The Life and Housings of Jocelyn Jones *PT 1*

SUMMARY: Poor Jocelyn Jones has fallen on some hard times. Her one and only source of income, a bakery, is loosing business and it's becoming harder and harder to pay the rent for her house. Taking some advice from her sister, she agrees to take in a boarder. Max Whitney is a poor, honest-to-goodness good kid who was just never on the right side of luck. Together, they form an unlikely friendship and navigate life one step at a time.1

***2

The flowers on the ceiling are moving, dancing, taunting. They twine together like the hands of lovers, delicate buds unfurling and wilting this way and that, looking so happy. So...not being threatened with eviction.3

“God fucking damnit.” Hissed Jocelyn, snubbing her fifth cigarette of the day on a bleached white windowsill. Her bloodshot eyes searched hungrily for the pack, spotting it laying on the blindingly-green floor, half full. “Fuck. Where's the lighter?”4

“I have it!” A voice drifted in from the kitchen, weary and hoarse. It was accompanied by the pat-pat of bare feet on linoleum, and, moments later, Lijah in all her frizzy-haired wisdom. She clutched a white robe closed with one hand and held a silver lighter in the other, a cig hanging from the corner of her thin lips. “You know, baby, sitting here smoking all day isn't going to make the problem go away any faster.” Lijah tossed the device, which Joss caught.5

“Damned if it won't.” Muttered Jocelyn, bringing the flame to the edge of her smoke. “If I sit in here and smoke all day, there won't be anybody to evict.” She slowly exhaled a gray fog from pursed lips, watching passively as it dissipated into the atmosphere.6

“Honeydoll, there are other ways to do this.”7

“Name three.”8

“I only got one.” 9

“Well, shoot. Anything's better'n getting the boot.”10

“Take in a boarder.” Lijah sashayed into the sparse living room, gauzy robe moving against a wafer body and making her appear ghost-like. Her eyes were pale green and bagged with lack of sleep, face sporting more wrinkles than a twenty-eight year old ought to have. Abigale's hair was pulled back into two staticy braids. “I know this guy who's been looking for a better place to live for a while now.”11

“A boarder?” Her counterpart looked apathetic, reclining to lye on her back. “Damn. A couple more smokes and I might consider it.”12

“You should. This guy- his name's Max- he's real great. I mean, he's one stand up dude. He lives in an old apartment complex in the city and wants to find something out here.”13

“What does he do?”14

“What?”15

“This Max. What does he do for a living?”16

“Plays the guitar.”17

“Professionally?” Jocelyn supported herself on her elbows and looked incredulous.18

“Well...semi-professionally.”19

“Li, is this guy bad news?”20

“What? Naw, Joss, d'you think I'd set you up with him if he was some kind of murder/rapist?”21

She relaxed some, bringing what was left of the cig to her lips and taking a deep drag. “I'll think about it.”22

“I'll get you his number.”23

***24

When Joss exited her sister's apartment, the sky was overcast and a damp smell had encased the air. Her house was only two blocks away from Lijah's, so she didn't bother to wait for the bus (which was always late, anyway) in a place like Snooksbury, nobody really did. You either walked, biked, or took a ferry to the city.25

It took her ten minutes to reach her neighborhood, which was really just two houses sharing the same lot. Her's was on the left, a two-story Victorian style (complete with lace curtains and a steel knocker) brick home- one that she could afford when business was better at the bakery. But things since had been slowing down, and so had her mortgage payments. Which, as people should guess, was not a good thing.26

Jocelyn slowly trudged up the front steps and unlocked the door, which squeaked as she thrust it open. “Rocky?” She called in a deflated voice. “Rocky Horror? Where are ya, pup?”27

A barking came from the direction of the living room and became louder and louder, finally coming into the form of a black and white border collie. It leaped onto it's owner and licked her face excitedly, almost causing her to fall backwards. “Woah, Rocky, down!”28

Rocky Horror did as she said and plopped his butt onto the wood floor, looking as if he was about to burst at his little doggy seams with excitement. Jocelyn laughed and scratched the top of his head.29

She shuffled past the kitchen and into the living room, pulling two objects out of the pockets of her jeans- 1, the scrap of paper marked Max Whitney with a phone number scribbled under it, and two, her ancient cell phone. This wasn't a good idea, and she knew it, but as she had said before- anything was better than getting kicked out of your own home.30

****31

There was only one phone in the Apartment Complex on Main Ave, located in the damp basement. Also down there was a ratty couch and a TV with wire hangers for antenna, that only got two channels. When it rang, all the men in the Complex were shoved ass-to-ass on the seat, cheering on a snowy-resolution Football game with beers and burnt popcorn.32

“'Allo?” A slightly-more-than middle aged man with gray-black hair and skin the colour of a burlap sack picked up the ancient device, cradling it between his head and shoulder so he could take a swig of alcohol. “Apartment Complex on Main Avenue. Ollie Oliver speaking.”33

“Hi...” On the other end, Jocelyn's voice wavered “Um, I might have the wrong number- but is a man named Max Whitney there?”34

“Yep.” Ollie turned the receiver away from his mouth “Oi! Max! Getcher ass over here. Phone call!”35

A boy in his early twenties sitting on the back of the couch perked up, blinking rapidly. He had chestnut hair that fell just below his ears and curled slightly, matching a pair of glazed-over blue eyes as wide as baby worlds. “Who is it?”36

“I dunno, man, some girl.”37

“Tell him I'm Elijah Jone's younger sister.” Called Joss.38

“Says she's Elijah Jones's younger sister.”39

“Oh!” Max hopped off the back of the couch, almost kicking his companion in the face. Ollie handed him the phone. “Hullo?”40

“Hi, um, Max Whitney?”41

“This is he.”42

“I'm Jocelyn Jones.”43

“Yeah, Lijah's told me a lot about you. She did some work on the building a few months back and we have coffee every now and again. What's up?”44

“She told me you were looking for a place to stay.”45

“Uh, yeah, actually. This place can be...less than satisfactory at times.”46

“Well, I've fallen into some...troubled times and suddenly have a room available for rent. I live on the island, so if you want to ferry over here tomorrow...”47

“That'd be great!” He said quickly, fumbling in his pocket for something to write on. Coming up with a Big Red wrapper, he smoothed it against the grimy wall and motioned for somebody to give him a pen. One hit him square in the forehead “Just, uh, give me the address.”48

“I'm working tomorrow, so you'll have to come by the bakery- 549 Abrams drive. Big sign that says 'Jones's Bakery'. You can't miss it.”49

“Okay. Thanks a million, Jocelyn.”50

“No problem.”51

***52

At Four thirty in the morning, Jocelyn was shuffling about her bedroom in a pair of boy-shorts and a tank top. On her heels, Rocky Horror trotted jauntily, waiting for his food and morning walk on the beach. He wagged his tail and panted excitedly, giving Joss a happy lick on the face when she poured kibble into his dish.53

She proceeded to get her own self a bowl of Raisin Bran (now with 60 more raisins!) before pulling on an old pair of jeans and over-sized Mary is my Homegirl Sweatshirt. They hustled out the door and continued to walk the short distance to the beach, spending a good twenty minutes tossing around a bit of damp driftwood. Thee sky above had just begun to lighten into deep shades of lavender and gold by the time she had let Rocky Horror into the yard and arrived at the bakery.54

A figure was there, huddled within a large jacket. His chin was tucked to his chest, hands stuffed into his pockets and cool clouds of breath were being exhaled from his mouth. He looked like an emperor penguin sitting on it's young.55

“Hello?” Jocelyn called unsurely, shivering. It was one of the first truly cold mornings Snooksbury had had in ages. The boy perked up, smiling.56

“Um, hey. I'm Max Whitney.”57

“Oh! Hey, um, let me unlock the...” She scampered forward and dug a keyring out of the back pocket of her jeans. Quickly isolating the one for the Bakery, she shoved it into the lock and twisted it firmly “You sure are here early.”58

“Yeah. I have a gig in town today at around seven thirty, so I figure this was for the best. I hope I'm not causing any trouble...”59

“Not at all.” Joss assured him, beaconing Max into the humid front room. Aside from a few tables scattered around the floor, there was a large front counter and shelves stocked full of baked goods lining the walls. “If you're leaving at seven, we might not have enough time for a tour of the house...”60

“That's alright.” He said quickly, taking a seat at the one of the stools “I mean, you could live with Charlie Mansen and it would still be better than my current arrangements.”61

“I love a man who can make a good cult reference.” Smiled Jocelyn, grabbing an apron and tying it on. “Speaking of which, do you have any?”62

“Any what?”63

“References.”64

“Not really,” Admitted Max, looking genuinely worried. His companion's face turned dead serious, her hands falling onto her hips and brows furrowing.65

“Well, how well can you make pudding?”66

“Please, sugar, Jell-O instant pudding mix is my middle name.”67

“Then I don't see any reason why you shouldn't move in, other than...” she trailed off, placing her hands flat on the counter and looking at the ceiling for a moment before bringing her gaze to rest on him. A few stray tendrils of hair fell in front of Joss's face as she slowly slid forward to reach him better “monetary issues?” This was said in a low, serious tone.68

Taken off guard by her blunt question, Max shrugged and laughed. “I can pay pretty much anything you ask.” He replied lightly “I get good money from gigs and tips...”69

“Well, then.” She stood erect once again and smiled kindly. “You can move in at your earliest convenience. Rent is whatever I need to top off my mortgage payments. Is that alright?”70

“Sounds fair.” Said Max standing up. “I'll have my stuff in in a week.”71

“Sounds good.”72

“Sounds great.”