I wonder where I’d go from here. I’m looking for the wind. I wonder where it blows. My name is Jerry. I just lost my job. Not that I was terminated, or did I resign. They call it EOC, end of contract. For ten months I worked as a service crew for a fast food restaurant in the city. One extended contract and a promotion to a trainer. There was not much change, only the name and a little more responsibility, aside from the usual work. The salary was still the same.
A family to feed, brothers to send to school and I can no longer afford myself a thing from my salary. My father worked as a construction worker. Contractual. No construction, no work. No work, no money. The thing about contractual workers. Mother stays at home.
For people like us, high school is the highest education, the only thing that that we can get it we’re lucky. It’s work and the real world from there. A brother’s graduation is a month away, running for valedictorian. My father spoke to him about dropping a college scholarship so he can help, but my brother has a dream. His graduation will come like any ordinary day. No talks of celebration, he knows he shouldn’t ask. I think I’m just going to buy him an order of pancit, unless I’d be quick to move to another job.
The store can no longer keep me. If they would, they would have to regularize me, and they would not buy the idea of a five-peso increase for every hour’s worth of service, especially since they find me to be totally untrusting of them. I could only wish. It’s not much but that should have been an offer that could at least get us through a day with at least something on our stomach.
My appraisal was good. Dedicated to work, no incident reports, respects supervisors, got along well with co-workers, satisfy customers, and thanks to the uniform for the grooming.
I walked my way to the kitchen. I’ve done my inventory. I was down to my last rounds.
“Hey, Jerry!”
“Bob.”
“What’s that face? Come on, cheer up, man!”
“Last rounds, man. Last rounds.”
“I know. So I’s got no more for the washing, huh?”
“No more milky stockpots, no more whisks, trays no more. No more soap to bubble up for me, man.”
“Naaah… You’ll find one soon enough.”
“Hoooh! Will surely miss you around here, man!”
“You too, Bobby boy, you too. Well, see you ‘round, man.”
Bobby’s the washer. We call him doc, like a doctor. Sort of a dog name. Every dirt passes through him for the washing. The master of the sink drains every piece of dirt. Never seen the customers, never been to the dining area. Has got no face for flaunting, but definitely has ears to listen. Talks about anything under the sun, listens to problems. I used to hang around with him during slack times and help him with the washing. Said I’m a real co-worker, never minding a help with his dirty surgeries, and I’d have no problem having my utensils prioritized during hustle times. It would be a lonesome time washing to him without me no more, or at least while he was yet to find out about his new partner.
“Hey, Jerry! Don’t need no more deliveries, huh?”
That’s Robbie, the stockman, with his checklist with a pen tucked in his left ear. We call him Roger.
“Nope. “Not needing any more stocks, Roger. “
“Guess I’m just gonna have to deliver it to the next man standing, huh?”
“Name’s Mark, man! Good guy.”
“Better than you?”
“Hah!”
‘Hey, Jerry!”
“What?”
“Seriously, man.”
“What?”
“You’re one smart guy, man. You should go back to school.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Ya should!”
“Gotta go, bud. Gotta finish some checking.”
“See? That’s the problem with you, man, ya always ran away. Think about it.”
“I will. See ya.”
“Come on, bro. Seriously.”
We call him Roger. Real name’s Robin, calls himself Robbie. Everytime we call out for stocks, always quick to say, Roger.”
Rich guy drives his own car going to work. He doesn’t have to work for the money if he wants. But Robbie decided to get rid of the warring parents, working his way to independence. Goes to the most expensive university in the city. Finds time to open his books while waiting for stocks and orders alone in the stockroom. Rich face, rich skin, he was supposed to have been assigned at the dining area. Begged off to be assigned at the stockroom, afraid his parents might find him one day. His parents though he’s enjoying his riches everytime he’s out of the house, away from school. Didn’t know he’s working. Likes hanging around with me at home. Strikes conversations with my mother, plays with my brothers.
Took him three weeks to master his list. Used to have trouble handling the dealers. I was the one who taught him the handling and the dealing. Said I’m real good at business, quick with accounting, and he already thinks smart. Took me to expensive places, drank beer, tasted their food, made me ride his fancy car. He’s my idea of luxury, made me almost hate God had he not made me realize the importance of family.
“Hi, Gail.”
“Hi, Jerry.”
She just walked by without even looking at me. She’s off from her shift, holding her timecard. My eyes followed her. She’s still beautiful to me.
“Jerryyy!”
There’s Olive, giving me a scolding look.
“You’re breaking my heart again, Jerry!”
“Oh, Olive. I am so sorry sweetheart.”
“Hug me.”
And I did.
“For the last time, Jerry. Didn’t you ever find yourself kissing me in your dreams?”
“Matter of fact, I did Olive, honey.”
“Then what are you waiting for? Here’s the flesh now, Jerry?”
And I did. I kissed her on the cheek. Her hands were quick to wrap around me, sliding down and locked herself around my leg. I’d be dragging her if I take another step.
“Eeeeh… Jerry kissed me at last! Oh take me home with you, Jerry. I can’t imagine myself working without you around. I am going to die, Jerry. I am going to die!”
“Olive? Get up, let go of me.”
“Cut it out, Olive. Jerry’s not gonna be yours. Ever! You’re not his type.” A voice coming from the pantry.
“Hmp!”
“Goodbye, Olive.”
Gail. A counter girl. She was my girlfriend for a month. Secret love. Waits for hours till I’m off. Walked her home, took me to the movies, and slept with her a couple of times. Loves me so much. She later found out I was eyeing an older woman, the assistant supervisor. Name’s Ana. Found out I gave the boss flowers on her birthday. Cried in the crew room. Broke up with me. And the secret love was no secret no more.
Now I’m having regrets. Ana married a man her age. An engineer. Stable, ambitious, a perfect match. Can’t get into a talk with Gail no more. Just hi and hello and she’d walk past me. Twice I caught her crying alone in the crew room. Finds it hard to leave work and just concentrate with her studies. Just yesterday learned she’s already submitted her resignation. Effective in two days.
Olive is the cook. Big voice, big body, struggling with obesity. Funny girl’s got a crush on me. Jumps on me everytime I passed by the burner. I crumbled down everytime she a hang on to me, asking for a kiss. Never been into a relationship. Laughs at her fate, makes a fool of herself. Nobody takes her seriously. It’s just unlikely. Even if at times she’s seen in tears, worrying about her body. A little teasing and she’s quick to recover. Her family of pigs, as she calls it, is a regular at the store. She joined them at times and the store turned to a pig pen.
Her partner is Joey. Joey is a girl. Today’s her rest day. She is the exact opposite. The singing cook. Tall, slender, with a steady boyfriend, mistakes a ladle for a microphone. Perhaps the only happy person inside-out at work. Raises a pinkie, cries with the onions, and talks like a beauty queen. Nice hair sways it like a girl in a shampoo commercial. Refuses to wear hairnet, not even the cap that goes with the uniform. Once reprimanded for a customer complain about a strand of hair in the soup. Perpetually denied it. Claims to have a shiny black, healthy hair unlike the brittle browning strand of hair found in the soup. We told her that’s what happens when hairs get cooked. Laughed at the idea, ended up with another incident report. She also holds the record for having the most number of tardiness in the history of the store.
“Olive! The noodles, I need it now!”
“It’s ready, witch!”
“Jerry, could you bring it up here for me please?”
“Sure Amy. Coming right up.”
I carried the tray of noodles going to the pantry. The water still dripped from the tray. Amy’s busy with the orders. She’s doing five orders on fettuccini.
“Thanks, Jerry. Could you just place it over there please?”
“Okay.”
“And, oh! If you could just scoop up for two spag please, Jerry, honey. The cheese and the sauce is over there.”
“Okay.”
“Stop calling him honey, Amy! Jerry’s mine, he just kissed me.”
“Shut up, Olive oil! He’s here, he’s mine now!”
Amy smiled the laughed. Olive frowned from s sweet smiling look and turned away.
“It’s really sad you’re leaving us now, Jerry.”
“Yeah.”
“We’re gonna miss you, Jerry. There’s no more of you hustling around here, no more.”
“You’re still here, Amy.”
“You’re different, Jerry. So, there’s no stopping you now? Didn’t they extend you?”
“Naaa…”
“That’s not fair. We need you around here.”
“That’s why he finally kissed me, Amy! Jerry is leaving!” Olive interrupted from the burner.
“Mind your own business, Olive!”
“He’s my business, witch! He knows that!”
Guild heard her from the warmer and laughed. We all had a laugh, except Billy at the grill. He’s making was just having his way, silently dropping a bag of fries into the fry basket, heading back to the grill turning twenty patties and on with the buns thereafter.
Amy is the girl at the pantry. She works the pasta, the salads and a hundred garnishing. She is the most workaholic. Can talk while working and never the other way around. Moves around always keeping herself busy, sometimes it amazes me how she never runs out of things to do, not even on slack times. Se must have received over a dozen awards for the busiest, the cleanest station, and the crew of the month’s award almost every month.
Amy is nineteen, with a baby. The baby is without a father. The problem with pre-marital sex. The bosses do not know about this. Just us. She’d be kicked out of her job if they find out about it. Company rules. She’s still in school, only working for the milk and the Gerber. She’s got bulging eyes that glare, the reason why Olive calls her, witch.
“Need help, Billy?”
“No thanks, Jerry, I can manage.”
“The fryer is sounding, Billy” Guil hinted from the warmer.
“Yes, I’ll get it!”
“No, no, no, I’ll get it.”
I raised the fry basket. I walked towards the grill and helped him with the patties.
“Thanks, Jerry.”
“No problem, man.”
Billy cannot look at me in the face. He speaks with a low voice. He turned away to take out another set of buns from the heater. I walked up to the platform behind the warmer where Guil is standing, getting a good view of the entire kitchen area, and the counter and the dining area in front.
“Time is ticking, bro.”
“I know, Guil.”
“Touch, huh?”
“I know.”
“I can already feel it just looking at you, man. I’ll be out to follow you in two weeks.”
“First in, first out. The longest stayer always leaves first.”
“Works for us too, huh?”
“I know. Not just the food you’re handling, bro.”
“I know.”
“So you got any plans yet?”
“I don’t know. My mother said there’s an opening for a messenger at the office. Not sure. How about you?”
“I don’t know. Job is hard nowadays. My brother is graduating next month, valedictorian, needs new pair of shoes. I don’t know where to get the money.”
“I wish I could help bro. You know my situation, I have the whole family to feed too.”
‘Thanks, man. I understand.”
“Hey, Jerry, the boss is looking for you. Your junior has arrived.” Bobby called from the washing area.
“See ya, Guil. I think the new guy’s here.”
“Later, bro.”
Guil is the product controller. We call him commander. Receives, calls, and gives out orders. He’s the longest staying guy after me, though he’s older. His father just died, and he’s never happier. Nobody’s snatching the money for alcohol and anything of no use no more. His mother is a clerk in a government office. Second in the family of twelve, his older sister works as a saleslady at a shoe section in a department store. There are three of them working, but they’ve got more hungry mouths to feed, younger brothers and sisters to send to school. The rest are still learning to walk if not crawling still. Like any of our kind, he only needed to go through high school, and he’s already been into a lot of jobs. Two in a year, five in three years. This is his fifth.
Guil dreamed of flying planes as a kid, only managed to fly kites. Given up on the dream after he realized his family is a factory of babies. Three brothers and two sisters died, his father is the sixth. No room for mourning. Death to the family is a blessing. A celebration more or less.
“Mark!”
“Hey, Jerry!”
“Gotten over the first day?”
“I don’t know, dude. Still trying to master things around here. Still trying to get along with the group.”
“Don’t worry about the group. They’re fine, they don’t bite. Our equipment are the hardest to master but there’s just few. Right assembly, right mixing, and you’ll find it easier in no time. Firsts are always the hardest but no need to worry.”
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to do things right, dude?”
“You can do it, man.” Tell you what, they always pick the best man for the beverage station. Know why?”
“Nope.”
“Because there isn’t much to do, but you get to do the most difficult tasks. Fixing the Taylor machine is the hardest. You have the vendo and the juice dispense. Just that. All the mixings are measured, you need to refill the ice bins, the cups, and you are done. Then you’ll just have to wait for your next mixing and refilling and you can help around wherever you want. I like staying in the kitchen, the washroom and with the stocks, but you can help anywhere if you want. That’s why they always pick the best, both a worker and a looker.”
“A looker?”
“Yep. Because if the bosses were to decide, they’d want you to help either at the counter, or the dining with the bus boys. That’s where face matters, because you have to smile and gotta look good, ‘cause you deal with customers. You charm them to keep them coming back. But they won’t stop you except if you’re asked to take the cash register, ‘cause you obviously can’t leave the money. Other than that it’s your choice where you want to help. After all, a help is a help.”
“Oh…”
“Yep! They didn’t tell you that butt you’ll just figure it out soon enough.”
That eased him up a bit.
Mark is my replacement. He reminded me of my first days at the store. The ignorantly observing look, the forgotten smile, the clumsy gestures. Trying hard to wrestle it up and swallow it down for the need of money. Other than the money, it’s the reason only one knows. Mark joined me for the morning shift the day before. That was his first evening shift.
“Guys listen up. I’d like to introduce you to Mark here.”
“Hi guys.”
“Here, you don’t be shy now. Mark this is Guil, the PC. This is Billy, the grill man. That over there is Amy, pantry.”
“Hey, Mark!”
“Hello, Amy>”
“Back at the burner is Olive, she’s the cook.”
“You be careful, Mark. She’s a leech. You might just suffer the same fate as Jerry’s so don’t show yourself to her too much. Hah, haaah!”
“The guy at the sink’s Bobby, over at the stockroom is Robbie, but we call him Roger. He’s the person you run to when you need stocks. Those two counter girls are Jenny and Eunice. That’s Patrick at the dining.”
Eunice smiled, Jenny was busy with a customer then, Patrick is busy with his job. It’s a good thing Olive’s busy with her cooking and missed the introduction or she’d spring up from her station and only God knows what she was going to do.
Everyone’s been receptive and he began to feel a little comfortable. I took him with me for my rounds.
“Rounds. This is one thing that we need to do. This is the checklist. Always check the carbonator, man. That’s the usual trouble with the vendo. Just purge it like this. Careful with the figals, check the rubber rings, the dates especially, first in first out. FIFO, man remember that. The juice dispenser drips so you have to wipe it clean always.”
“I see”
“Over here… Cones make one and a half turns, sundaes make three full. You won’t get it at first. Dispensing’s hard to control, but it comes with practice. The red light blinks, that means your mix is low, have to start mixing again. The socket breaks easily, so be careful with the rinsing. If it does, ask Roger for some spare parts.”
“I hope I won’t break this machine, dude.”
“Just be careful. It costs more than your life.”
“You serious?”
“Over here… Coffee is fast in the morning, so does the choco. Be careful with the brewer, you might touch the hot part. And the spills. Can’t avoid it man but always follow it up with your wiping. The bosses don’t want anything messy. Feeds the roaches, spreads easily.”
“Jerry, beer running out!” Eunice called from the counter.
“What’s that, Jerry? So we serve beer?”
“No, that’s the call for root beer. That means, your root beer figal is almost empty. Time to replace it.
“I’ll get it!”
“You have to acknowledge first so they won’t keep calling.”
“What do I say?”
“You have to shout back. You say, got it counter. Out loud, man.”
“Okay… Got it counter!”
“Thanks!”
“But I’d prefer you call them by their first name, to, you know, make it more personal.”
“Right, right… Got it, Eunice!” He shouted back. Eunice turned and smiled at him from the counter.
“Thanks, Mark!”
“See?”
“Haaaah…”
“Any better? Unwritten rules, man.”
“Got it. So I’ll get it, Jerry.”
‘You know what to do, just ask Roger.”
“I’ll manage. I’d better go.”
“Good, you’re doing great, man!”
“Thanks!”
He left with a big smile on his face knowing he’s slowly digging in. Unwritten rules. Paying equal is one thing, smile, and names of people. There’s so much more. Ten months. The small workplace with all the hustling can be a torture. It’s hard money but everyone must learn to survive to live. This is so that everyone in his own pace must learn the silent rules, while time is sleeping and money is slow. You don’t learn it. You’d realize that there really is no equality in this world. What when there’s nothing you can do about it. Only people can help people. People deceiving people. Deceive and be deceived. Deception, the comfort of living.
I walked to the counter. Jenny’s still entertaining a customer. Eunice is making a count of the money in the cash register.
“Jerry!” Giving me a tight hug. Teary-eyed.
“Are you crying?”
“I’m gonna miss you, Jerry.”
“Goina miss you too, my little baby.”
“Who can I turn to now?”
“Everybody’s still here. And there’s Mark now. I think you two will get along well.”
“Aaaah?”
“Woooh… You’re blushing. Hahaaah! You like him, don’t you?”
“Jerryyyy?”
“Come ooon! I know you.”
“I think he’s cute. Eeeh…”
“I knew it!”
“Hey, Jerry! Over here!” Patrick waving a hand from the dining
“Wait, I’ll get back to you, okay?”
“Okay.”
Eunice is one of the counter girls. The sweetest. Quite childish but everything’s so light with her. Works for the experience, cries when she gets short with her counting. Works on her own decision, just trying to stay away from the shadows of her overprotective parents. Very innocent. Talks about anything, never runs out of innocent and ignorant questions to ask. Reminds me of life’s simple joys.
Jenny is quite an isolate. Finds it hard to mingle. Fearful and suspicious. Patrick likes her. Said she’s sweet and reserved. I agree. Lovers always see the brighter side. I wish all the world’s in love.
“Over here, man! Hurry up!”
Patrick is hiding behind the wall, away from the counter.
“Hey man, just got in?”
“Yeah, yeah. Over here, man, Hurry up!”
“What?”
“Guess what?”
“Uh, you… oh, no Patrick? Don’t tell me –“
“Yup, man! I finally got Jenny to go out with me!”
“Hey, that’s great, buddy! Good for you!”
“Shh, your voice, keep it down. Thanks man you’re the coolest!”
“Naaa… Don’t mention it. I know. Hahaaah!”
‘We’re going out tomorrow. It’s her day-off.”
“But how about you?”
“Sick call, man, sick call. What’s the use?”
“Yeah, right. You’re crazy, man, keep it up! Make good, huh?”
‘I know! Now I owe you one here, man!
“Naaah… Forget it!”
“Hey, what do you say you drop by sometime. I’ll treat you out, man. I promise!”
“You said it.”
“Yeah, deal! Anything man, anything!”
“From your Employee Discount?”
“Hah!”
And there’s Patrick. Trendy is self esteem. Money for he getup. Always conscious about looking good. Good looking but slow with girls. He’s been seeking out my help for his courting business with Jenny. It’s been two months, he’s finally found his way at last. I just hope things would turn out right between them. Patrick’s still looking for his confidence. Jenny was never a talker.
Then it’s time. The clock hits nine o’clock. I’m officially out of job. I took the cap off, fixed my hair. I untuck my uniform heading my way back to the counter.
“Bye, Jerry.”
“Bye, Jenny.”
I smiled and she was quick to shy away.
“Oh, Jerry!”
Eunice threw a hug again. Her tears finally fell.
“It’s alright, Eunice. I won’t be gone. I’ll visit you again one of these days.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
“Hey Jerry.”
“Guil.”
“Naaah, you’ll go a long way, man. Someday, you’ll see!”
“Thanks, man!”
“We’re gonna miss you, Jenny. Pay us a visit sometime will you?”
“Will do, Amy. I promise.”
“Anytime. You know where to find us, we’re here.”
“Hey, Jerry.”
“Billy.”
‘Thanks a lot man, you saved my job.” He whispered leaning closer still can’t get himself to look at me.
‘That’s nothing, bro. I’m just like you. It’s a natural thing what I did, I guess. I know you’d do the same if you were me, right?”
“Good luck, man.”
“You too, Billy.”
Everyone flocked around, shook my hand. Tapped on my shoulder. Billy threw a hug, teary-eyed, still not looking. I tapped his back and left.
‘Olive? What are you doing?”
“Just go, Jerry.”
“Cut it out, Olive!”
“Stop acting like that. It’s just not you!”
“You’re really not very convincing with your drama, Olive. You just look funnier. “
I could only look at them, talking to the frowning Olive all cramped up on the kitchen floor. They started laughing and soon Olive managed to smile.
“Goodbye, Olive.”
“Goodbye, Jerry honey.”
I rubbed back and left. I caught up with Roger carrying a bag of styros.
“Jerry!”
“Roger.”
“I’ll drop by your place, man. Let’s go gimmick sometimes.”
“Anytime, man.”
“And you don’t forget my birthday in two weeks. You ought to be there!”
“Whatever you say, man.”
“Alright! High fives!”
“High fives!”
“God bless you, buddy. Anytime you need me for anything!”
“Thanks, man.”
I left. I heard Bobby talking at the sink.
“Hey, Jerry!”
“Bobby. Mark?”
“I think you’re boy here’s fast learning your style, man?”
“I told you.”
“Jerry.”
“Mark.”
“Such a short time, you’ve done really great, thanks a lot, dude. You will be missed surely, dude.
We shook hands. I jerked his cap.
“Just do your job right, buddy. Everything will be fine. Trust me.”
“Hey Jerry! You’re time is up here’s on the house, man! Bobby splashed a stockpot of water at me. Soon the kitchen people including Roger came rushing to the washroom throwing all sorts of lapses stuff at me. Cold choco, cold coffee, lapsed noodles, broken buns, I was all drenched and wet.
Then it’s all over.
I entered the crew room and left. Gail has left. I was all alone in recollection. I scanned through all the corners of the room. The lockers, the table where we ate on bun cellophanes, the corner where I caught Gail crying, the boxes where I used to lie and rest. The entire place where we used to convene at break time, threw tempers, sought refuge, talked about funny experiences at work, with the bosses and the customers.
I sighed.
I could only listen to the faint sound of the cash registers, Guil taking and making orders. A murmuring sound of Bobby talking to his new partner. Amy and Olive playfully exchanging yells, and Roger memorizing something in the stockroom. Everything went back to normal outside. Business as usual. I grabbed my backpack, stepped out of the room.
The Senior Supervisor saw me coming out of the room. The door to their office was open and she called me in.
“Jerry?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“May I just have a minute with you please? Come in, Jerry.”
“Ma’am?”
“Sit down, please.”
“Mark already had everything in control at the station ma’am. Still trying to figure some things out but I’m sure he will do just fine.”
“No, no, Jerry listen. About the incident. We know you know everything that goes on around here. You see things more than we do. We know you know something, Jerry. Just tell me and we promise we’ll be quiet about you.
I bowed my head. Right then the thought of my brother’s graduation entered my mind. My eyes led me to notice the well polished shoes that the boss is wearing.
“Look Jerry. We’ve already discussed about your status. The big boss himself saw your performance and he’s willing to take you back as a regular, give you a raise , but we need you to give us your trust Jerry. A little more time and who knows you will become one of us. Promotion is not too far from where you are now. It’s not like you have to turn your back against them, it’s just that we’re asking you to go where everything goes beyond our sight. “
“I understand.”
“We know you do, Jerry. Just this one favor. This is for your own good.”
“Thank you ma’am, but… I really don’t know. I’m sorry.”
“Well.”
“I have to go, ma’am. “
“I understand. You’ve been a great employee, Jerry. A hard working man. I’m sure you’ll go a long way. Thank you, Jerry.”
“Thank you for this opportunity, ma’am. I’ll take this with me.”
I walked my way out passing through the backdoor. The guard made a thorough inspection of my backpack. Frisked me from head to foot. Never trusted anyone since the incident. Not even care to talk.
It wasn’t such a perfect crime. It can’t even be mistaken for a wrong inventory. Eight burgers were lost. Reflected on the checklist. Exactly eight burger buns were missing. Eight patties and eight slices of cheese. I saw him placing the last one in his bag upon entering the crew room. He knew I saw it. I remained silent about it.
I learned from him about how his poor little brothers and sisters always wanted to taste the food that they saw on the TV commercial, watching from their neighbor’s window. They know he works where the those food come from. They know they can’t afford it. He can’t afford it either. He has to resort to stealing. That’s his version.
But there’s another version I learned. He’s seen eating one of those while walking with his gang of dope-looking friends. Chances are, he tried to prove to them how tough he is, or just plain trip.
I could have just said it out straight, it was Billy. He was the one who did it. I could keep my job with the increase in my salary. But I am in no position to pass judgment. I am human. I have yet to define the difference between bad and good. It’s an unending process.
The thought of it confuses me sometimes. Which evil should I abhor, and which one must be tolerated for the purpose of living and letting live. In the case of two evils, I often ask which is the least. But would it matter if I see which is least? It’s evil all the same.
Sometimes I feel that I am cursed to mediocrity, forever trapped in the maze of life. If in case , just in case, I could prove to myself that he lied, that the latter version was what’s true, and they would find out from me the man responsible for the crime, I cold keep my job, feed my family and with the little raise, make my brother proud that he will be marching with a pair of shoes on his graduation day. Going home where a banquet awaits a celebration.
But I will forever be indebted to him. He built my life while I sold his. It might be a selfish thought, but the fact remained. I already sold his future and the people who relied on him for a piece of meal. Whose dreams reside in him, whose lives totally depended on his travails. Let me be deceived. People deceives people. God delivers.
The beauty of inequality, in that it plays out that certain amount of godliness in all of us. Like working for people that we don’t even know, and sometimes we don’t even see. Like a friendship that a heaven rained on a dry earth. Like living with pain for the sight of a lost love. Like laughing at our imperfections to bring smiles and laughter on peoples faces. Like singing the songs of our blessed soul. Like upholding life , withstanding the mistakes of the past. Like the sympathy of ashes to ashes. Like the concern of the innocent. Like the humble bid of the meek. Like a lover seeing only the better side of the one he loves. Like taking the time out to learn the lessons of coexistence. Like our willingness to submit to the victims of our remorse.
I have seen it all, and I know there’s so much more. The silent principles of conduct. The unwritten rule that governs us all. All worlds always find its end. It’s enough that we’ve seen its worth. What’s important is leaving in peace and with serenity in the heart.
Darkness sets in on my way out as the guard quickly closed the back door. A sign hangs on the glass door of a building across the street. No Vacancy.
I walked the way passing by the store front. Patrick saw me through the glass wall and waved. I waved in return. He smiled and nodded and shifted back his attention to a customer.
A world has ended. I have yet to find another. It’s a long road to who knows where. I wonder where I’d go from here.
