Chapter 2

      The walk to the shelter is not far, maybe a half mile. As Sam begins walking her senses are stimulated by the morning activity of the downtown area. The cool air going in and out of her lungs, the noises of traffic heading into all the tall buildings and offices. The sounds of trains banging into each other from the rail yard nearby. Everything is returning to daylight life, for all the “normal” people. The walk among the living continues towards the mission as full consciousness is almost restored. She still feels hung over and the numbing cold all over her body. The walk is doing her good.

      She stops at a convenience store on the way to get some coffee and a lotto ticket. The convenience store clerk, an old thin black man with short hair and a short beard named Delvin who has worked at the store for years acknowledges her, “Hey Sam, what happened to your Cowboy’s the other day? They really sucked. I’m thinking I’m going to win me some big money and Smith fumbles on the three yard line. I knew those damn Eagles would beat those guys. I listened to your prediction, and it cost me a bundle.”

      “Ya didn’t listen to my prediction, or you wouldn’t a lost any money. I told you the Cowboys are a better team, but they were due for a head knockin.”

      Delvin thought for a minute, “I guess I must have missed the part about due for a head knockin. The Eagles looked really good though. Next week I’m going to bet on the Eagles, I think they play the Giants.”

      “Yeah, yeah, that’s a good bet. Now just sell me a winning lotto ticket.”

      Delvin turned towards Sam with a sarcastic look, “this is the hard luck store. We haven’t sold hardly any winning lotto tickets and ain’t nobody ever won the big lotto neither.”

      Sam walked towards the counter sipping at a Styrofoam cup full of hot coffee, “Well, I got some numbers this morning from a little girl and history is about to change. I’m due for the big one.”

      Delvin laughed out loud, “That’s what I like bout you Sam, you know about football, and always keep the faith.”

      She gets her coffee and lotto ticket and leaves the store telling Delvin, “I was just kidding about the Eagles being a good bet.”

      The door closed as Delvin started yelling something about, “What do you mean you were kidding, hey, come ba...”

      Delvin’s words were cut off as Sam walked down Lancaster Street still sipping her coffee trying to get her core body temperature back up. The sun was up but it was still cold, and she needed to get to the shelter. There would be something to eat there if she could get in. Sam had friends at the shelter, and she could finagle her way in even if she was still a little drunk.

      She approached the shelter still holding the cup of coffee with both hands close to her mouth feeling the heat and trying to get warm. As she approached, there were a lot of people standing around the area of the shelter. Some of them couldn’t get in for one reason or another but most of them recognized Sam. One young white guy who looked thirty five years old but was actually twenty six years old yelled, “Hey Sam how’s it going?”

      Sam yelled back, “Hey, DJ. What are you doing out here?”

      “I’m waiting to get in just like everyone else.”

      Reaching out she slapped DJ on the shoulder, “I’m going in an I’ll get you in real soon.”

      DJ forced a smile back knowing that even with Sam pulling for him he would have to wait to get in.