Shelter (a closed thread)

[degrepski]

She had finally calmed down, and Daniel gave a sigh of relief. He had a feeling he wasn't going anywhere tonight, so he just settled in and made himself comfortable.

The rhythmic sound of Anna's breathing was very soothing, however they way they pushed her breasts into his arms were a little less so. It was hard to go to sleep in such close proximity to such a beautiful woman as Anna. Already, his body was reacting from several generations of instinct.

Calm down, Danny boy, he chastised himself, doing his best to settle in for what promised to be a very interesting night.

 

[wideeyedone]

When Anna awakened sun was streaming through the small space between the two curtains. She could feel the warmth of Daniel's body in the bed with her. She stayed very still, trying to remember how he came to be in her bed. She blinked once or twice... she could remember the dream, and then she could remember him soothing her back to sleep.

"I am so sorry, Daniel. I didn't mean to make a fuss." She whispered, sitting up, pulling her knees up to her chest. "In my dream, we were going to be destroyed, cut to shreds."

She touched his arm lightly. Daniel was still asleep so she slipped from the bed to go make breakfast. She made her way to the kitchen and began cracking eggs and dicing up omelette ingredients.

 

[degrepski]

Daniel stirred to the smell of omelets and the sound of his stomach rumbling. Instinctively, he reached out an arm to pull Anna closer, only to find that she was gone.

Duh, omelets! he mentally chastised himself. Crawling out of bed, he made his way to the kitchen.

"Mornin'," he said, sounding rather chipper. He inhaled the scent of breakfast. "Mmm. I could get used to this." Pouring himself a cup of coffee, he settled into a chair. "So, how're you feeling? Seems like you had a pretty nasty nightmare last night."

 

[degrepski]

Sorry, accidental double post

 

[wideeyedone]

Anna did her best to smile when Daniel asked her about her nightmare.

"I was dreaming that you and I were getting pelted with broken glass. We were in Gatsby's mansion."

She served his omelette as she spoke.

"I am sorry that i was such a bother, and on my first night. I know this isn't what you bargained for."

Anna smoothed her hair.

"I am going to go shower. I will be back in a bit."

Anna hid out in the shower, letting the hot water wash away the tears and stress of the bad dream. Then she braided her hair and towled herself dry. She dressed in a fresh pair of jeans and a soft grey t shirt with her high school mascot on it. She emerged from the bathroom as Daniel was finishing breakfast.

 

[degrepski]

She was quick to apologize, Daniel had to give her that. As he sat there enjoying the second greatest omelet of his life, he could hear the shower running. His mind couldn't stop going over last night, or how long it had taken for him to fall asleep with such a gorgeous girl in his arms.

Stay cool, Danny boy, he thought.

As she stepped back into the room, he turned and smiled at her. "Look, just wanted to tell you that there's nothing wrong with having a bad dream, and you can always come to me for anything. You're a guest, and a welcome one! Who else is there to make me such amazing omelets!" He chuckled. "Plus, to be honest, that was the first time I had such a beautiful girl in my arms. So, trust me, I'm totally fine with it."

He put the plate away then turned to her. "Hey, you doing anything today?" he asked.

 

[wideeyedone]

"I am supposed to sing with Hobart today. But not all day. You should come hear us. We have worked up some classics."

Anna popped up onto the kitchen counter and sipped her glass of milk.

"Maybe I can pack a lunch for Hobart. I worry that he doesn't get enough to eat. He is so good to everyone, he doesn't always take care of himself."

Anna swung her feet as she talked. She smiled at Daniel. She was beginning to feel at home.

 

[degrepski]

Danny smiled.

"I think I know how you can cook lunch for him," he said. "I work over at a soup kitchen, kind of giving back to the folks who took care of me as a kid. Hobart comes there every day for lunch. With how good you cook, I think it'd be a real treat to the folks there." He shrugged. "One of the things I've learned: Life seems so much better when you're helping others out, you know?"

 

[wideeyedone]

Anna smiled, the sort of smile that went all the way to her eyes.

"I would love to do that. I learned how to cook when I was really little. I would cook for my family. Just look in the pantry and imagine what flavors went together."

Anna smiled at Daniel.

"Hobart has sort of claimed me for his own. He met me when I was waitressing. My boyfriend left and I was devastated and he just nursed me through it. I couldn't keep my apartment on my own, I lived with friends for a while... and now I am here."

 

[degrepski]

Daniel laughed. "That's Hobart, alright. Any stray that he finds is immediately one of his own." He shook his head. "He finds me out on the street, defending this corner between an Italian Restaurant and a Steak Joint. These two bigger guys were after me for taking the best spot in the city. I was about to get pummeled when Hobart steps in. Tells them to back off. And wouldn't you know it? They did!"

He smiled at fond memories. "We've been friends ever since." He nodded at Anna. "How about you? How'd ole' Hobart find you?"

 

[wideeyedone]

Anna finished off her glass of milk.

"I was waitressing at a diner. I kept Hobart in coffee and pie. He and I would sing together some. My high schoo"l boyfriend and I had moved to the city... and it got to hard for him. He went back home, but my father told me not to bother coming home.... and Hobart, he has looked after me ever since."

Anna popped off the counter. She rinsed out her milk glass and then began washing the dishes. She asked about when they should leave and what she should take to the soup kitchen.

 

[degrepski]

Danny nodded somberly. "Sounds like you had it pretty rough." He shrugged, his customary smile returning. "But thank God for people like Hobart McClain, right?"

An alarm sounded on his watch. "Ah! Better hurry, time to start getting ready for the lunch crowd."

He went to the window and peaked outside; it was pouring rain. "Guess I'll need to bring the spare raincoats, too. You go ahead and get ready, I just need to grab the box from my closet."

 

[wideeyedone]

Anna slid on the offered raincoat. Soon, they were out in the rain. The patter of the rain made her smile. The rain sounds reminded her of happier days, of jumping in puddles and snuggling during rainstorms.

There would be no singing on the corner in the rain. Hobart might panhandle today but he wouldn't get out his precious guitar in the rain, or allow his girl, Anna to get wet.

Soon she and Daniel were rushing down the street toward the soup kitchen. Anna was smiling and found herself splashing in the puddles on the sidewalk.

 

[degrepski]

The rain pelted them hard all during the seven block walk to the kitchen. Danny was grateful he'd purchased a good umbrella before the rainy season had hit. When they got to the kitchen, the doors were already open, creating a haven for every homeless person within a ten mile radius. The place was packed with newly showered bodies, and an odor not unlike wet dog was heavy in the air.

Danny didn't mind, though. At least not much. He was just glad that Chris had decided to open early.

"Danny!" Chris called from the line. "Thank God you're here! Can you take over? The kitchen in the back needs tending to, and it's just me and Eliza here."

Danny smiled. "Actually, I'd like you to meet someone," he said, pulling Anna up in front of him. "Chris, this is Anna, one of the best gourmet cooks you'll ever find. Think she can help out in the back?"

Chris nodded. "Oh, thank you! Please, feel free to use anything and everything you find back there." With that, he rushed off to his office to see about calling any other volunteers in.

Danny brought Anna behind the line and showed her where everything was as he donned an apron and serving gloves himself.

"Think you're up to the challenge?" he asked with a smile.

 

[wideeyedone]

Anna went to work right away. She put a stock pot on the stove and poured in canned chicken stock. Then she began dicing vegetables to toss in with them. The onions and celery she diced and dropped them into a skillet with some olive oil. She took a few moments to watch the onions become translucent and begin to carmelize.

She poked through the pantry to find some protein for the soup. The only good option were some black beans and canned chickens. She stirred the black beans into the stock and then she added the chicken. She went through the spices, adding salt, pepper, chives, parsley and some a tiny bit of caynne for some heat. As the soup came together, she tasted it.

"Acid..." She mumurred to herself. Anna found some lemons and cut them in half, adding the juice to the stock pot. Then she allowed the soup to bubble. She made small talk with the other people in the kitchen. It had been almost an hour but the time had just slipped past. But then she was starting another pot of soup. This time she was roasting canned tomatoes in the oven with brown sugar to turn into a tomato basil bisque.

 

[degrepski]

The smells that were coming from the kitchen were divine! Everyone assembled there could smell it, and wondered what mastermind was cooking such a fantastic meal.

Daniel just smiled at them when they asked. "She's a friend of Hobart's," he'd say. "I'd introduce you, but I'm afraid she'll stab me with a kitchen knife if I interrupted her." He winked to show he was kidding.

The crowd grew as others went back to their friends to tell them about the amazing food to be had at the soup kitchen. Eventually, good ole Hobart McClain made his way in.

"Danny boy!" He called out. "You making that sweet girl work back there?"

Daniel just offered him a bowl of a newly made cream of potato soup. "Try this and you'll see why!"

 

[wideeyedone]

Hobart smiled at Daniel, "I told you she is a special girl. No one has ever treated her like the gem that she is. Useless parents, coward of a boyfriend, friends that let her end up with no place to sleep. She is a good soul."

Hobart shuffled over to his usual table, a gathering of street musicians.

"You think she can cook? Maybe ini a little bit, I can get her out here to sing. She is my vocalist."

Back in the kitchen Anna was done slicing and dicing. Now she was just simmering and toasting bread. It felt good to be feeding Hobart's friends. She hoped Daniel was glad that he brought her.

 

[degrepski]

Daniel listened to what Hobart told him only half-heartedly. His attention was focused on the kitchen, and the his beautiful houseguest.

"I think I'd like to hear her sing, sometime," he said finally. "When's your next performance?"

 

[wideeyedone]

Hobart clapped Daniel on the shoulder.

"Now." Hobart headed to the kitchen. He grabbed Anna. "The soup needs time to simmer."

Hobart grabbed Anna and brought her out to the dining room. Hobart sat on the end of one of the tables and began to start to play. Anna was blushing but Hobart wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Hobart began to pick out the strains of "Someone to Watch Over Me." Anna joined in her voice was wistful and full of longing.

" There's a saying old, says that love is blind
Still we're often told, "seek and ye shall find"
So I'm going to seek a certain lad I've had in mind

Looking everywhere, haven't found him yet
He's the big affair I cannot forget
Only man I ever think of with regret

I'd like to add his initial to my monogram
Tell me, where is the shepherd for this lost lamb?

There's a somebody I'm longin' to see
I hope that he, turns out to be
Someone who'll watch over me

I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood
I know I could, always be good
To one who'll watch over me

Although he may not be the man some
Girls think of as handsome
To my heart he carries the key

Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me

Won't you tell him please to put on some speed
Follow my lead, oh, how I need
Someone to watch over me

Someone to watch over me"

The soup kitchen was silent as Hobart added soft harmonies to Anna's pleas for someone to love her. Anna ended the song by swiping a few cheers from her cheek.

For a moment or two, the dining area was silent. Then the dining room burst into applause.