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Description
Apart from the instructor there were only three at the safety meeting. Something about insurance rates, the introduction was mandatory for anyone working in the building. Lucia felt sorry for the woman who had to read the notes - at least here wasn’t a test.

“I know it was boring, but at least you get bagels after you’ve signed off that you’ve heard the lecture.”

Lucia signed and looked at the bag. Absolute Bagels..

“The legendary ones?” she asked

“Absolutely. Fresh too.. still cooking two hours ago.”

She took an everything bagel that now held what seemed like a ton of cream cheese and left. She’d pick up her cart, check on him, and then her next client. Standing in front of the elevator the urge hit and she modified her plan. She stepped in and took a bite.

“My God that looks wonderful!”

The tall blonde with the bob cut and green everything looked hungry. The door closed and she pushed button for the fourth floor.

“Want a bite?”

She looked confused for a second before pulling out an AirPod.

“Music" she said waving the little device. " what did you say?”

Lucia held up the bagel. “Like a bite?”

“Can a duck swim!”

Lucia ripped off about a third and handed to the hungry looking young woman.

 “SO GOOD! Where’d ya get it?”

“A safety meeting.”

“Shit! I had mine and we got were old doughnuts.”

Lucia realized they were going up. She needed to get to the maintenance level. Oh well - it was nice meeting someone close to her age.

“ ‘ haven’t seen you around.” the blonde said between bites.

“First week. I’m with East Side cleaning. Half my clients are here and the other half at a place a block up. Trying to save money.”

“Pay okay?”

“Fifteen an hour plus these are rich people who tip and that’s pretty much off the books.”

“I’m just a Summer intern. I thought I’d be getting property management experience, but half of it’s making coffee for the boss. Now I’m sorting old files that can be thrown, so it’s back and forth to the dumpster.”

She was licking cream cheese from her fingers.

“So good!” she said transferring what was left to her left hand and extending her right “Your badge says Lucia. I’m Amie - with an i e.” The door opened and she continued before stepping out. “My floor - more paper to throw out.”

On the way back down Lucia realized she was on the wrong elevator. She got off on the floor she’d been to and scored another bagel before walking to the maintenance elevator.

__________

“Call missing persons!”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea right now.” Jolene’s face couldn’t mask her sense of worry.

“I’m his guardian and he escaped.”

Jolene looked right into Mary’s eyes “There could be a competency hearing Mary.”

“But I’m his guardian. I make the rules.”

“In New York anyone over eighteen and taller than a twelve inches can be a legal guardian. The only requirement is you read the guidelines we went over.” pausing she made sure she had good eye contact. “But if there’s a problem you have to show you’ve met the standards. That means they can have a court hearing and even fines or jail if there’s abuse.”

Mary turned around considering her options.

“Get on the floor and keep looking.” she ordered.

Jolene turned over the couch and quickly found a hole big enough to reach in. Feeling around inside she wondered what she’d do if she found him.

“You’re ruining my day Eugene.” Mary said as loud as she could. “Come out now or there won’t be any food or water for you.”

__________

“Here for my cart” Lucia said to Eduardo. Looking up from his newspaper he pointed to the area with a gold badge on the floor and then immediately went back to his paper and Diet Pepsi.

It had been moved a bit. She scanned its base as she released the brake and pushed it towards the elevator. No sign of him. Maybe he managed to get out. That’d be a weight off her mind. She wasn’t keen on trying to get him out of here. And at least he had her contact information. He’d call if there was a problem and maybe they’d get together soon.

Third floor. She pushed the cart into the hall and got down on her knees for a better look.

“Taylor? No one’s here…”

No answer. There weren’t many places he could hide and since they’d be alone it wouldn’t be a problem. She felt relieved as she stood back up and walked to the next apartment on her list. She’d Google to learn more about them so she’d be better prepared if they went out. She didn’t know anyone who’d gone out with a DSer. That and he was awfully cute. There were a lot of questions she’s never really thought about.

An interesting day so far - not to mention the extra bagel she'd have for her next break.

__________

The elevator was opening. Rather than watch, Taylor made it back inside the canyon, turning around just as four stories of green pants swished by. Running back to the entrance he watched the blonde giant lift an apartment-sized box and dump it into the dumpster. Maybe this would be his last chance today.

__________

Two more loads should do it and then back to filing and coffee making. They didn’t know how to mange interns. At least she’d get a recommendation. The basement was hot and humid and more than a bit creepy. She turned down the music and gave a quick look around.

There! - on the floor. Something moved! A rat? That’d be all she needed today. She started moving closer to the opposite wall by the ladder, but her curiosity finally took over. It’d give her a story. The Summer intern in the rat infested basement.

Suddenly she turned towards him and was looking at the canyon entrance. This girl giant was suddenly very real and frightening. Instinctively Taylor moved back away from the entrance.

She was starting to bend. There were two closely spaced bangs from behind as the boxes slammed back against the wall. Then scraping sounds and the canyon got wider and light flooded in. Dust and debris showered down on everything. Turning and looking up and then up again he made eye contact. At least he thought he did. Looking right at him, she was beginning to knell. A chill ran down his spine. Eighty feet of giant was blocking his only escape.

‘Oh my God! Oh my God!” she thought as she looked at the trapped little man. Her mind raced trying to come up with the right words.

“I won’t hurt you little guy. Who are you? I’m Amie.” she said as she pulled out the left AirPod and then the right. He was standing in a dark spot - she couldn’t see him well. enough to make out his expression. She could see the mousetraps.

“Careful! There’ a fucking mousetrap to your left.”

A bit dizzy, Taylor leaned against one of the boxes for support. It was time to talk. He had to make the right impression.

“I’m Taylor.”

“I’m Amie.. oh, shit! I already told you right? ‘just that I don’t meet someone like .. well. Actually I never have. I mean until now.”

Although their perspectives were diametrically opposed, she was as nervous as he was. She knew bits and pieces about them from TV and videos and there was that essay she wrote in high school on why people first signed up to be downsized, but mostly it was a mystery to her. These were just people except for one thing and that was enough for this social taboo. Even religion had come out against it. Finally meeting someone she didn’t know how to act. And he probably didn’t have any idea what her intensions were. Maybe if she could see his face better it would be easier to make a connection.

__________

The more detailed 3200 pixel final render goes to donors.

Description
Apart from the instructor there were only three at the safety meeting. Something about insurance rates, the introduction was mandatory for anyone working in the building. Lucia felt sorry for the woman who had to read the notes - at least here wasn’t a test.

“I know it was boring, but at least you get bagels after you’ve signed off that you’ve heard the lecture.”

Lucia signed and looked at the bag. Absolute Bagels..

“The legendary ones?” she asked

“Absolutely. Fresh too.. still cooking two hours ago.”

She took an everything bagel that now held what seemed like a ton of cream cheese and left. She’d pick up her cart, check on him, and then her next client. Standing in front of the elevator the urge hit and she modified her plan. She stepped in and took a bite.

“My God that looks wonderful!”

The tall blonde with the bob cut and green everything looked hungry. The door closed and she pushed button for the fourth floor.

“Want a bite?”

She looked confused for a second before pulling out an AirPod.

“Music" she said waving the little device. " what did you say?”

Lucia held up the bagel. “Like a bite?”

“Can a duck swim!”

Lucia ripped off about a third and handed to the hungry looking young woman.

 “SO GOOD! Where’d ya get it?”

“A safety meeting.”

“Shit! I had mine and we got were old doughnuts.”

Lucia realized they were going up. She needed to get to the maintenance level. Oh well - it was nice meeting someone close to her age.

“ ‘ haven’t seen you around.” the blonde said between bites.

“First week. I’m with East Side cleaning. Half my clients are here and the other half at a place a block up. Trying to save money.”

“Pay okay?”

“Fifteen an hour plus these are rich people who tip and that’s pretty much off the books.”

“I’m just a Summer intern. I thought I’d be getting property management experience, but half of it’s making coffee for the boss. Now I’m sorting old files that can be thrown, so it’s back and forth to the dumpster.”

She was licking cream cheese from her fingers.

“So good!” she said transferring what was left to her left hand and extending her right “Your badge says Lucia. I’m Amie - with an i e.” The door opened and she continued before stepping out. “My floor - more paper to throw out.”

On the way back down Lucia realized she was on the wrong elevator. She got off on the floor she’d been to and scored another bagel before walking to the maintenance elevator.

__________

“Call missing persons!”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea right now.” Jolene’s face couldn’t mask her sense of worry.

“I’m his guardian and he escaped.”

Jolene looked right into Mary’s eyes “There could be a competency hearing Mary.”

“But I’m his guardian. I make the rules.”

“In New York anyone over eighteen and taller than a twelve inches can be a legal guardian. The only requirement is you read the guidelines we went over.” pausing she made sure she had good eye contact. “But if there’s a problem you have to show you’ve met the standards. That means they can have a court hearing and even fines or jail if there’s abuse.”

Mary turned around considering her options.

“Get on the floor and keep looking.” she ordered.

Jolene turned over the couch and quickly found a hole big enough to reach in. Feeling around inside she wondered what she’d do if she found him.

“You’re ruining my day Eugene.” Mary said as loud as she could. “Come out now or there won’t be any food or water for you.”

__________

“Here for my cart” Lucia said to Eduardo. Looking up from his newspaper he pointed to the area with a gold badge on the floor and then immediately went back to his paper and Diet Pepsi.

It had been moved a bit. She scanned its base as she released the brake and pushed it towards the elevator. No sign of him. Maybe he managed to get out. That’d be a weight off her mind. She wasn’t keen on trying to get him out of here. And at least he had her contact information. He’d call if there was a problem and maybe they’d get together soon.

Third floor. She pushed the cart into the hall and got down on her knees for a better look.

“Taylor? No one’s here…”

No answer. There weren’t many places he could hide and since they’d be alone it wouldn’t be a problem. She felt relieved as she stood back up and walked to the next apartment on her list. She’d Google to learn more about them so she’d be better prepared if they went out. She didn’t know anyone who’d gone out with a DSer. That and he was awfully cute. There were a lot of questions she’s never really thought about.

An interesting day so far - not to mention the extra bagel she'd have for her next break.

__________

The elevator was opening. Rather than watch, Taylor made it back inside the canyon, turning around just as four stories of green pants swished by. Running back to the entrance he watched the blonde giant lift an apartment-sized box and dump it into the dumpster. Maybe this would be his last chance today.

__________

Two more loads should do it and then back to filing and coffee making. They didn’t know how to mange interns. At least she’d get a recommendation. The basement was hot and humid and more than a bit creepy. She turned down the music and gave a quick look around.

There! - on the floor. Something moved! A rat? That’d be all she needed today. She started moving closer to the opposite wall by the ladder, but her curiosity finally took over. It’d give her a story. The Summer intern in the rat infested basement.

Suddenly she turned towards him and was looking at the canyon entrance. This girl giant was suddenly very real and frightening. Instinctively Taylor moved back away from the entrance.

She was starting to bend. There were two closely spaced bangs from behind as the boxes slammed back against the wall. Then scraping sounds and the canyon got wider and light flooded in. Dust and debris showered down on everything. Turning and looking up and then up again he made eye contact. At least he thought he did. Looking right at him, she was beginning to knell. A chill ran down his spine. Eighty feet of giant was blocking his only escape.

‘Oh my God! Oh my God!” she thought as she looked at the trapped little man. Her mind raced trying to come up with the right words.

“I won’t hurt you little guy. Who are you? I’m Amie.” she said as she pulled out the left AirPod and then the right. He was standing in a dark spot - she couldn’t see him well. enough to make out his expression. She could see the mousetraps.

“Careful! There’ a fucking mousetrap to your left.”

A bit dizzy, Taylor leaned against one of the boxes for support. It was time to talk. He had to make the right impression.

“I’m Taylor.”

“I’m Amie.. oh, shit! I already told you right? ‘just that I don’t meet someone like .. well. Actually I never have. I mean until now.”

Although their perspectives were diametrically opposed, she was as nervous as he was. She knew bits and pieces about them from TV and videos and there was that essay she wrote in high school on why people first signed up to be downsized, but mostly it was a mystery to her. These were just people except for one thing and that was enough for this social taboo. Even religion had come out against it. Finally meeting someone she didn’t know how to act. And he probably didn’t have any idea what her intensions were. Maybe if she could see his face better it would be easier to make a connection.

__________

The more detailed 3200 pixel final render goes to donors.