Over the next few weeks Joseph became an integral part of the Rebuild NOLA, working with several of the other men on the team, most of whom had been homeless before Cal had hired them. He now knew more than he ever thought possible about how to rebuild hurricane and flood damaged houses, from the initial health issues involved in cleaning them so they would be habitable, to the final painting before they were to be refurnished and given over to their new owners.
During all that time, he rarely saw Cal other than just before leaving whichever site he was at. Cal would show up, check everything, and give the men, including Joseph, their next assignments if the current job was finished.
One evening just before Labor Day, after Cal had come and gone, Joseph asked Terry, one of the men he'd become friendly with, "Is he usually like this?"
"No. I've never seen him so uptight, except once right after I met him. He's usually the kind of guy who'll pop for a six-pack then sit and drink it with us."
"Really?" Joseph replied in surprise.
"Yeah. Guess something's going on with him again, not that he'll talk about it. He never says anything about his personal life. Sometimes I wonder if he even has one."
Joseph wondered as well, but refrained from commenting. After all, he was hardly one to talk when it came down to it. Since the first day he's started working for the team, he had gone straight home to eat and then collapsed into bed. He hadn't even gone for a run.
* * * *
Labor Day morning dawned hot and sunny with not a cloud in the sky. Cal had given everyone the day off, which left Joseph at loose ends as far as he was concerned. Beth and Brian had invited him for their annual barbeque, but that wouldn't start until early afternoon.
I might as well take advantage of the time off and head out to the Bayou, he thought while he threw together an omelet for breakfast. If I don't, Beth will call me snappish, and I probably would be. It has been a while since I've shifted.
It occurred to him the only reason he hadn't been uptight in the last few days was the fact he'd managed to work off any excess energy on the job. Guess there's a lot to be said for hard physical labor.
The thought was reinforced half an hour later as he looked at himself in the bedroom mirror while dressing. It wasn't that he was ever overweight. Given his genetics, it was impossible. But now he was as lean and muscular as he'd been when he was just a youth and new to his shifting abilities. My face however… he studied it, seeing faint wrinkles around his eyes and creases in his forehead. Nothing remarkable and they'd vanish as soon as he shifted back after his run. Not that anyone will notice, I'm sure, expect perhaps Beth if she was to see me right now. Just like Elizabeth, she knows what to look for.
He finished getting dressed then took off. As he headed toward Bayou Sauvage, he began to realize today might not be the best one for running. The traffic was heavy, going in the same direction, which meant families and tourists were planning on making a day of it sightseeing there. So, staying on Route Ten, he continued on to Morgan Bluff, where he parked beside the river then crossed to the bayou side. Once he was deep into it, he shed his clothes and shifted.
Exhilaration flooded him as he raced, splashing through the water, adroitly evading two alligators who were sunning on a fallen tree a few yards away. He darted between cypress trees, and even raced along a half-destroyed wooden path built for tourists and long abandoned. Finally he dropped down along the edge of the water, batting playfully at some fish as they swam lazily past him.
Then realizing it was close to noon, he returned to where he'd begun, shifted, dressed, and headed back to the city.
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