Suzie’s House 421 : Dumpster Diving Dad

Nathan only meant to lean into the dumpster and take a look. He just wanted to see if Dangerous Dan had given him false information to get rid of him, or might have shown a shred of humanity in guiding him to this spot. He wasn’t really going to eat anything that had been thrown away.

Or so he told himself. Once he got the lid thrown back and smelled the pizza within, he lost control. It smelled fresh. Really fresh. Like it had just come out of the oven.

Admittedly he’d taken so long to find the place what with a tendency to get light headed every few steps. He knew eating something bad could be fatal, but the glimmer of hope that the pizzeria might well have tossed something fresh simply because it was closing time destroyed his judgment.

Was that steam rising from one of the greasy boxes? There wasn’t much in the dumpster. To see, he had to lever himself onto the lip and lean in. Bent like a hairpin, he’d just gotten the tips of his fingers on what looked like a completely edible slice when a hard slap hit him on the butt.

It scared him so badly he dropped the slice and nearly fell into the dumpster.

“Whaaaa! What are you doing?”

He fell to the tarmac, sprawling like an idiot, then stared up at a young man holding a garbage bag. His stomach, already glued to his ribs, took a dive. The young man smiled

“Wha’cha doing?”

“Nothing.” Nathan scrambled to his feet and brushed at the grime on the seat of his pants. The crusty feel reminded him that the effort was futile.

“Hungry?” The young man continued to smile.

“No, no. I’m not… I wasn’t….” Of course that was when his stomach decided to growled.

“Come on in. I’ll feed you.” He tossed his garbage bag into the dumpster, then turned toward the door as if it was only natural for a bum caught half way in his trash to follow him in.

Nathan stopped short at the threshold. The kitchen was immaculate with just mopped floors and gleaming stainless steel everywhere. “I’m a little short of funds at the moment.”

“I wasn’t expecting anything,” the kid murmured. He pulled a stool out from under the counter and pointed until Nathan sat. “This is about as humble as it gets, but I’m sure you won’t mind.” He smiled sympathetically.

“I’ll make do.” Nathan forced a smile. He tried to remain impartial, but desperation was getting the better of him.

The young man took a pizza out of the oven and put it on the counter. He ran a pizza cutter across it with professional precision, then shoved the whole thing in front of Nathan.

“I can’t eat this.” Nathan shook his head. It was a large pizza.

“It’s either in your stomach or in the trash with it. Someone called in a prank order. Again.” There was an underlying thread of resentment under the equanimity of his voice.

Nathan grabbed a slice. After the first couple of nibbles something came over him. His hunger turned ravenous. He gobbled up the rich, thickly cheesed and salty food. Out of control, he took a second slice, and a third. He choked. Nearly suffocating, he could do no more than pound on his own chest until the young man handed him a can of beer.

“Easy. It’s not going anywhere.”

“Sorry,” Nathan choked out. “Water? Please?” There was no way Nathan was about to start drinking now.

The young man filled a glass with water from the tap. Nathan gulped it down as though his life depended on hit.

“You don’t like drinking?” The young man leaned against the counter.

“Alcoholism runs in my family. I’ve never been a drunkard, but I’ve seen more than enough of them. There are better ways to spend your life than in a bottle.”

“I see.” The young man’s eyes narrowed, but he smiled. “I’m closing up. You can stay until I’m done.”

The kid no older than Nathan’s son bustled around. He moved some equipment, went out the front and loudly locked the door, brought some receipts out, then took them to what must be an office. All the while Nathan couldn’t shake the feeling that he was making work so Nathan would have a little more quality time with his hand out. No one else seemed to be around. He must be the manager.

If only Nathan’s son could be so responsible. Nathan wondered where he was.