Claude looked around at the people residing under the city bridge, trying to recollect any memory of how he got there, most of them barely had a place to stay and were helping each other out on essentials, such as food and water. Even though how they were, they have been quite happy for a reason, Claude found it hard to realize how it could have been possible for them in their state.
Many happy faces were scattered around the people in that beautiful morning, one of the weirdest he ever had.
"Come, we aren't far." Carl said to him as they reached a better suited camp, almost had a military like feel, it was covered in different types of debris and junk that were colored differently in many colors, It was funny how two places were combined together, some people in similar clothing were handing out food and water, even milk and coffee and many other things for the morning, Carl didn't head there, though, he went behind it, into an old Trailer-park home that resided behind the encampment, more decorated in junk than the other.
"Head right in, I'll be right back." Carl said as he finished his coffee and kept the empty plastic cup, heading away into the small moving crowd of the people, and Claude quickly did as he said, eagerly awaiting to meet this person.
He entered the home and went up two steps inside, he swiftly smelt a delicious aroma inside, he couldn't describe what made that smell, but he had an urge to discover what made it, and so would another person, it would seem.
Once Claude entered, he quickly noticed a person looking through the oven's glass door, faced in to see what was inside, but when Claude made a sound the man quickly looked back, panicked.
"I'm sorry! I didn't do anything! I swear!" the man yelled, and quickly ran at him, pushing him aside as he left the home, Claude remained there without any clue what was going on and if he did something wrong or not, But it didn't stop him from investigating the source of the flowing sensation in the air.
He went towards the oven, and looked inside, he barely saw anything, there was no internal lights in it, so he struggled to get a good point of view to have some sunlight show what was inside.
Quickly, though, a woman said from behind him "It's called Fruity leftover pie.", Claude jumped from the voice surprising him, and quickly turned around to face the woman.
"I'm sorry I came here by my own, I shouldn't have entered." Claude said in despair and in awkwardness, where only the woman laughed for a bit and smiled "It's alright" she said, "I'm Jenny, nice to meet you.".
"Hey, My name is Claude, Carl brought me here, he told me you can help me?" Claude asked her as he moved aside where she took his place, "Oh, did he now? well that depends, What is your problem?" Jenny said as she looked through the glass into the pie, then sitting down on the couch there.
"Well, it's hard to explain, really, but I'll try." Claude responded and sat down in the other couch in front of her.
"Lately, I find myself at places I have no recollection of going to, find myself with things that I didn't have the day or night before, sometimes people approach me with gifts or gratitude, or with violence or hate, and I have no idea whats going on." Claude set, where Jenny allowed him to continue "And sometimes I even find news written about me or talked about me in TVs or newspaper, and I have no idea that it happened at all, it is as if someone was controlling me then, and I have no awareness about it." Jenny seemed intrigued by Claude's case, wanting to hear and discover more about it, it was clearly seen that she wanted to know about him.
"Well, I'm sorry, I believe that I can't help you there, though I may know something that you may find interesting." She said, looking at him with a smile, "And what's that?" Claude replied "I know someone else who might have a clue on helping you, sadly though, They aren't here, they are up north at the city, not sure exactly where, but they are there, if you would like, you could try searching around for them." She explained "Their name's are Ivan and Lisa, They live at the northern outskirts of the city, exactly opposite from here, I believe, if you can find them, they may be able to help you out.".
"Can I ask you something?" Claude said, "Sure." "Who are you and why are you here?" he asked here, where then she tapped her finger at her chin thinking of a well-put answer.
"Well, as you already know, My name is Jenny, I'm part of the 'Help Them Out!' program to assist homeless and poor people out, which is probably why you saw that encampment before you reached here, obviously." she said, Claude listening carefully, "We do our best in order to help those people, and to be honest we are making progress, but we still aren't ever near finishing our work. Each passing day more and more people go without work, without houses, without hope in ever rebuilding their former life, sometimes they are even hopped up on drugs or alcohol or even simple things such as paint thinners and alike, but, this isn't a advertising campaign, I bet you weren't interested in hearing all that, besides, I think Carl is waiting for you outside." Claude saw that she was trying to get rid of him, and didn't want to give a hard time so he agreed with leaving.
"I think Carl is waiting for me outside, thanks for your help, I'll try my best to discover where they are." He said to her, standing up afterwards and headed towards the door, "Alright, See you." Jenny replied and looked back into the oven as he left the trailer-park home.
Carl indeed was waiting for him outside, and quickly wrapped his arm around his shoulder and walked about, forcing Claude to follow him, "Alright! so! how did you chat go?" he said cheerfully than before.
"It went okay, though she couldn't help me like you said she would, but she did help me in some way."
He said to him, where he laughed hard "Well what did she say to you?" he asked excitingly for a reason, "She told me that someone north of town might know how to help me out, so I'm heading there." Carl quickly went in front of him, holding both of his shoulders with his hands and looking straight into his eyes saying "You just got a golden ticket there, then, because a few suited people looked you up, I told them I know you and told them to meet you! come on! follow me!" he then grasped Claude again and took him through the small mob of people about on their business.
After many steps, Carl placed Claude in front of three suited men who were standing still, one of them felt at unease due to his location.
"Ah, thank you Carl, you can leave now, I wish to speak with Claude privately." the man between the other two said as Carl saluted in a joke and left, where Claude observed the three in inquiry, trying to understand what was going on.
"Well, Claude, I finally find you." he said, "My name is Michael, Lead human resources director for Uppercut Inc., and I'd like to hire you.", Claude was amazed, he remembered Uppercut from all the tournaments and videos on the Internet, Uppercut was a high-risk sporting company involved in many aspects of combat and movement sports, usually hazardous to others.
"Why you want me?" Claude asked "I will explain further at our headquarters, if you would kindly pack your things and come to the car so we will be on our way." Michael answered, pointing at a black and beefy car, and headed there, Claude quickly ran to where all his things were, and Carl was waiting for him there.
"So, you leaving so soon?" Carl asked him as he sat on his bucket, leaning on his fist and looking at Claude packing his things, "I'm afraid so, Carl, sorry for not hanging out as long as you thought, I'll be sure to try and get back here to meet you again, though." Claude said, and Carl quickly had a smile on his face, it was nice to have company and Carl haven't had any for quite a time, the fact that someone willingly was around him made him happy.
"You do that, good luck as well." Carl said as Claude finished packing and waved goodbye and left.
Claude felt lightly disappointed for leaving Carl behind as well as Jenny, but he knew he couldn't stay there, and with a closed car door he was gone from there, inside Michael's car.
"You won't regret this." Michael said.
- END OF EPISODE 4 -
