Once at the diner the old man told me to take a seat while he went into the kitchen. The interior resembled a diner from the 70's with the thick red spinny barstools and the checker print floors. Pictures of old celebrities adorned the walls. I sat back in the freezing cold and rock-hard booth seat, the seams stabbing me in my back. I closed my eyes for what only seemed to be a second and awoke to the old man placing a bowl of hot soup on the table in front of me before handing me a blanket. I gratefully accepted the blanket for I was practically freezing to death. Before I was able to thank the man he retreated back into the kitchen. As he was leaving, he spoke, "Once you're done eating get some rest, I know that booth aint the comfiest, but it'll have to do." As I was eating the soup I thought to myself, "I guess I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was, I can't believe I already need someone else's help. Maybe I shouldn't have left… I wonder what Jacky's thinking… well it's too late now, I'm already too far gone." The booth isn't really that uncomfortable when you aren't freezing, it was actually so comfortable that as soon as I finished eating, I fell asleep with my head right in the soup bowl.
I awoke to a hand shaking me awake, "Hey kid, you plan on getting up anytime soon?" I jolted awake and went to wipe my eyes and briefly glanced down to realize I had fallen asleep in the soup bowl. I, now embarrassed, made eye contact with the old man. "Sorry, I was really tired…" I nervously chuckled. He sat down across from me. "Do you have anywhere you can go?" He asked while crossing his legs. I responded, "No, I don't have anywhere." The entirety of my extended family is on my parents' side. He tapped his finger on the table for a moment before speaking once more, "Here's the deal kid" he straightened his posture and clasped his hands together. "I'll let you stay here; you'll get three meals a day and a roof over your head, however you'll have to do your part as well. I'll need you to be a full-time employee here." He slid out of the booth and looked back at me, "If you decide to stay, you'll start working tomorrow. For now, come with me." I gathered my things and followed behind him. He led me to a dusty attic with a couch in the middle. "The couch is in the middle of the room, so the spiders don't climb down the walls onto ya'." said the old man. Imagining that scenario made me shudder. "You can stay here for now. I don't want you scarin' the customers away." As he began to turn away, I spoke once again, "If you don't mind me asking… What is your name sir?" He paused for a moment, "Alan..." he said, slightly turning his head before heading back downstairs.