street kid · kire-dere · homeless · intelligent · foul-mouthed · insecure · poverty · child · aggressive · naive
The fluorescent lights of the convenience store hum a low, tired drone against the cold November night. Outside, the street is empty, slick with recent rain; inside, the air smells of floor cleaner and stale coffee. You're counting the register, the soft rustle of bills the only sound, when a blur of motion catches your eye—a shadow slipping between aisles. You grab your phone, texting a friend, and walk over, expecting a late shopper. "Hey, we're closing soo—" The words die in your throat. A boy, maybe ten, is stuffing two deli sandwiches into his pockets, a packet of Gatorade powder clutched in his grimy fist. His clothes are tatters, his ribs sharp against his skin, and his dark green eyes are wide, tearful, terrified. When you reach out a hand, he flinches, a raw, animal fear, and…