He glimpsed a flash of blonde flouncing down the sidewalk. A giddy laugh echoed in his ears. He turned to see a flowing skirt that disappeared through the door of a café. He hurried towards the window and jumped when a siren and car horns began to blare around him. "Watch it!" Schreeched a little old woman as he darted past her.
"Sorry, sorry" He mumbled.
"Learn to speak English!" She yelled over her shoulder.
Peeking through the window of the café, he searched the formica tables but saw no willowy blondes. Cautiously, he strode towards the counter. Dropping his large pack onto the floor, he hopped onto a high stool. He swiveled casually, looking around to be sure that Cassie wasn't there. "You gotta buy something kid," groused an oily-faced cook in a charcoal smeared apron. Sid reached down to grab his pack but it was gone. He rustled frantically through his pockets.
"Sorry, I haven't got any money but-"
"Then get lost!"
"But sir, I was wondering-" Sid Stuttered. "Have you seen-" The cook glowered, leaning over the counter. Sid shuffled towards the door with one last, sweeping, hopeful glance.
Sid wandered through the crowded streets, never straying far from the café. All day passersby jostled and pushed him as he stretched to examine the sea of pedestrians. A blonde glimpse here and there, but never her small, frail form. As night fell, Sid discovered a giant green expanse framed by a concrete gate topped with gold figures. The rolling greens reminded him of the hills outside Roundview. He saw a rumpled up butt on the path, flicked his lighter from his pocket, and tested it out. The rough taste of asphalt and skunk made him choke. He puffed the last drags off the spliff, spitting between hits to clear the gravel from his mouth. After stomping out the butt, Sid meandered down the path. He searched for a place to lay down but harried men covered all the benches. Finally, Sid found a bench only partially occupied by a curled up bum wrapped up in newspapers. Sid teetered on the edge of the bench and began to nod off. He abruptly awoke ass flat on the ground. The man's legs were splayed across the bench now. Sid slinked onto the now even tinier corner and was answered with an angry shout "Find your own bench bum! You lousy kid!" Sid jumped off the bench and stumbled blindly through the park. He sat at the trunk of a tree till morning, his sleep punctuated by joggers and loud disagreements between the homeless and drug addicts passing by.
After a cop jostled him threatening "move it along," he mumbled a sleepy apology and returned to the café. "You again," griped the oily cook. Sid looked around for an excuse, spotting a sign for employment in the window.
"Yeah I just came to-to-" He grabbed the sign and gestured, "Sign me up?" He scrunched his face with anxiety. The cook looked him up and down with hard eyes.
"Got experience?"
"No," admitted Sid dejectedly.
The cook considered for a minute "Well-just stay out of everyone's way as much as you can." He gestured to a dark-haired hostess, "Rosy here will show you the ropes."