Petty Cash

Chapter 1: Petty Cash

The rain drummed against the pavement.

Ned stood in the shelter of his doorway. He watched the water puddles growing. The porch would be a pool at this rate. He’d called a plumber and a carpenter and he tried to get some boards to do it himself.

He stood there mindlessly until a movement caught his eye. A figure at the bottom of his steps, soaked through, clothes clinging to a frame that looked far too thin.

-Hello, sir, the woman said, her voice trembling. I have not eaten since morning. I will do any work you give if you give me food and shelter. Will you help me?

Ned looked at her. Her large brown eyes held a mixture of fear and exhaustion. She hugged herself, trying to stop the shivering. There were a lot of hustlers out there. And yet.

-Yes, he said, stepping back and holding the door open. You don't have to do anything. You can stay here as long as you want, and eat anything that's here.

There were people in need too. Cute ones sometimes. But the hustlers were too.

The woman blinked, water dripping from her eyelashes. Her stomach growled.

-Thank you so much, kind sir! She stepped onto the dry porch, looking around nervously. I promise I won't cause trouble."

-Oh, sure, Ned said. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, but make yourself at home.

-I have to go to sleep, he said. It was only eight but it was dark and raining and bad things happened as the night dragged on. But there’s a petty cash box in that drawer, he added, pointing at a cabinet in the corner. If you need to buy anything before you go to sleep, or tomorrow before I wake up, you’re welcome to it.

he walked over to the cabinet and peeked inside the drawer. Her eyes widened. The metal box was unlocked and filled with bills.

-Oh, thank you kindly, sir. You’re too generous. She hesitated, her hand hovering over the cash. This is enough to last me weeks. I’ll only take a little. Enough for some basic necessities, she said, before rattling off, like soap, toothpaste, and maybe a change of clothes? I don’t mean to impose further, she added.

-It’s a petty cash box, Ned replied calmly. You can take as much as you need. But only when you need it. The streets are dangerous. I don't want you robbed.

Or to say you were robbed.

She nodded and took a few bills, folding them into her pocket carefully.

-I understand, sir. I appreciate your generosity and concern. I’m sure these will suffice until I find honest work again. She looked at him, her tired eyes filled with gratitude.

-I have a guest room upstairs, Ned added. You can stay there. There are clean sheets and a warm blanket.

The woman looked up the stairs as if looking at a palace. "A guest room? I haven't slept in a real bed so long.

-My name is Ned.

-I'm Meerka, she whispered. Nice to meet you. Ned.

-The bathroom is to the left, Ned said. Goodnight, Meerka.

He walked up the stairs, leaving her alone in the dark, quiet, warm hallway. Meekra clutched the money in her pocket. The sound of the rain was outside, and she was inside.