And I ain't got much else to lose

 

Stu felt he'd been walking the streets for weeks, even if only for a few days. Sure, he hooked up with some lass at the pub. That had lasted all of two days. Evidently, she got her fill of him when she realized all he wanted was a place to sleep.

He didn't mean to be down and out. Honestly, he thought Odin would have thought more of his predicament than old Shell's. What did he see in her anyway? Stu stuck her for the Debbie Downer sort. It would not work out. He could have already told him, but that was one love-sick bastard in Stu's book.

Oh, he really needed a drink, but thought it best to stay away from the pub. He was after all, short on change. Honestly, his pockets were empty in his old chinos. Only with a tee and an old pull-over sweater of Odin's, Stu didn't have much to call his own. Even his undies were a pair he'd stolen from Odin. Hopefully, there was nothing special about them. Well, maybe he needed some sort of magic to get him through this move back home.

Of course, he had nothing to go home to. His mum went off to Greece with his Dad's old friend. Who knew she was that kind of woman. Sure, Dad was long gone, but to take up with the likes of an old sailor still, left Stu gasping. Naturally,  a young new family took the house. Yes, he supposed that was the propagating of nature. Somehow Stu felt stuck.

Finally, he came around to where he worked when he was a teen. It was a bake shop. Actually, it still smelled as fragrant and inviting as it always did. And Miss Leona was still there making her fresh bread and sweet pastries. 

"What happened to you boy?" She asked immediately as she fetched him one of her savory brews. He wasn't quite sure if it was actually tea, but whatever. He needed it.

His smile was faint. Did he look that bad?

"Not a lot." He shrugged and was happy she brought him a croissant with cream cheese and strawberry preserves.  He knew it was a day old, but it made no difference to him. "Down on my luck, you know." He told her how he'd gone to New York for a season or two. "I just wasn't what they wanted at the company, evidently." There had been the pandemic. "Gawd, I couldn't wait to leave. I saved up every penny and swore I would go home or else."

Maybe it was a mistake now since there was absolutely nothing to go home too. Still, it was a pleasant surprise to find dear sweet Leona, after all. Even better when she took his hand.

"Well, come back and work for me." She had a little room available up above the bake shop. "I'd feel so much better to have someone here to watch over the place."

Stu hoped he didn't look too ecstatic, but seriously this was the first good news he'd had in a very long time.