Day Twelve

    ****NAMES CHANGED TO PROTECT PORTLAND'S STREET KIDS***** 

I had a hard time sleeping after Jesus left. I couldn't get comfortable and I didn't like not knowing where everyone was. I was up before the first morning wake up call. I got to OI by 8:30 to find Jesus alone. Ariel had run off to get high with some tweaker friends. Emo Kid had immediately disappeared. Pot Head stole a bike and left. I was livid that they left Jesus alone. He was all in one piece though and had gone to his spot to sleep. He found blankets which is good considering it rained.

Nerd Boy stuck to us like glue telling us the weather in Baghdad. I was losing patience fast, "I really don't care about the weather in Baghdad. We're trying to talk." So Nerd Boy ran outside to tell the thugs outside the weather in Baghdad. I couldn't help it; I laughed.

I got the idea to ask Rich Uncle for money to get a hotel room so I could have a real place to rest for my concussion and Jesus could have a place to sleep. This was a fail. His straight boyfriend just wiped him out. I checked the bank account and local prices for motels and decided I could stretch and afford one for a few nights but it wasn't ideal. Like I've said before, emergencies only.

I decided that if Jesus tried to get in to shelter and promised to do  the next housing orientation it would be worth it though. We went to shelter and he tried to get in but failed. "Are you going to stay out?" he asked.
"No way I'm staying outside with this headache."
Emo Kid tried to convince me to go but I put my hand in his face saying, "No, don't even talk to me. I was done with you when you called me fat but then you get him a BLA? I'm done."
"I didn't get him a BLA we both did it." Emo Kid said, "And you really need to get over me calling you fat. I don't freak out when people call me an emo fag."
"Because you ARE one."
"No I'm not."
"No straight guy colors their hair that often and wears that much makeup. You look like a fucking cartoon character."
"I won't change my looks for anyone." he whined.
"Yes, you do. When you dye your hair every day you're changing for someone."

He stormed off and Jesus shrugged and followed. I figured since they both stormed off I was content with Jesus sleeping outside. I went up and got my shower, alone for once. I took my sleeping pill the moment I got in with the full intentions of going to bed early. Besides the mandatory yelling between Vampire Girl and Nazi Man it was a quiet night in shelter. After a few rounds of Rummy I went to try and sleep. I couldn't get comfortable as no matter what I did with blankets and clothing I couldn't find a way to get proper support for my aching head. Then it was a million degrees in the dorm.

I woke up confused at about 6am and finally gave up on the idea of sleep. Instead I  spent the morning staring out the window at the city streets and the cars whizzing by the brightly colored porn shop.

--mm