It was well past the bedtime of any normal teenager, much less a time to go out, but along the dreary alleyways stained with the scent of smoke was a small girl who came with a purpose.
"Allie Gale, freshman at Woodland high, pleasure to meet you sir. I'm the one that does odd jobs at the right price."
Along the wall was a strange man, seemingly around his thirties, who held a small paper, shifting it towards the little light of the dimming lamposts.
"Tell me," the man looked toward her, as if questioning her existence." You do this kinda job at such a young age?"
The girl was a little nervous but still went forward.
"Rest assured,, I don't do anything that would demean me, and I choose carefully sir. While this is true, getting my hands a little dirty wouldn't really kill me, so I think I don't see any problems."
"Smart girl. Tell me, how often do ya get a job? And how much do ya get?"
"I get a job around twice a week if I'm lucky, around 4-6 jobs a month. As for what I do, it's just some regular cleanup for a 50 per job."
"That little for a cleanup job?"
"Not many people ask for that kind of help from strangers… everyone's got people around them with favors."
"Well, I guess then you deserve a little something."
"Pardon?"
"Delivery work, you know how to drive?"
"No. I can drive perfect, maybe even better than most, but I don't have the money for driving school. I can drive fine, but not legally."
"That's fine, i'll get you situated."
"Really? For a delivery job? How can I repay you?"
"A three year contract for delivery work. You only work under me during that time, and I pay you triple the amount per job at least."
"Is the job difficult?"
"Well, I guess we could take you under our wing. From the looks of right now, your parents don't seem to have too much time for you, and if you end up working for us in the long run, I'd consider it an investment."
"I'll do my very best, thank you kind sir."
"Kind? Kid, I'm real flattered, but I could be called anything but kind."
The man stopped for a bit, and turned around.
"Wait... Here"
"230 Droppel street" was written in big red letters.
The man continued. " When you memorize the location, rip it to shreds and burn the area in your memory. Its our company there."
With a tip of the hat and a long moment of silence the man disappeared from sight. The girl breathed a sigh of relief.
"That dude was so weird. Why so much for a delivery job? Does he work for an online store or something? Sure I've cleaned lawns and had to fix parts of houses, but delivery work?"
She slid the note in her pocket.
"He kind of sounded like a malicious duck…."
The little girl by the name of Allison Gale was new in town. With this fact, as well her naivety, she never found out that these poor struck slums were the big booming areas of crime, and that the very houses she fixed up were crime scenes. All she really wanted was a high paying job despite her age. Whether it meant picking up broken glass or fixing doors with strange looking holes and paint, she didn't question it. If it meant she got money for her father and little brother, she didn't care. If anything, someone might even call her an idiot for not realizing.
The night air was fresher than usual, the smoky air had passed as she went her way home. The door was opened as she slid inside. A little boy seeming to be around 4 or 5 sat there, twirling a toy gun in his Finger.
"Hol' up there pardner!"
"Hey Sol, what's up? Being a big bad cowboy again?
"A little girl like yous' should be asleep, no?"
"Well I suppose your right Mr. cowboy. How ever can I undo the damage I've done?"
The two had one father who was always at work. With a low paying job and no time for them, Allie took care of her little brother the most. Sometimes she would even bring him to her work. It was a tough lifestyle, but she was content with it. She would grow up to be a miraculous doctor who would live in the biggest house with her family being right next door. She dreamed for it as her very first ambition.
"My job starts tomorrow. I hope I don't mess up."
It was six in the morning when Allie woke up. The room was in shambles.
"Run Sol! I gotta get you to your daycare now!"
"Runnin is somethin' a cowboy never does!"
"Cowboys are never late either."
She ran as fast as she could. Her school was in half an hour, but his daycare was always early. "Oh shoot.. I forgot my breakfast…"
The doors were opened as she let out an exasperated breath. The one thing she could never do well was running, or anything athletic for that matter. She collapsed the moment she finally came to school.
"I feel like I'm not gonna feel too good after this…"
She woke up in the nurse's office. 4:00. Five more minutes until the bell rang.
She got up to a start, working up a quick jog to her new job.
"230 droppel street…"
"Ah there…"
The house was massive. The place looked like a mansion, yet at the very same time didn't look like a welcoming place. She stepped at the door. There was no doorbell, but instead a giant door knocker the size of her head.
"CLUNK"
The doors moved on their own, The pathway was covered with sayings.
As she walked in, a figure appeared seemingly from nowhere.
"Hey- you don't look too good…"
"It's the duck man from yesterday!'' She thought. She wobbled in the door.
"Oh… I forgot to eat….anything today?"
"THE HELL YOU DOING ON AN EMPTY STOMACH?"
"Well I brought my little brother home, but we didn't get dad's paycheck so, This month I'm kinda on my own."
"Kid… here, it's caffeine gummies… You said you have a brother, right? take these and bring your little brother…"
"Why-"
"Do it."
Luckily, her house wasn't far away. It was around five minutes when she got her brother and came back.
"Wait-" the man sat there puzzled. "Where is your house? I'm just curious…"
"Oh you'd be surprised, it's just next door! The house is so big though, so it took me a while to figure it out."
"Why is someone like you living in the worst side of town?"
"Well it's not that bad, If anything its really good for the price. A full family home for the price of an apartment!"
Sol shifted his feet, pointing a gun at the man
"There's a bad man on the loose! Tell me your name, stranger!"
The man looked at him puzzled. "Is this your-"
"You don't see that everyday.Guts...Listen, I'm gonna count to-"
"Stop it Sol the man doesn't have a name."
"Everyone calls me sir little man nice to-"
Sol went to his sister's ear." He reminds me of this duck toy we have sis!"
"Well thats-"
Sol raised his gun, twirling it around his finger. "Listen here, Pato. I like you a lot. Watchu say we be allies instead of enemies?"
The man stopped, puzzled. "Who in the world is Pato?"
"This man doesn't appreciate his name sis.."
"I mean-"
Sol quickly rose forward."Two bullets to-"
The man clamped his mouth shut and brought the two in. "This here, is my house, and also our company."
Pato explained the truck, what times to go to certain places based on ambiguous shopping lists. He showed her the procedures, when finally, he showed her a gun.
"A gun?"
"Well yeah, people get a bit feisty around drugs you know."
"Drugs?"
"Yep. Here, ill teach you how to use a firearm."
"Wait I-"
"I WANNA LEARN HOW TO USE A GUN!" Sol ran toward Pato with all his might.
"Please sir Pato, please! I gotta be the best cowboy in existence!I gotta-"
"No kid we don't-"
Allie was in a predicament. "Drugs? I should have noticed…" she turned to the man and Sol. "Who knows what they could do if they kne… I have My three year contract, and the fact that I'm broke…."
"Welp, ill run with it."
"Thank you sis!"
"What?"
The man sighed. "I mean, we always teach kids this early about guns and things in this household so, it should be fine… I guess if you're okay with then…"
"Huh?"
"Thank you Cowboy Pato!"
"I ain't a cowboy!"
"Thank you Pato!"
"The name is sir!"
"Sorry Sir Pato!"
Pato was getting embarrassed, but somehow he knew. Pato was his name.