Everyone needs a place to lay his head at the end of the day, but not everyone can afford a house or even a cheap apartment in the city. For those with little income, the choice is clear—a boarding house. There one can rent a room for a week, month, or as long as necessary and leave whenever it is convenient without worrying about breaking a lease. These boarding houses also serve a purpose for the underworld element of society, affording those who prefer to keep a low profile a safe place to eat and sleep with no questions asked. Many homeowners renovate their residences into boarding houses to generate extra income. This is especially common among widows/widowers and those in need of extra money. Aunt May’s Boarding House is one of these places, offering a room to anyone who can produce the coin. For the man on the run or just traveling through the area, it can be a Godsend. For the man seeking to save up money for future projects, it can be a sanctuary. And for law enforcement personnel, it could be an excellent resource for information and surveillance. The house itself is nothing special, a two-story dwelling that is one of many row-houses on a side street away from the main thoroughfares. The first floor belongs solely to Aunt May, a widow who runs her domain with a firm hand—usually clutching a thick, oaken “walking stick” that she has no problem using on customers who challenge her views. The first floor has a small bathroom, kitchen, and living room. A small bedroom is in the back, connecting to the bathroom and the kitchen. In the main lobby are the stairs that lead up to the second floor and rented rooms. The second floor has four rooms, all connected to a main hallway. A small bathroom is at the far end—a recent renovation to a closet and just about as large. It is shared by all the tenants and is constantly in need of maintenance and cleaning. Aunt May provides each room with a single bed, small dresser for clothing, and a chair and table. The two rooms at the front of the house have windows, while the others do not. The tenants are not allowed to cook in their rooms or use the kitchen downstairs. Various hot plates have been smuggled into the house and used discreetly, however. Aunt May may know about them, but has not taken action to this point. The rent of $1.50 per week is due on the Sunday of each week, with no exceptions. Aunt May has no problem engaging the services of her neighbor, Barry Konnich, to “remove” delinquent renters. Up to this point, the mere threat has kept the boarders paying on-time, but that could change in the future as money becomes scarce and times grow tough. Cast of Characters
Aunt May (Landlord)
May Flanders grew up in a military household, leaving to marry Captain Daniel Flanders who was killed in a military accident only five years after marriage. Determined to never remarry, she opened the boarding house with her remaining money. She has managed to survive thus far thanks to her wits and skills. Now at the respectable age of thirty-five, she is considering opening her heart again for the right man. Until then, she maintains a tight hold over her business, aided by her walking stick.

	fitness			awareness			creativity			reasoning			influence
	3			3			2			3			4

Skills: driving 4, design 6, music 5, prose 4, general knowledge 5, medicine 3, etiquette 5, composure 3
Gimmicks: church contacts, eloquent, moral compass, reduced stamina Barry Konnich (Neighbor)
Grieving over the death of his wife Mary in an automobile accident only a year ago, Barry has kept the house much the same as it was before his life changed. He works at the local grocery store as an assistant manager and hopes to be promoted in the future. He sees May as a good neighbor and friend, and will rush to her defense both physically and verbally if he senses any danger to the older woman.

	fitness			awareness			creativity			reasoning			influence
	4			3			2			2			2

Skills: athletics 5, brawling 5, driving 5, melee 3, drinking 5, gambling 5, commodities 4, general knowledge 6
Gimmicks: street contacts, toughness Chang Kai (Tenant)
There are few people who would rent a room to a “Chinaman,” but Chang won over Aunt May by paying in fresh fruits and vegetables, brightening her daily life and saving her some work. This young immigrant works in a local laundry, saving every penny he can to bring over his young bride someday.

	fitness			awareness			creativity			reasoning			influence
	4			4			2			2			1

Skills: athletics 6, brawling 6, melee 4, stealth 4, interrogation 4, forgery 5, medicine 3, performance 4
Gimmicks: multilingual, quick, sure-footed, discrimination David Hunter (Tenant)
David Hunter is a fallen man—at least, in his own eyes. Once a Catholic priest, the middle-aged man engaged in an affair with a church member, forcing him to resign his position. Leaving the small town where he had been raised, David is now working on the docks as a laborer, seeking to redeem himself through hard work and good deeds.

	fitness			awareness			creativity			reasoning			influence
	3			2			2			2			2

Skills: athletics 4, driving 5, drinking 5, music 4, prose 5, academics 5, bureaucracy 4, general knowledge 5, medicine 3, physical sciences 4, etiquette 5, performance 5
Gimmicks: church contacts, moral compass, wordsmith, dark secret Samuel Chesney (Tenant)
Sam is a wanted man—at least, in his own mind. Back home on the farm, he accidentally struck a fellow ranch-hand out of anger, sending the man against a pitchfork left atop a hay bale. Fearing that he would be convicted of murder, the blonde man fled to the big city and now cowers in fear of every policeman or detective who crosses his path.

	fitness			awareness			creativity			reasoning			influence
	4			2			2			2			2

Skills: athletics 4, brawling 4, driving 4, finesse 4, firearms 5, melee 3, drinking 3, gambling 3, forgery 4, streetwise 5, street cred 3
Gimmicks: fugitive, jack of all trades, dark secret Story Ideas

•	A man is looking for Sam Chesney, asking questions about the wayward cowboy. Is this the call to justice that he has worried about for months or a chance to redeem himself?

•	Aunt May asks for help—she suspects David Hunter of stealing her purse, but cannot bring herself to directly accuse the ex-priest. If Hunter is not the thief, who is?

•	A mysterious tenant takes up residence in the boarding house, paying cash for a month in advance without question. Aunt May is curious about this man, given that he seems to be flashing huge wads of cash everywhere he goes. Is he a gangster? If she tries to evict him, will she be in danger?

•	Chang Kai finally has enough money to bring his wife to the States. He is attacked in an alley and the money is stolen. Can the characters help bring a happy end to the unlucky couple?

•	The local priest is accused of stealing from the coffers of the church and turns to David Hunter for help, knowing that the defrocked priest will believe in his innocence. Is this just another wayward priest or an innocent man?

•	Aunt May is approached by a local gang, demanding protection money to keep her “business” safe from harm. She needs more help than just her neighbor and walking stick.

Written by Sheryl Nantus