Homeless, Old and Invisible on the Streets of Downtown Olympia
About this Challenge
This is my response to a Writers Challenge set by Author William Holland (Billybuc) The story is set in seedy Downtown Olympia, The events and persons portrayed here are entirely fictitious.
Sally Gulbrandsen (c)
Was it Only Yesterday?
Was it really only yesterday that I walked from the apartment, with my short skirt reaching to just below my arse. Was it only yesterday that you heard my high heels mark their usual route down the dark streets?
My red umbrella served to protect me from the falling rain, while filth and debris floated all around me. The driving rain diluted the usual foul stench of urine and kept the occasional fleeing rat from venturing out.
Sheets of brown cardboard failed to protect the homeless man from the elements. Neither he nor I acknowledged one another. Huddled beneath the sodden brown cardboard with thin arms pulled tight around his knees he tried desperately to control his shaking body. I left him there alone in his own cold misery.
On my way home with the rain still pissing down. I heard the sound of a car drive alongside me and inside sat four drunken louts. They peered out at me through the half-open car windows and as only drunken men of their ilk can they called out, hey, sweetheart you want to have a good time? Would you like a lift home? There was more than a suggestion of what I might be expected to provide at our destination.
I ignored them. I kept my umbrella pulled down low and I walked as quick as I could in those ridiculous red heels. They drove alongside me, keeping pace with me so I ducked into a back alley which led to my apartment. It was so dark down there. I was walking fast, but it seemed not fast enough for it was not long before I thought I heard the sound of hurried footsteps coming from behind me. I stopped to listen. Was it perhaps a fox, a stray cat or a mongrel? I picked up a loose stone and tossed it behind as if to scare it away. I heard the stone fall into the darkness and then I heard the sound of hurried steps and voices coming at me through the driving rain.
Fear gripped me and without warning someone flung themselves at me, sending me and my purse flying to the ground. I screamed in terror and then a large wet hand descended on my mouth. I tasted stale nicotine and booze so I sunk my teeth deep into that horrible thick flesh He hit me, really hard, the blow sent me spinning into the sodden ground while a wedding ring cut through the flesh on my lips. The taste of blood filled my mouth.
He yelped in pain, the bitch he yelled to the others, she bit me. Then together they held me down, tearing my underwear from my behind. The four of them, like rabid dogs in their drunken frenzy, took from me in turns what was not theirs to take. One by one they had their way with me then left me lying there; delivering a few final kicks to my backside while they adjusted their trouser zips, smug mouths, and mud trodden boots, all three of them going back to their wives or girlfriends while inside of me, their tiny sperm swam as if their lives depended on me. Abandoned like a mongrel they left me there to lick my wounds. I crawled shakily to my knees, mud, and blood trickled down between my knees. I knelt there helpless; hands on the ground whimpering like a dog, fumbling for my purse in the muddy darkness.
Lass, can I help you? The homeless old man stood there in the driving rain. Droplets of water tumbled through greasy strands of hair, pale blue rheumy eyes etched with concern, skin, grey and covered with thick stubble. His legs spread apart as he teetered like a giraffe drinking from a puddle. Are you alright Lass, can I be of assistance? The voice when it came, so surprisingly soft, so refined, so educated and oh so very formal.
Without waiting for a reply, he lifted me from the ground, held me like a child in his long thin arms. His thin undernourished body staggered under the unaccustomed weight, but somehow he kept a hold of me. I could feel thin bones pushing through the sodden clothing. Stale alcohol fumes wafted across my face. Water blended with the mud and blood. Water squished from holes in worn out shoes. He stumbled with his unaccustomed burden down back streets, finally arriving at my apartment where he staggered up the three flights of stairs.
I fumbled with my muddy wet purse and handed him the keys. He opened the door and placed me tenderly down on the couch. Still breathing heavily he stumbled across the room to the open bathroom door and arrived back clutching a large bath towel to his chest. He clumsily patted the blood from my face and tenderly wiped the mud, blood, and water from my hair. Would you like me to call the cops he asked? No, I said it will just be their word against mine, who would believe me?
Still shivering with shock and cold, I heard the sound of running water and unexpectedly the scent of lavender as it wafted out towards me. I saw him place fresh towels on the rail through the open door and then he came back into the room and without asking he poured a long stiff drink from the bottle of vodka that stood there. He lifted the glass to his mouth and downed the contents in one go. Then he poured another but, instead of drinking it he crossed the room to the still open bathroom door and left it sitting on the edge of the bath for me. Lock the door behind you child he said, have a nice bath Lass, you'll feel better in the morning. The door closed quietly behind him and I listened to the sound of his footsteps as they faded slowly behind him.
In the months ahead we passed one another at the bottom of the stairs. He always acknowledged me with a tilt of his hat. I saw the empathy in his eyes especially when he saw that I was with child. Not a word passed between us about what happened that night but we both knew that the event would forever bind us together just like thick treacle?
They found him one night, cold and very dead beneath the stairs. In his top pocket, they found a single sheet of paper, witnessed by two people. His vast fortune he left to me and to my unborn child.
I alone attended his funeral. His gravestone lies close to the churchyard stairs where he once lived.
It reads:-
Fred Ward. He who remained invisible, right to the finish line. May God Bless Him
Seedy Downtown!
Homeless - Being Poor in America is now a Crime
Helping to Create Awareness
Will this story affect the way you look at homeless people in the future?
Link to the Writers Challenge and Author William Holland
- A Writing Challenge: The Door to Nowhere
Come one, come all, a new test of your writing abilities awaits you.
Asleep under the Heavens
© 2015 Sally Gulbrandsen
Comments
This is so wonderfully narrated, Sallybea. I felt all that agony in my heart reading through it. A Very emotional narration of all it. I don't remember how I missed this wonderful story.
My response to Bill Holland challenge was an optimistic one which also sends a message to people. But, I admire this story very much with its innate message if anybody can recognize it.
I must admit Sally I'm not a reader of fiction generally - the last novel I read was 20 years ago believe it or not! - but I read this work of yours and found it very moving. I can also recognise the talent you have in the descriptive phrases which bring the scenes to life in a very evocative way - particularly the grime and squalor of the neighbourhood, and the fear and sheer vileness and lack of humanity in the attack, contrasted with the humanity of the aftermath.
Well done. If you haven't already done so, maybe you should write more stories, here on HubPages, or elsewhere? Alun
Sally What a fantastic story, filled with emotions and twists and turns and one of your best I have read. You could picture all the characters with your descriptive words. They became so real. The language was apropos. Thanks for sharing. Blessings, Audrey Also sharing.
Just found this Sally and had to comment..great story, drew me in straight away with its emotionally charged themes of homelessness and ladies of the night..so very sad in it's truth..good job Sally..Cheers
Sally, don't be sorry at all, your writing is that powerful!! Keep writing, don't stop
Sally,nearly missed this one. What a brilliant response to your challenge. The story was gripping and I felt I was watching a video,not just reading the text,this is an amazing talent,you have. Although the characters were ficticious you made them so real . You release your creative writing more often. Voted up,awesome,interesting.Tweeted.
That story had a way of being both pitiful and beautiful Sally. You feel sorry for that woman yet that was a lovely story. I loved it. I shared it, voted it up, and I pinned it.
Kevin
Tragic story with so many emotions..... voted up
oh my. This is just so horrible, the events captured here, yet so gripping....I am still in shock and somewhat numb! Is this a real story? It reads so real....
Sally, what a story-tell you are! You're an all-rounder with your pen. Great presentation in response to the challenge!
Such an emotional story, and you made it sound so real! Great writing! I'm still teary-eyed... Thank you!
A pleasure to read another of your hubs Sally. Wet felted slippers and bags etc aren't my line of interest but I have passed links to your hubs onto my wife who has printed them out to use. Whenever I see that you have written any other type of creative writing etc I try to have a read and am always impressed.
Talk about a ripping social commentary cloaked in fiction, this is it. In such a short space you sure managed to grab my attention, rip my heart out and make me think all at the same time. Awesome, though tragic even with the happy ending. Really, marvelously done, gritty, believable and biting.
Sally, you have written an amazing story here. So glad you accepted the challenge. This is one of my favourite responses among a host of wonderful stories. So descriptive and heart wrenching. Loved the ending to. You are a very talented writer.
Sally......Simply stunning. Please do not wait for the next challenge to give your readers another work of such raw emotions. You have done beautifully!....Bravo!...UP+++
Well I must appreciate. Wonderful read. Thrilling & lessonful.
Regards,
Saqib
Oh Sally, talk about gripping, this really made me squirm, and get angry and seriously sad. Such a mixture of emotions. It's a difficult topic but you wrote it so well. Thank goodness for the ending, although I imagine the pain would never truly be erased.
Tearful story for me--and you do handle the subject with such grace--
Sally, You have produced a very powerful and heart-wrenching story; one of the best I have read on this site. You grip the reader in from the get-go and then we're committed and along for the ride.
It's a dark subject, but you handle it gracefully. I love characters who are misunderstood.
Wow, Sally, this is brilliantly written! You are truly a great writer and should write creatively more often for all to enjoy. This story grips one right from the start and doesn't let go. This one does bring the tears for we truly never know others with whom we may cross paths in this life.
Up ++++ tweeting, pinning, G+ and sharing
Thank you for sharing your great writing here.
Wow..why haven't we seen this side of you before? This was beautifully done, you evoked such a depth of emotions, from anger and disgust to sadness and and an ocean of empathy. Exceptional!!
WOW and more WOW--What a gripping tale told in such a real way indicating all of the horrors of such an attack. But saving us the readers with the tenderness of the end. V+ for sure!
Good to see you. Congratulations on your HOTD. Hoping you are having a Happy New Year.
Many Blessings,
Kim
Your story definitely tugged at many heartstrings. You commenced it with a gruesome reality that unfortunately befalls many people living in such circumstances, and yet ended it on a note of optimism, resulting from the kindness of another soul. May the kindness of hearts be seen and noticed… and eventually overcome all adversity in this world.
A beautiful piece of writing, detailed and heart wrenching.
Brilliantly approached! You have shown your true talent in your own way. A beautifully told story and this challenge is taken on greatly by you.
You really should do more creative writing, Sally. Sometimes in tragedy there is kindness. I like how that came out in this story of yours.
Well I must admit that I'm sitting here with tears flowing. Such a beautiful story. The kind man spent his life unnoticed, yet he was so sweet and kind. Makes me wonder why people can't see the goodness in people until it's too late? Thank you so much..
A gripping tale of horrific deeds that occur nightly in some parts of our
world. How tragic that men's actions effect the weak and benevolent.
There are those that simply live, others who thrive and still others who
flourish. Most times we do not know the answers as to why.
Sally, your story portrays those who take and those who give. It gives us hope that there can be an unexpected pleasant ending, when none is expected.
You did a good job with this challenge. You should feel proud for
producing a bit of fiction.
Good work, Sally.
DJ.
Superbly written, beautiful story. This is full of so many emotions and so well told. I was crying, for the old man more than anything. Well done!
Ann
That was a neat twist to Bill's challenge. Very good.
Aw, to be able to be touch at the very heart of a need by an angel in skin.
Well shoot, Sally. You had me crying with this one. A tragic story and yet a beautiful one. So very well-written, a side of you we have rarely seen, and a side of you I wish we would see more.
Thank you so much for taking the challenge. This was a pleasure to read, my friend.
Happy weekend to you!
bill
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