I guess I better figure out how I am going to get some money. I could try pickpocketing someone just to get some quick cash before finding a job. However, I had no clue how I was going to pull that off. Why did I have to be the good kid? I never did anything you would consider illegal so I never thought about figuring out how to do this stuff. The only knowledge I have about it was from a movie I saw as a kid. Well here goes nothing.

I wandered into an alley that had a couple of drunks and had had their fair share of booze. They reeked of stout, dead fish, and feces and looked almost like two overweight men who had been possessed by wild boar, causing them to grow more body hair than normal. Every bone in my body said not to but I needed the money, so as casually as possible I bumped into the man on the left and pickpocketing him in the process.

I knew for a fact that he was too drunk to notice despite me having no experience with pickpocketing myself but it seemed to work. What I didn’t count on was the fact that he was so drunk that anything would set him off. He turned around and looked at me after I bumped into him.

“Hey, watch where you're goin.” he said, but I ignored him. That was a mistake as he clocked me with a right side arm square in the jaw and I was knocked to the ground. “I was talkin to ya!” Had it not been for the fact that he was too drunk to hit me hard enough I would be out cold. I needed to run but before I could his buddy had grabbed me from behind and was now holding me in place for his friend to strike me all he wished. Why did I have to choose these guys to piss off?

The putrid mix of smells that came from these two decimated my nostrils, making me want to vomit. I was also getting punched repeatedly to the point that my vision was stained crimson with blood dripping into my eyes. The man-boar didn’t seem to want to stop until finally, he struck my testicles, Then I was dropped.

“For the love of God, you could have left my testicles alone like a gentleman.” I said between my grunts and groans as I sat on my knees with my face to the earth. I just sat with my body practically throbbing from the pain as it resonated through my stomach and into my chest. When I had finally managed to break out of my paralysis I wanted to die but I needed to count my reward. It had to be good or else it wasn’t worth it. However as I got up I noticed an old man giggling like a madman, he had seemed to have seen the whole thing and did nothing.

“Why are you laughing, old man?” I asked.

“Because that was the most entertaining attempt at pickpocketing I have ever seen in this alley and there are lots of them.” he said between his giggles.

“Well, I aim to please. I am Lou Barret” I said with a cocky bow.

“I am Harold Lewak. Now, come and sit. If you are desperate enough for money to get your ass kicked like that you must be hungry.” he said gesturing at a loaf of bread beside him.

“Thank you.” I said before sitting down and accepting his kind offering.

Although the bread the old man had given me was stale, it was far better than anything I had at the moment. The old man had a certain air to him that seemed to welcome me in. I wanted to let my guard down around this person even though he obviously saw me commit a crime and I did just that.

To be honest he seemed far too slender to be able to steal anything from me if he wanted to. He was dressed far better than I as he was wearing a full suit with his collar unbuttoned like that of a politician after getting home from work.

“If I may ask, why are you in this alley where obviously many pickpockets and drunks frequent.” I asked him in an attempt at sounding like I was from this era or as a butler from a British drama.

“To be frank I’m getting up there in age. Thus, I've been laid off and have no desire to tell the missus yet. So I sit here watching the drunks and pickpockets pass by waiting for something interesting to happen.” he said with a deep and solemn sigh.

“Do you not have the ability to retire? Or is it something else?” I asked before eating the last of the bread.

“I can retire when I so wish and I have the means. But I was hoping for just one adventure to come wisp me away before I end up settling down to die.” he said whilst making a motion with his hands to show him being wisped away.

“Well, that’s quite morbid.” I replied.

“Indeed, but it doesn’t make it any less of the truth. While I’m waiting I might as well help a few people on the way, such as yourself.” he said before giving me a humorous glare.

“If you wish to help me, you have already done more than enough by feeding me, and I thank you for being so kind. So I don’t wish to ask much more of you but do you know where I might be able to spend the night?” His face got rather stern for a moment, furrowing his brow deep in thought before finally answering.

“Your best bet would be to find someone down at the docks to work for and house you in return but that would be long term so they might not give ya room tonight. I would check with the clergy first.

“Thank you, you have been very helpful.” I said getting up. “I do hope we meet again. I wouldn’t mind having another chat.” And with that, I was off.