Chapter 28: A Place to Stay
As they finished cleaning up, Joey pulled out a $50 bill and handed it to Damon. "Here, take this. Thanks for helping out," he said with a smile.
Damon nodded, tucking the money into his pocket. Joey walked him out of the house, and as they stood on the porch, Damon turned to him with a question.
"Hey Joey, can I ask a favor?" he said, his eyes locking onto Joey's.
Joey tilted his head, his expression curious. "Depends on the favor," he replied.
Damon scratched the back of his head, his eyes darting around the neighborhood before focusing on Joey again. "Can you tell me about any cheap motels around here? Somewhere I can stay?"
Joey paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You mean, like, a place to get off the streets?" he asked, his voice low and even.
Damon nodded, his jaw clenched. "Yeah. Just me and my mom."
Joey nodded sympathetically, running his hand through his blonde hair. "Well, since you've got your mom with you, I shouldn't send you to a place where there might be people looking to take advantage of her," he said, his eyes serious.
Damon's fist clenched at the thought of someone harming his mom. Joey noticed and held up a calming hand. "Chill, man, I said I'm not sending you there. Most motels around here are in gang-affiliated areas, but I know one that might work."
He thought for a moment, his eyes scanning the surrounding streets. "It's not in a great area, but it's not too far from here. You can probably walk there in 30 minutes. The only bad thing you might encounter is some nuthead asking for drugs."
Damon nodded, considering the option. "That doesn't seem too bad," he said.
Joey nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and it's not in any gang territory, so you don't have to worry about that. You know the gangs around here, right? The Reds an-"
Damon finished the sentence for him. "Yeah, I know. The Blues."
Joey nodded grimly. "Best to stay away from them. The motel I'm thinking of is about 35 dollars a night, so you can stay longer if you need to. That cool with you?"
"Alright, so you head down this street for about 10 minutes," Joey said, pointing down the sidewalk. "Then you take a left at the corner with the big oak tree. You can't miss it."
Damon nodded, his eyes fixed on Joey's face as he committed the directions to memory. "Got it," he said, his voice firm.
"Then you keep walking for another 15 minutes," Joey continued. "You'll see a sign that says 'Sunset Motel'. That's where you want to go."
Damon nodded again, his mind replaying the directions like a map. "Okay, I think I can find it," he said.
Joey smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm sure you will, man. Just be careful, okay?"
Damon nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Joey. "Thanks, man. I owe you one," he said, holding onto the plastic bag that contained his clothes, MMA gloves, and mouthguard.
Joey waved his hand dismissively. "You owe me nothing, man. Just be safe, okay?"
Damon nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He knew he had found a true friend in Joey.
"Okay, I got some things I need you to do," Joey said, his expression serious. "See you next Saturday?"
Damon nodded, his heart feeling lighter. "I'll be there, no worries," he said.
Joey smiled, his eyes gleaming with friendship. "Good, man. I'll see you then."
As Damon walked back to the alley, the sun's golden hue cast a warm glow over the streets.
He didn't bother checking the system interface, his focus solely on finding a motel and getting off the streets as soon as possible.
As he approached the alley, he slowed his pace, his hand instinctively rising to touch his face.
He gently probed his skin, checking for any cuts or bruises. His fingers detected a few minor scrapes, but nothing too severe.
Damon let out a soft sigh, relief washing over him. He hadn't worried his mom too much, at least not physically. Emotionally, he knew he still had a long way to go to make things right.
He continued into the alley, his eyes scanning the familiar surroundings.
The smell of trash and urine filled his nostrils, a harsh contrast to the cleanliness of Joey's house.
He spotted his mom sitting on the ground, her back against the wall. She looked up as he approached, a mix of concern and relief etched on her face.
Aoife's eyes widened in surprise as she took in her son's transformation. "Saints preserve us, Damon! What's happened to you? You look and smell like you just stepped out of a shower!"
Damon chuckled, feeling a sense of joy he hadn't experienced in a long time. "I did, Mom," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "I have so much to tell you."
He led his mother back to their spot behind the bin, where they sat down together. Damon took a deep breath, launching into the story of his day.
He told her about the fights, about winning, about the shower and the new clothes. He told her about the money, and as he did, his mother's eyes welled up with tears.
"Are you serious?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'm so proud of you, Damon! My heart's burstin' with joy!"
She hugged him tightly, squeezing the air out of him. Damon felt tears fall from his eyes, but they weren't tears of sadness or pain. They were tears of happiness, something he hadn't experienced in a long time.
As they hugged, Damon felt a sense of peace wash over him. He knew that no matter what happened next, he had his mother's love and support. And in that moment, that was all that mattered.
Aoife's voice trembled with emotion as she spoke the words Damon had longed to hear. "I'm proud of you, son," she said, her voice thick with feeling.
Damon's eyes welled up with tears as he gazed at his mother. He felt a sense of relief wash over him.
Aoife's face was etched with lines of worry and fatigue, but her eyes shone with a warmth that Damon hadn't seen in years. She reached out a hand and gently brushed a strand of hair out of his face.
"You've done well for yourself, Damon," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know things haven't been easy, but You've persevered. You're a strong lad."
Damon felt a lump form in his throat as he struggled to contain his emotions.