Author's Note:

I want to apologize for not updating sooner. This story has mostly been put on hold due to so many projects on my plate atm. I will try to update here and there as I am able. The more pestering and pushing you reader's give me, the faster I might get some stuff out  so we will see, here's a double post to help!

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(Jack)

Our company may not have broken the gap between the upper and lower classes, but we were pretty well off considering. The area was nice if not that fancy. The people lacked the money, but not the heart. That was the sort of building I found myself entering. The painted bricks were chipping with age. A rat scampered under a loosened stairway leading upward into the four story apartments. Still, there were a couple of bushes decorating the entrance, neatly trimmed. The walkways were swept clean.

The doors were opened, allowing any breeze passage during the warm, late summer days. A pair of young boys practically ran me over in the doorway. I couldn't help but smile. I made my way up the stairs to the third floor. The woman's room should be right…

I knocked carefully, knowing she should be home, but not sure of what exactly I was looking for. It took a minute. I knocked again and heard a muffled voice on the other side.

"Just a moment, I'm coming."

The door opened and I attempted a welcoming smile. She stood at the doorway, leaning on a clumsy looking cane. A dull colored wrap covered her silver hair. She smiled back, but seemed a little unsure.

"I'm sorry Ma'am, I don't mean to disturb you," I reached out my hand in greeting and she took it hesitantly. "My name is John Calvert. I work down at Spinner's Imports."

She nodded, the smile. "I'm familiar with it. Marshall once mentioned working there."

"Marshall Gibbs?"

"Yes! Yes that's him. Sweet boy, if terribly quiet. Lives just down the hall there. Is that why you are here? To see him? I certainly hope he hasn't gotten himself into any trouble."

A chuckle escaped at the speed she had begun to talk. "No, no ma'am, no trouble. I'm in the right spot. So long as this is, in fact you." I took out the sketched image from the pad held securely in my hand. She looked confused at my action, even more so when I handed the picture to her. In hardly a moment she was beaming like a child at Christmas. Her smile wide, unafraid to show the dotted teeth.

"Oh," She suddenly grew flustered as if she was breaking some code in manners. "Come in, come in. Do you drink tea? I can get some tea for you."

"I would love some." I heard myself say as I let the elderly woman lead me inside.