WHO: Gwyneth Ortega and Heathcliff Lewis WHEN: 12 April 2049; 3:54 PM WHERE: Homeless Shelter RATING: PG SUMMARY: Gwyneth is doing charity work, with some help along the way. WARNINGS: None so far.
The smell stayed under Gwyneth's nose the entire day and a few days after she worked the soup kitchen, something she tried to do on a weekly basis. Sure, it was partly for herself; charity was always like that. To make yourself feel good, like you were doing something for a cause bigger than yourself. For others, it was penance. Nonetheless, Gwyneth didn't care why they were there. As long as someone was there helping her out. She would judge them later.
The homeless seemed pretty clean, and they sat on various tables eating and sipping drinks. When they entered the facility, their rings had to be scanned, just to be sure they weren't on any Missing Persons list. After that, took a bowl and got in line. Usually the soup was provided, but sometimes volunteers brought their own. Gwyneth was no cook, but she tried her best. Sadly, her best was never good enough, so it took 8 tries before her cream of mushroom soup was perfect.
Most of the homeless had already been through, but some still lingered at the doorway and finally entered. A toothless man gave Gwyneth a porcelain bowl, and she filled it to the brim, since her soup wasn't all that popular anyway. Her ponytail was bothering her, putting a strain on the back of her head. Hair-nets weren't optional, so it was for the best. Still, she couldn't wait to take it out. Her slight impatience made itself known through the way she set her mouth and her winking eye.
She heard a sound from the swinging door at the back of the serving area. Volunteers also came late, but she didn't have as much sympathy on them. There were the typical volunteers who came to every soup kitchen, but the elderly Brazillian couple were both out of town, so there were plenty of open slots to be filled. "You can fill this slot." Gwyneth instructed the person who had entered without looking back, pointing a finger over the chicken noodle.