Xerron awoke late and dressed himself to take on the day. This day was much like any other, but somehow today felt totally different. He skipped the usual morning coffee as he knew it wouldn't help steel his resolve against today's plans. He shuffled out the door and into the bustling streets of Central Phillidelphia.

Walking along the newly broken streets of his home town, watching, reminiscing, and pausing briefly to mutter something to himself while shaking his head. The most recent turf war had taken everything he had known since his arrival here from him. He had found himself homeless twice during that vile war, his mentor was shot dead in the streets and there was nothing he could do about it. Everything had changed and in doing so he felt himself in need of change.

"But how? When? How could a nobody change himself into something beneficial?" He mumbled to himself as he blindly stepped off the curb with his head down. Tires squealed as cars swerved and braked to avoid hitting him, obscenities were shouted at him snapping him out of his trance.

Regardless of the recent happenings in Philidelphia, it was his home, he cared for it and most often it provided for him. He picked his head up and shook the cold feelings from his mind as he set out to find an aquaintence who had some time ago asked him about joining a crew.

Now more than ever it seemed the right play. Join a difference.... Make a difference he knew what must be done.. He headed across town to meet up with his friend.

Ambichousness had received what was left her mother's estate after the funeral expenses were paid. It was a  tidy sum, enough to buy herself a new Dusenberg. She had decided it was high time to go back to her birth city, Philadelphia, after all she had heard her mother ran a shelter for stray animals there, maybe there was more money to be found in that little business. 

While driving through the city of her birth,the  car radio barely picked up a song, the static was so intense it made the speakers crackle. Despite the interference, Ambichousness recognized it almost immediately it was a song her mother played often with a longing nostalgia in her eyes.  It was the voice of  Harry Foster singing, Stay as sweet as you are. Her mind meandered down memory lane as thoughts of her mother rushed through her mind making her chest suddenly feel tight. She blinked back tears that obstructed her vision making every thing blurred.

Just as a man lost in his own thoughts stepped off the curb. Ignoring her own absentmindedness that had helped put her in the situation she   jerked the wheel the left making car turn its wheels just enough to miss the absent minded man.  As the Dusenberg came to a screeching  halt , her chest  heaved into the steering wheel so hard it made her lose her breathe momentarily, yet as soon as she gathered her bearings her voice raised loudly as she  got out of her vehicle to berate the  the fellow who nearly scratched up her new car.

 Why don't you  pay attention to what you are doing morning glory? Are you wet behind the ears?

She hollered her obscenities at the man as she stepped out  of her car slamming the door in frustration.

Xerron stammers "I'm terribly sorry Ma'am I wasn't paying attention... I seem lost in my own thoughts these days" "I'm Sorry to have startled you" he says as he steps back onto the curb and straightens his coat.

His own confession of absentmindedness made her look at her own. Her flesh grew rosie and warm in her embarrassment. She took the several steps towards him  with long jean clad legs, her boots barely making a sound on the ground.  A smile spreading across her face making her eyes brighten as she extended her hand in greeting.

" No forgive me, I was driving and my thoughts were elsewhere." Her soft hand  grasped his with a firm grip and shook it in greeting. " I am Ambi, nice to almost run you over." She laughed at her attempt to be humorous.

"The pleasure is all mine" Xerron half  chuckled as he spoke. "I was headed across town, but after almost dying think I'll head up the block for a coffee" "Its probably much safer. If you'd like at all to join me...that's where I will be"

"Well my car seems to be parked just fine. It may be safer if I walk with you there."

She was new in town , not having been in Philly since she was child, and the setting had changed since then. Besides she could use a good coffee to settle her nerves.

Ambichousness and Xerron walked down the block to the coffee shop passing other people lost in their conversations. The day was bright with wispy clouds dancing across the sky.

Xerron and Ambi arrive at the coffee shop and Xerron grabs a quaint little table facing the door and offers Ambi a chair before parking himself in one.

"I'm terribly sorry but I haven't introduced myself, the names Xerron." He extends his hand again as an attempted redo of earlier on the street.

"Again I am sorry for my thoughtlessness earlier, I've had a tough run of it lately with the war and all, since it's over for now I've been thinking that if i want this city to stand tall then I should try my best to build it up. I just don't really know how to go about it."

Ambichousness sits in the offered chair  taking a quick look around the coffee shop as she did.  She was happy to be facing the door one could never be watchful of their surroundings. A mousey haired waitress came over and stopped at the table they were sitting .  Ambi held two fingers up indicating to the woman they wanted two coffees, then waved off to do her duty.

She takes his hand in hers and smiles softly as he introduced himself. She liked his name it almost sounded exotic when you said it. As they continued to talk the waitress bright them two cups of steaming black coffee and set them n the table between. She left and came a few moments later with sugar and creamer.

" No reason to apologize. I believe the war took a lot from many of us..." She paused and her green eyes drifted towards the floor with a flash of sadness. " I lost my own mother in the war, as I am sure many did." She took a calming sip of the hot dark amber liquid. " I...I...well to put it bluntly. I  was lost and had to figure  out what the hell I was going to do. So I figured may as well go back to my birth place and see what I can help with. I also need to uhm , collect some insurance money I have coming to me very soon."

Xerron nods to the waitress as she places down the coffee.

"I am sorry to hear about your mother, that can't be easy, and yes I'm sure that war has scarred alot of people for life" He says before sipping his coffee.

"Insurance money you say?" "Did you have something get damaged during the turf war?" "I myself was homeless after the first outbreak of violence" "Now I'm looking to rebuild, reestablish in my hometown."

That was it she knew she almost hit this man for a reason.  This was their hometown so that gave something in common to build on, besides her almost hitting him. That is what she would claim to the insurance company on her mothers animal shelter that it was damaged in the war.   She looked around the room then hunched her shoulders closer together as if this helped her keep her  voice lowered.

" Well it isn't exactly legal, but my mother always said ya gotta keep the hustle going to keep the money coming in. Since I need money to start new I figured an insurance scam. I intend to use her old shelter for this."

She looked over her shoulder  to reassure herself no one was with in earshot and then back to Xerron.

" Would you  be interested in helping me? I'd cut you in on the profits, you could use the money to reestablish yourself."

Xerron leans forward placing his hands on the table as to comprehend completely the weight of the situation before him.

"I've been a street kid since before I made it out of grade school, sometimes the hustle is the only thing you can rely on. That and the unexpected kindness of strangers" "I'm in" He half whispered. 

"Just tell me what you need me to do."

A beaming smiles spread across her face as he said he as in.

"Good. Well I want to burn.." Her eyes light up like a kid in a candy store when she said burn, she had a penchant for fire.."... down the shelter and collect the insurance money from it. I need someone who will torch the place I can't be seen near the shelter when the fore starts for this to work."

She slid him an old business cards pf her mothers.

Bubbles, Slithers and Tails

Philadelphia Animal Shelter

With the animal shelter gone the last reminder that her mother cared more for strays than her own daughter would be gone.