[Center][B]Dan Nathanson
Disgustingly Run-down Motel 8[/b][/center]
 
"PFFFUH! ACK!"
 
Dan seemed to be fired out of a cannon as he sat up, choking on something that had crawled down his throat while he was asleep. Dan grabbed his throat in a panic and coughed uncontrollably. After a few coughs, a small cockroach was hurled out of Dan's throat and on to the end of the bed, only to scuttle away as if nothing had happened. Dan jumped out of his bed and to the minifridge in the corner of the room, flinging open the door and grabbing a water bottle. He tore off the cap and started guzzling the water down, sucking half of it from the bottle before collapsing to his knees in front of the minifridge, gasping for air. "Stupid... FUCKING roaches..."

Dan screwed the cap on to the water bottle and set it on top of the minifridge. He looked back at the only bed in the room, the one that his dad graciously lets him sleep in each night. The cockroach had crawled to the floor and began to scuttle to the corner of the room. Dan wiped his mouth off in disgust. He looked at the alarm clock sitting on the nightstand next to the bed. It read "5:59 AM." It was set to ring at six o'clock, so it was time to wake up anyways.

Dan went through his daily morning routines: First, he took a shower, then got dressed and grabbed his backpack for school. That was it. No breakfast for Dan this morning. Or any morning, for that matter. His dad was simply too poor to afford it. There was a five dollar bill sitting for him on the main dresser. This would buy Dan a very meager lunch and dinner. He did eat it, however, andhappily at that. At least, as happily as one could be with a Cup O' Noodles. He has seen some homeless people sitting on the streets who looked as if they hadn't eaten in years. Which, obviously, was a huge exaggeration. Dan took the five dollar bill and walked out of the door to make his way to school.

---

The bell rang for lunch period, and Dan scooped up his school supplies and headed for his locker. Once he arrived, he hastily turned the lock and opened the metal cabinet, shoving his belongings inside. Then, he slammed the locker door shut and walked to the schools exits. Dan didn't eat at the school. He would much rather buy a Cup o' Noodles at a corner store and eat on the curb than in the noisy cafeteria. He would get his food stolen anyways. Plus, the school didn't really care, so it was okay.
 
Dan walked to a nearby corner store. He was a regular there, and the clerk behind the counter greeted him as he walked inside. Dan bought his Cup O' Noodles and payed for it. The clerk would graciously open the styrofoam cup and filled it with water that was used for coffee. The clerk also gave Dan a plastic spoon to eat with. Dan thanked the clerk and walked outside. He sat down of the curb of the street. He stirred his noodles, helping them to soften up, and watched various people who were walking down the street.