Chapter 240 - Mr. Emu (1/2)
The latest of squatters had been thrown out by the police causing a father and his family to carry everything they could in their arms. They'd hadn't been able to afford the landlord's price anymore and as such had remained in their tiny apartment until the landlord, at last, had them evicted. They'd had paid the landlord if they could, but Mr. Emu being new to the country and an immigrant from Bangladesh had quite the difficulties in finding employment.
The family of five had wandered the city all that evening as Mr. Emu desperately searched for a place for them to stay the night. But none of the inns would have them at seeing them including the ones where cash was paid upfront.
The lampposts grew longer until at last the lampposts began to glow brightly at dusk. Moths fluttered about as the weary family trudged down the street with their few belongings. Mrs. Emu had dark olive skin and warm dark eyes. In their own language, she says, ”Honey, we best be finding a place for the night. In an alleyway or in a park.”
”The rest places are full at this hour and we don't know which spots to avoid, dear,” Mr. Emu argued.
”The children are tired, honey,” Mrs. Emu said as she glanced at their three children. Their two daughters were yawning, while their four-year-old son sleepily rubbed his eyes.
”All right, dear,” Mr. Emu said. ”Let us find a park bench for now. And then I'll go and search for a safer place.”
”Yes, honey,” Mrs. Emu said in relief as she hoisted their four-year-old son in her arms and kept a firm grip on the belongings she was carrying. Their two girls, ten and eight trailed after them as they searched for the nearest park. It was a tiny one with a small playground.
Rather than lying down on the bench, Mrs. Emu lay her children on the round spinning circle as it was large and smooth. Their four-year-old son fell fast asleep as the two girls tiredly curled up against each other.
Glancing at his wife, Mr. Emu said, ”I'll be back soon, dear.”
”Take care,” Mrs. Emu called out to him as he scurried away.
The night was cold and dark as it was a new moon. Nary a shred of light could be seen in the night sky as clouds even covered the stars. The only light to be seen is the flickering lights of the lampposts. But even those were dim on this night's eerie gloom.
Mr. Emu kept a firm grip on his pocketknife in his hand. This area of the city was quiet at this hour with very few cars on the dark winding roads. Even the hookers and gang members weren't seen in this abandoned part of town. There wasn't enough clientele and far too slim pickings even for the most desperate of hookers.
The chill of the night began to follow as Mr. Emu blew into his freezing hands and felt the coldness of winter. It'd been raining rather than snowing, but it looked as though it'd finally snow tonight. He'd need to find shelter for his wife and children soon.
Putting his hands under his armpits to keep warm, Mr. Emu desperately searched the area for an abandoned warehouse that could be broken into. They just needed a place to stay for the night. They'd be gone in the morning, but he couldn't allow for his children and wife to spend a night outside in the freezing elements! They might possibly die and freeze in the cold weather. And if it truly began to snow, they'd surely end up with Hypothermia.