#anywhere

"Well.. you almost tangled with Ralim for my sake so I guess you're okay. What's your name?"

"Adam." Stubbornly. "C'mon, can you walk? He said he'd be back."

"Yeah yeah.." She says "Adam huh? Good name. Solid. One of my favorite Baldwins . I'm Didi"

"Hi Didi." And he walks away with her. "Do you know how to get to the shelter? Or.... hey..... how far away is (Jayme's C-store and gas station)?"

"yeah... I know" She says "Oh.. that's the other way about 3 miles"

"Which one is closer?"

"The shelter by a mile and a half"

Adam's face falls, but he nods. "Ok. Let's go. Can you make it?"

"Yeah yeah.. shelter then. " They head on.

Cars drive by, infrequently. One almost runs them over, not because the ddriver is targeting them, but because they're in the way. Then the driver flips them the bird as if it was their fault.

The old bum's eyes harden, even spark with anger, but he keeps going.

"Fuckers" She says "it's the way they are.. what you can do for them is all that matterrs to them, so if you're poor or useless... then you're worthless. That's all they see. All they know. Fuckers. "

"Screw him." Adam adds.

"Yeah, Screw em. I mean, there are nice ones... but sometimes .. you get beat down so much you.." She coughs "You can't see them either... too many false smiles over mean hearts. So you ..sometimes you think all smiles are mean. So damn hard to tell. Had a Jesus freak try to convert me. Told him to kiss off. Then .. like, two weeks later, he died of the Rona.. which he caught from helping some of us. Damn. I didn't know he was one of the good ones. "

"Sorry, Didi."

"Yeah..not like i knew him.." they make their way, DiDi seems to know who to avoid.

Adam follows her lead.

And they come to the shelter

Adam's never been here before; never been to a homeless shelter before. Mom always managed to keep a roof over their heads, and then dad'd come along. He follows Didi's lead.

What he sees is a tragic testament to human misery

He watches to see what Didi does.

they're trying to give folks masks (Cloth ones), food (Looks like shit), and 'spacing them' but not sure where to put them all.

When it's his turn, Adam mumbles "Can I use the phone please?"

"Be a few minutes, the public use phone is popular"

"I....." He checks the change in his pockets; didn't pay phones use quarters, or something?

looks like they set one up and allow everyone a call on them.

"Hey, didi..." A voice says

And Adam sees one guy come up behind the woman with an unwholesome look

Adam gives up his spot in line for the phone and moves between the guy and Didi.

He just stands there.

The guy sneers... but ..backs up.

And then, grumbling, moves away

"Thanks" Didi says "You're okay"

"Thanks." He looks back at the phone line.

And he waits until.. "Hey , you! Phone is up"

Adam rushes forward and calls his house again.

/roll coin

/roll coin

"Yes?" A phone picks up. It's Kyle

"Dad, thank God, listen to me. My body got stolen. That's why I sound different. Ask Lily. Warn everyone; I might not be me. I know how this sounds. Please, believe me, Dad. He's got all my stuff, my phone and wallet and everything so he knows where we live. Warn the Lodge, warn Piper, Dad...." He tries to keep his voice soft and the panic low.

"God dammit.. I don't know which.. pooka this is... but now is not the time. Okay? Har har.. my son 'isn't him'.. yeah tell me about it. All he wants now is to fuck up his life and shit on anyone who doesn't make way.. he runs over speed limits as if theyre the enemy and damn the cliff. Now, you'll excuse me, my wife is on trial and I can't do jack about it" SLAM

"DAD!!!"

Too late.

He tries the Lodge again.

"Hello!" A phone answers. It's a kid. It's Jack

"Who is this??" Adam, under some stress, might not recognize the voice right away.

"I'm Jack. To hooooooooooo am I speaking?"

"I know it doesn't sound like me, but this is Adam Thomas. You have to warn everyone. I know how this sounds but someone stole my body. If you see me, it might not -be- me. Be careful. He's got all my stuff, my phone and laptop; he knows where I live and stuff. You have to warn everyone. Jack, can you do that??"