With my work in the shopping bag I walked briskly down the cobblestone path, down the road, and into town. By now it was sufficiently dark enough to conceal my person for the most part, save some of my face, as I traversed the heart of town. Some of the places I'd need were still open so I hurriedly paced to their doors to drop off what I had and take whatever else they might want me to sort through. Interestingly it wasn't as much as I thought it would be, or as much as I was used to. The managers greeted me with hesitation as they paid me for what I turned in, and while I could tell I'd been shorted here and there a few credits I didn't think it was worth fighting over.

I pocketed my earnings and scurried to that bread-scented grocery store. Fortunately the dock workers had gone home; not much to do after sunset, I suppose. Looking all around me once, twice, I carefully stepped over to the shop's back door and gave it a few soft knocks.

Nothing.

Ah...

I gave another round of knocks, harder this time, and immediately began the tapping of hooves against the floor beyond the wall. They grew louder and louder, stopping just before the door. A thud of a heavy lock and the creak of the door brought Ulimi's presence to my sight, a smoking pipe in his hand.

"You showed up after all," he laughed. "No kid with you?"

"Um, no, sorry," I said, walking inside. "I had other errands to run first and I wasn't sure if those other people were still out front."

"Nah, they fuck off after the sun sets, back to their sisterwives," he sneered. "He's not alone at home, is he?"

"No, uh, I asked if the movers from the carpentry shop were willing to watch him while I do this," I replied, shuffling through the bags and offering him the empty containers. "C-Could I get these refilled, please?"

"Sure," he said, taking the containers. "I'd hate for the kid to be left alone in a climate like this and you picked probably the best people to sit for ya. Should some moron come by trying to start something your sitter'll skin 'em alive."

My ears sunk back and I looked over to the floor. Not the best imagery.

"They'd send your kid to another room first, of course," he said through a toothy grin.

I walked down the aisles to acquire a few things, grabbing whatever and however much my hands could hold as Ulimi sorted out the refills behind the counter. Once I was done I brought everything up to the front to be counted and paid for.

"This all?" he asked, tapping on his register with his hard fingertips.

I thought about it.

"Um, would...would you happen to have cornbread?" I asked shyly.

"Like, the ingredients, or already made?" he asked.

"Either, really," I said, scratching the back of my head. "I-It's the one thing I miss from home. I meant to ask last time I was here but, ah, you know..."

"Hm hmm, I haven't made any recently, but I do have the stuff for it here," he thought aloud, tapping his chin. "I can either sell you that or I can make something with it for you to pick up tomorrow."

"Well, um, this is already quite a bit for me to carry, so would you be so kind?" I requested. "It doesn't have to be anytime soon, but...I do miss just that one thing."

"Not a problem," he said, adding the price to the amount. "With the containers deducted you're lookin' at about twenny-eight credits. It'll be nice to make something a bit different again, too. If more people like it I'll see 'bout making it more often, but you're the first to ask about it."

I handed him the bills and he started putting the groceries into the carry bag.

"Where is 'home' for you, anyway?" he asked. "The way you talk it's easy to tell you're not from around here."

"Um...up north," I said. "...Very far up north, in Falun."

"Ain't that where all the new types are?" he asked, standing up the bag. "Especially the real nasty ones. I hear about those places once in a blue moon."

"Y...Yes."

My eyes must have betrayed me given his look of concern.

"Yeah, that tells me all I need to know," he puffed out a cloud of sweet smoke. "Can only imagine how weirdly ironic it must feel taking care of a kid from the same group of people."

I must have shot him a dirty look unbeknownst to me as he put up his hands in defense and shook his head.

"I don't mean any offense, man," he chuckled. "It's actually quite remarkable and refreshing to see someone willing to do such a thing. Not many would, you know. The world ain't a nice place, but it's stuff like that that makes it a bit nicer for everyone. That matters a lot."

"...Sorry," I quietly said.

"Hey, don't sweat it," he reassured, handing me my bag. "I'm glad you're defensive over it-- means you care. He's a cute kid and deserves more than the people here. You know what it's like."

"Yes...I do," I said, taking the bag's handles. "Thank you."

"Mm-hmm, tell him hi for me," he said, opening back door for me. "Left him something in the bag, too, so be careful with it."

"Yes, of course, thank you," I nodded, taking my first steps back outside and into the cool night air.

A heavy bag full of food in one hand and folders of work in the other I set off for home, staying to the outer roads to avoid the streetlights. It was quiet and still with only the breeze through the tree branches to make a sound. Being out here by myself felt strange, having grown so used to Riv following me everywhere. I smiled to myself as I thought about it, looking forward to tomorrow when I could get some of this new work done and drop off some I'd already finished.

I thought back to what Ulimi said in the shop. Would people really be so unwilling? Mm, I remembered my initial apprehension to take him into the home, but even then I...I don't think I could have said no. Even at the time, and with what I remembered from home, his small face and sad eyes carried neither the hatred nor ire I saw from home. They were something else entirely-- something his own. Maybe...I could be the same for him, too.

I hoped.

Finding my way to the north end and up the cobblestone pathway I stepped up onto my porch and opened the patchy front door. I poked my head in, but nobody was in the lobby. I bit my lip, hoping that I hadn't taken too long, and closed the door quietly behind me. Placing the folders on the front desk I walked to the kitchen, my ears listening for any kind of noise in the quiet home. Before long I walked past Tamani in one of the common areas, backing up a couple steps to meet him.

"Ah, I'm sorry if I took too long," I said sheepishly. "I wanted to get some work dropped off while I was out if I could. Where is Riv?"

"You're fine, I just put him to bed a few minutes ago," he said, scratching his face. "He was a good kid, too, so nothing for you to worry about. I don't have much else to do half the time so I'd be willing to come here more often to sit him if you need it. You'd just have to ask."

"Oh, um, really?" I asked, thinking about my odd work schedule. "If you're really alright with that it would be a big help. I-I don't really have any security here...or the means to hire any full time, I'm afraid."

"Hell, if I'm not working at the time I'm happy enough just sitting down on a soft couch and eating a snack or something," he laughed. "Really, I'm not hard to please and I'm not asking for your money. I'd like kids of my own someday anyway."

"Well, um..." I reached into the bag and retrieved a nice pear. "Do you like pears? I bought a few and would like you to have as many as you'd like if so."

"Indeed I do," he smiled, taking it from my small hand. "And really, this is plenty. If all's well here I'll head out. If you need me or any of the others in town, you know where we are. Otherwise I'll be here at nine a week from now."

"Thank you very much, Tamani," I sighed, escorting him to the lobby. "You have...no idea how much this means to me."

"I got a hunch."

I opened the door to let him back outside, both of us waving our goodbyes before he departed down the cobblestone path. I returned down the hall and to the kitchen to put away what all else I had left. In the bag was another one of those seashell-looking pastries, so I placed it carefully in the icebox for Riv to eat tomorrow afternoon.

Once everything was put in its place I folded the carrying bag and set it aside on one of the benches, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand before leaving the kitchen. I turned back around to head upstairs, seeing Riv's door open just a crack. Slowly and quietly I walked up to it, pushing it open to see him sleeping soundly on his futon.

Careful not to make any noise I slowly opened the door further and walked in, stopping just before the bed and kneeling down. I reached out my hand to softly stroke the sleeping child's head, though this was enough to stir him awake.

"...Father?" he asked groggily, slowly blinking his eyes open.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," I whispered. "I'm home now, though. Did you have a good time while I was away?"

He sleepily nodded his head, his eyes barely open.

"I'm glad to hear it," I said, my fingernails lightly scratching behind his ear. "Ulimi also says hi. I will have to take a short time tomorrow morning to head into town and drop off work I couldn't deposit tonight. It isn't much and should only take a few minutes. I'll try to get it done before you're up."

"...O...kay," he mumbled, trailing back off to sleep.

With him back asleep I stood up, stretched my back, and left for the hallway. I pulled the door back to how it was and briefly went back downstairs to grab my folders and turn off the lobby lights. With that done I navigated my way down the hall and again back upstairs, this time to my room, closing the door behind me all but the latch.

Eventful night.

I placed the folders on my desk and took my seat, flipping through whatever I'd received. There was definitely less here than usual, but perhaps it was just a slow time. Those things happen, after all, so I would see about taking work from other places soon. Retrieving my pen and a couple packets I scribbled through what need be, taking care of at least a few items before calling it quits for the night.

I found myself staring at the text before me, but reading nothing, lost in my own thoughts.

As much as I didn't want to consider the possibility, I'd begun kicking around the idea of moving.