Early Monday morning Chuck picked up Brian at the loft as he did every day.  Once Brian was inside the car he told Chuck to take them back to the alley where he had talked to the homeless man on Friday night.

"Do you think this is wise?" Chuck felt compelled to ask.

"Yes, I do.  I think this man may have some important information that I need."

Chuck looked at Brian in the rearview mirror.  He could tell the mayor was very serious about whatever the fuck he was planning to do with this homeless man.  He'd have to be extra vigilant.  He didn't want Brian getting ripped off or getting into trouble by frequenting some of the seedy places where this homeless guy hung out.

Chuck drove past the hotel where the ball had been held the night before, and then slowed as he neared what he thought was the alley where Brian had found the homeless man.

"I think this is the place," Chuck said looking back at Brian.  "Don't get out until I have a chance to look around."

Brian waited and after a minute or two Chuck opened the door.  "Do you see him anywhere?" he asked Chuck.

"Not out here, but he may be down the alley where you found him the other night."

They walked into the alley and Brian saw the pile of cardboard that the man had been under on Friday night.  He lifted the top layer and saw that the bum was still there.

"Morning," Brian said loudly enough to wake the man.

"You!" the man replied with some surprise.  "I never thought you'd come back."

"We had a deal," Brian said.

"Yeah, I guess we did," the man replied.

"How be I take you to get some breakfast?" Brian asked.

"Sure, but I still get the twenty bucks, don't I?"

"Yes," Brian replied.  He wondered how many times this man had been ripped off or fucked over that he was forever verifying that Brian wasn't going to do something underhanded to him.  "Let's go."

The man got up slowly obviously stiff from sleeping on little more than pavement.  He stretched a bit, and then began to half limp along behind Brian and Chuck.  Brian opened the door of the limo and indicated that the man should get in.

"I…I couldn't get in there.  I'm dirty," he said.  Brian saw what could only be described as a look of shame pass across his face.

"It's fine … really," Brian told him.  "Get in."

The man hesitantly slid into the car.  He settled himself against the opposite door as far away from Brian as he could get.  Brian sat on his side of the back seat watching the man's reaction.

"Take us to the diner, Chuck," Brian said.

The car pulled away.

"Who are you?" the man asked Brian.

"I guess we've never been formally introduced.  "I'm Brian Kinney, the mayor of this burg."

"Holy shit!" the bum replied.  "The mayor?"

Brian nodded.  "And you would be…?"

"Adam Pritchard."

"Hello, Adam.  Nice to meet you," Brian said holding out his hand.

Adam looked confused and then wiped his hand on his pant leg before taking Brian's to shake.  "Sorry it's not cleaner," he said softly.

"Sorry's bullshit," Brian stated as he so often did.  "You can wash up when we get to the diner."

"Thanks," Adam said staring at Brian with something close to wonder.

Brian wanted to find out Adam's story of how he ended up like this, but he thought that would best be discussed over breakfast.  "Did you have any belongings that we should have brought with us?" Brian said suddenly realizing that the man seemed to have only the clothes on his back, no shopping cart full of stuff like Brian thought most homeless people had.

"I have some good hiding places for my stuff.  It's safer there than carrying it around with me."

"I see," Brian said, not really seeing at all.  He wondered how anyone could live like this.  And this man seemed reasonably intelligent despite everything.  They rode in silence until Chuck pulled up in front of the Liberty Diner.

Brian waited for Chuck to open the door and then he stepped out.  He waited for Adam to join him.  Chuck gave Brian a disapproving look, but Brian refused to react.  Once Adam was out of the car he looked around, seemingly more frightened than ever.

"We could have gone to McDonald's," he said uncertainly.

"I never eat at that fucking place if I can help it," Brian said.

Adam stared at Brian.  The language and the demeanor of this man were very confusing.  He said he was the mayor and he had the limo, but he talked like any street person.  He didn't seem to be offended by Adam's look or smell.  Adam was very uncertain about what he was doing here.

"Come on in," Brian said holding open the door of the diner.

Adam hesitantly crossed the threshold.  Brian saw Debbie waiting on a table so he ushered Adam towards a booth at the back.  He saw Debbie give him a disapproving look as he went by.

Brian slid into the booth.  Adam remained standing.

"Is it all right if I clean up a bit first?" Adam asked Brian.

"Back there," Brain said nodding towards the restrooms.

Adam hurried away to be quickly replaced with Debbie who slid into the seat across from him.

"What the fuck are you doing bringing that bum in here?" she asked.

"Good morning to you too, Deb," Brian said sarcastically.

"Brian, I don't appreciate having some dirty, smelly old coot stinking up the fucking place."

"He's homeless, Deb.  I'm trying to get some information from him that may help him and others like him."

"Oh," Debbie said completely taken aback at Brian's motivation.  "Well then, I'm glad you're here early before it gets too crowded."

"Fags sleep late every chance they get.  I didn't think it would be too packed in here at this time of the morning."

"Ahem," a voice said behind Debbie.  She turned to see that the man had obviously washed his face and hands and slicked back his hair.  He had removed his topcoat and appeared somewhat more presentable than he had when he came in.  Debbie slid out of the seat allowing Adam to sit down.

"So what would you … gentlemen like today?" she asked.

"Debbie, this is Adam, Adam, Debbie."  They nodded at each other.  "Order whatever you want," Brian told the man.

"Oh," Adam said his eyes lighting up.  "Could I have an omelet with toast and bacon?"

"Sure you can," Debbie replied.  "What kind of omelet would you like?"

"Western?" he said hopefully.

"Western it is.  Brian, what would you like?"

"Coffee."

"I should have known," she chuckled.  "Coming right up.  For you too, Adam?"

"Yes, please."

Debbie smiled in spite of herself.  This man was trying to use his best manners and he seemed so … earnest.  How could she be pissed off about him being there?

"She's very nice," Adam said to Brian.

Brian stifled a snort.  "Yeah, she is," he admitted.

Debbie brought the coffee and poured them each a cup.  When she left, Brian asked, "So, Adam, how did you end up like this?"

"It's kind of a long story."

"I've got time, and you can eat as much as you want while we're talking."

"And I still get my twenty bucks?"

"Yes," Brian said with a little chuckle.

"Okay," Adam said smiling for the first time.  "I'm not sure where to start."  He took a sip of his coffee and sighed contentedly.  "Good coffee.  I guess it started when I lost my job.  I worked in a factory.  I was the floor manager.  Made pretty good money.  I had a wife and a daughter and a home."  His eyes took on a wistful look.

"What happened to them?" Brian asked.

"The plant closed down and I couldn't get a job as a manager anywhere.  I tried … I really did, but the economy wasn't so great and nobody would give me a chance.  I had some chances at factory work, but no manager's job.  I turned them down, too proud, I guess," he said sadly.  "Things started to get tight.  We were missing payments everywhere and my wife was getting fed up.  One day she sent me out to find a job, any job, and when I came back she had moved out and taken our daughter with her.  She left me a note explaining that she couldn't stand it anymore, and not to try to find her.  Everything went to shit after that."

"I can imagine."

Debbie set Adam's meal down in front of him.  "Enjoy," she said with a smile.

"Thank you, ma'am.  I sure will," Adam replied and he dug right in like he hadn't eaten in weeks.  Maybe he hadn't.

Brian watched for awhile then he said, "So how did you end up on the street."

"After Annie left, that's my wife's name, was my wife's name," he corrected, "I didn't have any ambition to do anything.  The hydro was cut off and then they foreclosed on the house.  I was drinking quite a bit.  Next thing I knew the car was gone too and I had no place to live."

"Did you try to get a job?"

"Sure, after awhile.  I guess I had to hit bottom before I wanted to start back up," Adam said philosophically.  "I was drunk a lot and just didn't care.  One day I panhandled five bucks from some guy and went to go into a restaurant kind of like this one.  They refused to seat me and told me to get out.  I stared in the window after they kicked me out, and suddenly I saw my face reflected there.  I didn't know who that man was.  It scared the shit out of me."

"I bet," Brian said. 

Debbie came over and poured them some more coffee.  She picked up Adam's empty plate.  "Anything else?" she asked.

Adam looked at Brian who shrugged.  "Could I have a piece of apple pie?" he asked.

"Sure thing?  Want me to warm it up and throw on some ice cream?"

"Oh yes, please."

"So have you tried to get work?  You seem to have straightened up … the drinking anyway," Brian said.

"Nobody will consider me looking the way I do, and I have no address or phone for anyone to contact me."

Adam dug into his pie as soon as Debbie set it down.  She smiled at his enthusiasm.

"Would you still like to get a job?"

"Of course."

"Adam, I'm presenting a proposal to city council this afternoon.  It's to renovate an old hotel and make it into rooms for people like you.  There would be your own bed-sit and bathroom, and communal laundry, kitchen and employment service.  Do you think you would make use of that if it existed right now?"

"Sure I would.  How long would it be until it's ready?"

"Probably a year," Brian said.  He saw Adam's face fall.  "I know that's a long way away for you, but I need your help.  Would you come to the council meeting this afternoon and tell your story.  I want them to see the need for such a place and you could explain how it would help you."

"You want me to speak in front of a roomful of people?"  Adam shook his head.  "I … I don't know."

"Adam, this is really important.  You would just need to tell them what you told me, and maybe answer a few questions."

Adam shook his head again.  "I don't think I can."

"If you will do this, I'll see you get cleaned up and some new clothes.  You could go looking for your own job afterwards."

Adam studied Brian's face.  He liked this man.  He didn't promise things he couldn't deliver and he seemed like a straight shooter.  Maybe this was his one chance to get back to a normal life.  "Okay," he said simply.

Brian smiled.  "Had enough?"

"Yes, thanks.  I really appreciate the meal.  I … I'm surprised that you would sit with me.  What kind of mayor are you?"

All the possible answers to that question ran through Brian's head.  "A good one, I hope," he finally said.  "Listen, I need you to look like this when you speak to council.  Otherwise they'll think I hired you to play a part.  I need you to be brutally honest with them."

"Sure," Adam replied.

"You won't get drunk or run off before the meeting, will you?"

"No, I won't," Adam promised.

"I'm going to go to my office and Chuck will take you to get some clothes for afterwards.  Okay?  He'll bring you to City Hall at one o'clock."

"Okay."

They walked back out to the car and climbed in.  Brian hoped this would work.  A lot was riding on Adam's performance at the council meeting.  He hoped he wasn't making a big mistake.

                                                              -----

Brian and Adam walked into the council room just before two o'clock.  Brian found a chair where Adam could sit until he was called upon.  He turned to find a quiet and puzzled council staring at him.

"Shall we begin?" he asked.  "I call the meeting to order.  Please take your seats."

The councilors sat down staring at either him or Adam.  Roll call was taken and then Brian began, "If you have checked your agendas, you will notice that the first order of business is Councilman Jankowski's proposal about the renovation of an old hotel to create living spaces for homeless people.  Has everyone read the proposal?"  People nodded and Brian continued.  "As you can see, I have brought a guest to speak to you today about this proposal.  Frank will answer your questions about finances and logistics later.  First, I want you to meet Adam Pritchard.  Adam is homeless.  I met him on the weekend outside the hotel where the Black and White Ball was being held.  I want him to tell you his story before we discuss the practicality of this proposal."

Brian nodded to Adam who stood up and introduced himself.  He began to tell much the same story he had told Brian, adding some points and leaving out others.  Brian listened, but mainly he watched.  The faces of most of the councilors started out as stony visages of disapproval.  As Adam's life story unfolded, they softened and then Brian began to see real concern and sadness appear.  By the time Adam was finished the council looked like it would be much more receptive to Frank's proposal.

"Are there any questions for Adam?" Brian asked.

A few councilors asked some questions about how Adam would use such a residence.  They wanted to know if he would leave once he got a job.  Adam suggested there be a six month to a year residency period to help get the homeless people on their feet.  He told them there were people who would still not make use of such a place.  He explained that when he was drinking he wouldn't have allowed anyone to help him.  He loathed himself too much.  Brian could tell that the councilors were very impressed with Adam, but he thought this had gone on long enough.

Just then Geoffrey brought in some copies of a report Brian wanted to hand out at the meeting.  It had been a rush job and Geoffrey had managed to come through.

"Geoffrey," Brian said, "would you escort Adam up to my office.  I'll join him when I'm done here."

Geoffrey made a small face, but signaled for Adam to follow him.  The two men exited and Brian turned back to the council to discuss what they had just heard.

                                                              -----

When the council meeting finally ended Brian made his way up to his office.  He wondered if Adam would still be there.  Chuck would have gotten the man some new clothes, but he still hadn't received his twenty bucks.  Brian was pretty sure he'd still be there, at least until he got his money.

Brian opened the door to his office.  He saw Geoffrey and Adam sitting in the two chairs on one side of his desk.  They were deep in a discussion.

"Hey, boys," Brian said with a smirk.  He wondered if Geoffrey had stayed to safeguard the mayor's office from being ransacked by the bum.

"Mr. Mayor," Geoffrey said formally.  "I'll be going now.  Good day, Adam.  Remember what I told you."

Adam nodded and Geoffrey headed out the door.

"Thanks, Geoffrey," Brian called after him.  Geoffrey merely nodded slightly and disappeared.

"So what were you two so deep in discussion about?" Brian asked.

"He's such a nice man.  He thinks he can get me a job."

"Here?" Brian asked amazed.

"Oh God, no, nothing as grand as that."

"Then what?" Brian asked.  He knew Geoffrey had secrets but he couldn't imagine what kind of job he'd be getting for Adam.

"He's the president of his condo board.  It's made up of two buildings and they're looking for an assistant superintendent for the second building.  I'm real good at fixing things and there is a small apartment that goes with the job.  Geoffrey's going to recommend me.  I have to go in front of the board tomorrow and they'll decide," Adam said with a grin.

"Things are looking up for you," Brian said pleased.

"Thanks to you.  I hope I get this job, but even if I don't I'll find something else," Adam stated with newfound confidence.  "Did I do all right for you … at the meeting?"

"You did just fine.  They passed the preliminary concept.  Now we have to tender the reconstruction."

"That's great, but I hope by the time it's finished I won't need to be one of the occupants."

"I hope that too.  Did Chuck get you some clothes?"

"Yes, I can wear them tomorrow.  Thank you, I really appreciate everything you've done."

"That's fine," Brian said not really liking to be thanked so much.  "I still owe you twenty bucks," he added fishing out his wallet.

"No, really, it's okay.  You spent more on my clothes than that."

This was a change in attitude.  Adam couldn't wait to get his money before.  Brian made a quick decision.  "Adam, here's a hundred," he said holding out the money.  "I want you to take it and get a room for tonight, have a bath and get ready for your interview tomorrow.  This is a loan.  Down the road, if … no, when … you get back on your feet, I'll expect to be repaid."

Adam stared at the mayor.  He could not believe what this man was doing for him.  He took the money with a quiet, "Thanks."

"I'll get Chuck to take you wherever you need to go."

"No, I'm fine.  I can get a bus.  Thanks again," he said moving to the door.  "I will pay you back," he said as he left.

"I'm counting on it."

As soon as Adam left, Cynthia came over.  "Is everything all right, Boss?" she asked.

"Just fine."

"Who was that guy?  Geoffrey spent all afternoon in there with him."

"I guess you could call him the first of my lost boys," Brian said softly.

 

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