Jo; Woman of Conscience

 The cold had seeped through the shabby blanket the woman huddled under. I could see her shaking as she lay on the big square cardboard she’d made as her bed. Even though she had sought a bit of privacy, by getting close in, between the dumpster and the low brick wall, she was still very visible to anyone looking out the back window of the coffee shop. My coffee had suddenly lost its flavor, and I pulled my sweater a bit tighter around me.

“Well, Jake, what are we going to do?” I asked, as I sit my cup down hard, splashing some of the coffee onto the table. “This makes the third homeless, and I’m afraid there’ll be more, since the temps have dropped.”

 I wondered why it had to be me, to see the woman, instead of Jake. Had he already seen, and purposely sit with his head turned away? I wouldn’t have put it past him, to be so callous.Jakes jaws worked, in that old familiar way I had grown accustomed to seeing, before he began a conversation he detested.

 “Jo, you know my stand on this issue! If I could do something to help, I would. Com’ on now, don’t spoil this for me. This is my last chance to make Commissioner.”

 I glanced back to the woman, still laying there. The weatherman had said it was thirty four degrees, but the wind chill made it feel much colder. Then I brought my eyes directly on Jakes face. Even though he was showing me a weak smile, his green eyes were angry. It was times like this, I wondered why I’d ever wanted to be involved with him.

 Back when I had first came to Burr Lake, we bumped into each other as I entered the coroners’ office. He was coming out, carrying some papers, and dropped them, when we collided together. After I stammered an apology, he grinned boyishly and gave me his hand to shake. Introducing ourselves, he then offered to buy me a drink, Blushing under his gaze, I accepted. While we sit in Lucys’ Place, I learned he had lived all his life in Burr Lake, a place that boasted of 58,000 people, not counting transients. The city was thriving, with new businesses opening almost every month. Another outstanding fact though, was the beautiful farms that lay around the borders of the city limits. Before I had even arrived in the ‘hustle-bustle” of town, I’d already fallen in love with the place.

 So, that day, when I met Jake, my spirits where high, and it was easy to fall under the charm he showered me with. Usually, a shy, cautious girl, I opened up and told him all about my new job, and that I had been checking in with my boss. His eyebrows arched, almost hiding under some thick, chocolate- brown hair that lay low across his forehead. “Oh? You mean ol’ man Starklin?…but he’s the Chief Coroner.” I laughed, and answered, “Yes, that’s my boss. I’ve always been interested in the stories dead people tell. I love forensics, and somebody has to do it.” After that, the conversation turned lighthearted, and he seemed to have had as enjoyable a time, as I did.

 That night, when I moved around some moving boxes, to make room to lie down, I thought about the day; my job, my new beginning - and Jake. About midnight, when sleep finally possessed me, new dreams griped me in a way I‘d never known before.

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