in but she already does so much for me. Plus I know deep down she doesn't actually want me to come there, she's just being nice to me.

   "Hello Liz, warm day today don't you agree?"

   I hear Maxine say as she walks towards the back door. Must be opening time already. This Starbucks does so poorly they don't open until 1 pm, and then they don't stay open past 6 pm. I feel bad for poor Maxine having to waste her time coming here. Can't afford to hire anyone to work there.

   "Well, you know me, used to all the crappy weather here," I shrug my shoulders, and Maxine giggles a little.

   "Unfortunately it is the middle of summer dear, so I can't imagine that house of yours does anything to sway the heat away." She opens the door quickly and runs inside. I guess that was the end of that conversation.

   About 10 minutes later the back door opens again with Maxine holding a small white box, about the size of a football.

   "My son was going to throw this in the garbage when I snatched it from him. I figured you could use this to help with the summer rays." She walks towards me with the small box, looking like a mini-refrigerator.

   "What the heck is that thing?" I ask while tilting my head to the side. Maxine chuckles at my display.

   "Well dear, this is a mini AC unit, surely enough for a full kitchen, so your small house should be perfect for this. Though it may get quite cold at night time. But it's better than nothing." I clap my hands excitedly, as I plug the box into the third and final spot on the extension cord.

   The box emits cool air, which doesn't take more than five minutes to cool my house down. What a wonderful piece of technology.

   "Thanks, Maxine, that's very nice of you to give that to me. I appreciate it!" Maxine chuckles again. 

   "I'll see you in a little while when I bring you some food kiddo, enjoy your new toy." She walks back inside as I crawl back through my door, already feeling the nice coolness against my skin. This summer will be more tolerable I think.