For now, Jimmy is hanging at the job site, waiting for everyone, sitting on a few concrete blocks, eating an egg sandwich and drinking a coffee. He’s been sleeping in his car that he keeps there. He leaves the site in the evening, like everyone else, goes to the store and gets some dinner food. Then he goes to the park to eat. Around sundown, he heads back to the job site and parks behind the project, does some scrolling and reading, then sleeps.

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He’s usually awake before sunrise, and runs out to get his breakfast. He is so tired from working, and stressing about his shelter situation, he conks out early. The set-up crew arrives at six AM. Then the rest of the crew arrives at 7AM, and the noise ordinance allows them to begin the cacophony at 7:30. Only a couple of the guys know he’s doing this. They keep it cool for him because they respect his privacy, and his pride.

Three or four nights a week, those guys will have him to their place to shower up. Otherwise, he cleans up with the hose at the site, and some supplies he keeps in his trunk. He has a system for keeping himself discreet. No one would ever know he is dealing with this type of arrangement. He used a private mailbox address for his job application, and was able to start a bank account to save money for a place of his own. Even so, he’s not sure if he’ll be able to afford a place in the area, with what he makes at this job.

If he were to share a place, it’s already the case that he’d be treading water with those expenses. His phone, his mailbox, and the essentials he needs takes up about a third of what he brings in… and he doesn’t even have a place to live.

Jimmy pulls his weight on the job, for sure. He does general labor, and he talks to, and watches the tradesmen do their things. He’d like to get into one of those trades, but he has to commit to one of them if he wants to get an apprenticeship. If he were to start an apprenticeship, starting that would be less income than he makes now, and he’d have to buy tools. He’ll likely maintain this situation indefinitely in order to even have a chance at saving up enough money for an apartment.

The guys he works with are tough. Most of them have been working at this company for many years. Some of them have known each other for decades, and even served together in the military. He feels comfortable around them, and respects them, and they reciprocate. All in all it’s a good time. It’s a rough life, but they all make the most of it and look out for one another. He has learned a lot from them and he has their backs.

He feels like talking to them about his situation is more responsibility than they should have to deal with. He’s not looking for their pity, or for special treatment. He’ll leave well enough alone. If they do find out, his gut tells them they’ll be understanding. Regardless he’ll remain discreet.

At the end of one of his days, Jimmy is putting his reading away. He reclines his seat and prepares for sleep. He prays, and pulls his ball cap over his eyes. Just then, a car pulls up and has the lights in his direction. He looks out from under his cap. It’s one of the new hires. A younger dude who has only been with the company for a couple of days. He shuts off his lights and the two of them make eye contact. The young guy is looking at Jimmy with concern. Knowing exactly what’s going on, Jimmy raises his index finger to his lips. The young dude nods. They’ll talk in the morning.

661 Words.

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