The Rough Sleeper

By Violetta Antcliff

Kicked, spat at, sleeping rough isn’t the kind of life Darren wants, but he has no option. Fate dealt him a bad hand and there is nothing he can do about it. None of it is his fault; not losing his job, nor getting evicted. What did he do to deserve any of this? A chance meeting with a Good Samaritan makes him sit up and take stock, but is it too late to turn things around? Only time will tell.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Apr 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781619506091

Violetta Antcliff

Violetta Antcliff has been a member of the Nottingham Writers' Club for over twenty years. A winner of numerous short story competitions, her work was area short listed in Waterstone's Wow Factor story competition. Took first prize in Nottingham County Council short story competition with a story called "Irish Mouse Tales," which was published by Gypsy Shadow Publishing as an eBook in July of 2012. She has had her poetry and short stories read on local radio. Violetta is a prolific writer of short fiction, having written and published more than 40 short stories with Gypsy Shadow.

Book preview

Contents

Copyright Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

About the Author

The Rough Sleeper

by

Violetta Antcliff

All rights reserved

Copyright © April 3, 2020, Violetta Antcliff

Cover Art Copyright © 2020, Charlotte Holley

Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Lockhart, TX

www.gypsyshadow.com

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

ISBN: 978-1-61950-609-1

Published in the United States of America

First eBook Edition: April 20, 2020

Chapter 1

Darren was a rough sleeper, not by choice but misfortune, and over the time he’d been kicked, spat at and urinated on. He was not a happy man.

Crouched in the doorway of a derelict building, Darren fingered the few coppers in his coat pocket—sufficient for a bed in a hostel or a couple of cans, he knew which it would be.

It was Christmas Eve, not that it meant anything to him, as far as he was concerned it was just another day. He stretched, got slowly to his feet, pulled the collar of his jacket up to ward off the chill of the night, and moved off.

It wasn’t very far to the public house he frequented whenever he was fortunate enough to have money in his pocket. He was in need of a drink, not that he considered himself a drunk; he could give up drinking whenever it suited him, or so he told himself.

As he hurried along, he caught sight of a reflected image of himself in a shop window. Unshaven, unwashed, he hardly recognised himself; he shook his head in disbelief. A passing policeman moved him on.

When he arrived at the pub, it was standing room only, a works party was in full swing. He pushed his way through the crowds, made for the bar and beckoned the barman over.

A pint of John Smiths and a packet of crisps, he said.

The barman shook his head and wafted him away. Not tonight mister, he spoke sharply. Matter of fact not tonight or any other night from now on, mate.

What’s the matter? My money not good enough for you all of a sudden? snapped Darren.

We can do without trouble, replied the barman scowling, arms folded. "Now get going, or do I have to throw you out? The last time you came in here pal you sat all night with a half pint in front of you and when it came to closing time, we had to wake