The Old Man

by Jesse David

  One option they can do is to go back to the playground and to hide on it. But a police might be there to check the place.

  The old man and Ram start to wonder again into the busy streets. It is a little bit of busy since it is almost dinner time. Even the old man is hungry, he can't afford to eat, he might as well hungry as to be caught for not paying the bill.

  Good thing that Ram is not yet hungry. They are still walking and finding a good place. The police must not see them in this place or else, they will be in prison for the night. That is also a good idea to stay at the prison but Ram will be gone, maybe sent to his parent. The worst thing that may happen is charging the old man kidnapping because of Ram.

  The old man thinks that maybe Sam is right. He should stay in the nursing home. He got no place in here, he doesn't have money, and he doesn't even have a decent plan.

  But if Ram is correct that God is speaking to him. If that is the case, the old man wishes that God gives him some wisdom on doing what next.

  They are crossing the road when the old man sees a guy in an alley. The old man thinks that this man is doing something bad. The old man goes to the man, maybe he is wrong with what he is thinking. He might even need some help.

  The alley's ground is wet. The smell of garbage is everywhere. The old man stands behind the busy man. The busy man doesn't sense that there is a person behind him.

  This busy man seems to be doing something to the door in front of him. The old man coughs voluntary to tell the man that he is behind him, that he exists.

  "Ow." The man said. He turns around and put something inside his jacket's pocket.

  "Just an old man." The man continues what he is doing.

  "Do you need help?"

  "No. I can manage."

  "What are you doing?"

  "I forgot my keys inside, so I'm trying to open it."

  "I think there is some inside that you can ask to open from inside."

  "No one is inside."

  "Want me to try to call someone inside?"

  "No. I can manage. Go away."

  "Well, I just want to help."

  "Help anyone but me."

  "Amm. I'll be frank with you. I need help. I need a place to stay."

  Then a mechanism sound was heard. The door in front of the man opens.

  "So gramps, you want a place to stay?"

  "Yes."

  "Ok, you can come with me. Come inside."

  The busy man opens the door. The old man can't see anything from where he stands. This busy man is bit different.

  "Aren’t you leading the way?" The old man said.

  "Yes but I need someone to check inside. I am really afraid of the dark."

  "So?"

  "You open the lights inside."

  "Is this your room?" The old man asked.

  "No, that is a hallway leading to a stairway. The room is somewhere in second floor."

  "Ok, I'm just going to open the lights."

  The old man enters. He faces the wall while he walks. His hand is tapping the wall, trying to use his luck to find the switch.

  He then feels the plastic switch, he then presses it and the sound of click was heard.

  When he looks forward, he saw the stairway.

  "Good job gramps."

  The busy man enters. He checks the inside of the building. Something is weird. He is much more quiet and moving safely than usual. He is moving a bit awkward.

  "Ok gramps, you go first."

  "But I think you should lead the way. You live here."

  "Yeah, but I want to assist you. Maybe you fall. I can catch you if that is the case."

  "Ok." The old man said. After a few step, he remembers Ram.

  "Where is Ram?" The old man asks.

  "Who is Ram?"

  "The kid, his with me."

  The busy man holds the arm of the old man. "You find him later. You must help me first. After that, you can stay in my place."

  "But the..."

  "Please." The busy man said.

  The old man and the busy man continue to go up the stair. The hallway after the stairs has a bit light. The light is coming from the stairway. The busy man stands up in front of the door.

  He checks the door knob. Then goes to the next, checking its door knob again. After 7 door knob, the old man thinks that the busy man found his apartment door. The door knob is battered, it looks like it was once a gold plated, but now, it is dirt and silver plated.

  "Why would you check every door knob if you leave here?"

  "It is dark. Just stand there and be quite a gramps."

  It only took the busy man a few second to open the door. He even kisses him both hand and then bow. Maybe he thinks that this is a show. Well technically, the world is a big stage and we are doing a show. Our role is declared by another person that tells us what to do. It could be your father, mother, brother, sister, teacher, boss, government and even your disease and disability tells you're role.

  "Gramps, your turn. Remember the drill?"

  "What drill?"

  "I-am-afraid-of-the-dark drill." The busy man said. "You open the light inside because I'm afraid."

  "Oh yeah, ok."

  The busy man stands near the wall. His back is facing the wall.

  "Whenever you're ready."

  The busy man is sweating too much. The place is not that hot. The old man thought that this man looks like he is having diarrhea.

  The old man opens the door. It is pitched black inside. He takes his first step.

  "So where is the switch?"

  The busy man seems he can't take his diarrhea. He starts to stutter.

  "Ne... near the... door."

  The old taps the wall near the door. He is lucky because in his first tap, he feels the switch. He turns it on.

  "The light is on. You can come in."

  "Yes, but. Check the other rooms. I need to know if all the lights are open."

  "Ok going to open all the light. I know the drill."

  The old man goes to every door and taps the wall near it. The apartment is now alive. "All the rooms are now fine. I guess you can come in."

  The busy man peeks, he then enters half his body, and he hesitates on entering the apartment.

  "Your roommate is not here. You can shit in peace."

  "What the... What shit?"

  "You look pale and sweating too much. You got LBM, right?"

  "Yeah I got LBM." The busy man said. "You sure my roommate isn't here?"

  "Yep."

  "You can call the kid."

  "Ow yes, are you letting us stay here."

  "Yes, do it faster before I change my mind."

  Chapter 11

  The old man goes back to the alley. He forgot what happen before he helps the busy man. He doesn't even remember if the kid is with him the whole time he is walking.

  He goes back to the main street. The old man looks to his left and right, and no visible kid. He tries to remember what the kid is wearing. Based on his fragile memory, Ram is wearing a checkered white and red polo shirt and above the knee shorts.

  He goes to his right. The old man thinks that Ram might continue walking without noticing that the old man turns into the alley. The old man thinks that he is right. Every person in the world also thinks that they are right.

  The old man is correct. He found Ram pushing his face to a glass of an electronic store. The TV is showing about 2 guys that seem to be holding up a convenient store. One of the guys pulls the cashier outside and asks if what he wants to be is. The guy points the gun at the man.

  The cashier answer, he wants to be a doctor. The man with a gun tells him to study and be a doctor or if he doesn't do it. He will be back and kill him.

  The old man laughs. He doesn't know where this logic came. But his mind is telling him that cashier on the film is dead, he is doing things he doesn't want. That day when he does what he likes would be his first day of being alive. The man with a gun doesn't need to go back and kill the cashier
. The day he stops the thing he wants to do, is the day he will die again.

  "Hey Ram, I found a place where we can stay for a night."

  "Really."

  "I think he also has a TV there. Let's go."

  "Ok grandpa. I want to watch people fighting."

  They go back to the alley. The door is still open. They goes up to the 2nd floor. The source of light in the hallway comes from the stairs and the room of the busy man.

  "I am back." The old man said.

  The busy guy has now removed his leather jacket and now wearing his shirt. He came from the biggest bedroom and he seems a bit angry.

  "Close the door gramps."

  "Thank you. We are good sleeping in the coach." The old man said. "What is your name?"

  "Mushy."

  "I think your name is..."

  "What, Stupid?" Mushy said. "So does your name."

  "But, I never said my..."

  "Just sleep there gramps. Help yourself. Eat. Take a bath, just shut up."

  The old man wakes up early in the morning. He found Ram still safe and sound sleeping. "Mushy, can I take a bath."

  "Sure." The voice comes from the biggest bedroom. The door is still open like last night.

  "How was your sleep?"

  "I don't sleep last night."

  "Why?"

  "I'm doing something."

  "I know it's too much but do mind if I lend some clothes?"

  "Help yourself."

  After he takes a bath, he woke up Ram so they can go. He fixes the kids clothes.

  "I'm a hungry grandpa," Ram said.

  "Later, I will find a way so we could eat."

  Mushy gets out of the room without a t-shirt on. He is all sweat up. He seems irritable. A lot of people are irritable if they don't get sleep.

  "Are you hungry old man?"

  "Kinda."

  "Here." Mushy throws some cash.

  "Is this mine?"

  "Yes, just say thank you and go."

  "Thanks." The old man didn't bother to count and fold the money neatly. He grabs his briefcase and pulls Ram outside and walks as fast as they can.

  "Let's eat grandpa." Ram said.

  "Yes, yes, let's go back to the restaurant so we can pay the food we ate yesterday."

  They went back. The old man pays up their balance from yesterday's meal. He found out that the money is too much. He still has more than 1 grand. What is with Mushy that he gave the old man a 1 grand?

  They got the same food and they still eat like a beggar. What do you expect to a man that doesn't have a dinner? After the meal, he feels sleepy. It seems that he never sleep at all.

  After they paid the bill, they started to walk around. The old man is thinking what he could do to find who he really is. He thinks that he is just wasting time wandering. But the thing is, a lot of people is also wasting their time wandering and thinking who they really are. At least, the old man is doing something.

  He passed the same path and he notices that the person yesterday, the one that is preaching is still there.

  He just stands behind the man. The preacher continues to preach the verses from the bible.

  The old man notices that some people stop and listen to him. Some of them are senior citizens and some of them are almost senior, which look for a second and continue on they are doing.

  "Every one, I know that you are hesitant." The preacher said. "I know that all of you had done a bad thing, but there is still enough time to repent. It is time to change your way.

  "All the things that you possess will bring you to the depths of hell. Donate all your worldly possession."

  "Ok, I will donate my property, money and cars to a charity." The old man said. The preacher turns his head and saw the old man.

  "Ok, we have someone who wants to be saved." The preacher said. "But it would be better if you donate it to our charity."

  The preacher gave a leaflet about charity.

  "What are the differences between giving the charity I like and the charity you have?"

  "We will util...."

  "I thought we just need to donate it. Why to your charity?"

  "Yes, you only need to donate it but the best way to donate it is to us."

  "Why?"

  The preacher noticed when he looked back to the crowd, that they are walking away.

  "You old man is imbecile."

  "God doesn't work that way. It is the act that counts."

  Chapter 12

  The preacher is angry about what happened. "What are you doing man?"

  The old man just stands there and the preacher is coming over. The preacher raises his fist but still the old man doesn't move.

  "I think he is going to punch you. Move." Ram said

  The old man uses his briefcase to block the attack. The old man steps back because of the impact. While the preacher is in pain, the old man runs away.

  The preacher follows him anywhere he go, the old man tries to lose the preacher by going to a sea of people crossing the street. He holds Ram as tight as he can. When the people walking in the streets seem to be few, he slows down.

  At first, he thinks that the preacher is gone.

  But after a few seconds, a man emerged from the sea of people. The determination of the preacher is real.

  The old man starts to run again, Ram pulled the old man into an alley. On the other side of the alley, is a neighborhood of people who look in the sky, a neighborhood who looks at people that it seems that the person had done something bad. This person wears dirty clothes and people who don't have any cheeks and all you can see is there cheekbones.

  Ram pulls the old man to cross the street which leads them into an alley. When they got there, the old man seats on the ground, the old man doesn't care if it is filthy or what. He peak a little in the corner of the alley. The old man can see that the preacher has just passed across the alley. But it seems that preacher becomes afraid when he saw the neighborhood. He runs back to the alley.

  "We are now safe Ram."

  "Why don't you run when you saw he is going to punch you?"

  "I’m starting to think of an answer to a question."

  "What question?"

  "Why would a person hurt another person?"

  "A lot of reasons grandpa."

  "If that is true, then tell me, enlighten me."

  "In your case, it is because you question his authority."

  "Authority? When did he become the authority?"

  "When he stands there and preaches. He appointed himself. And when you question the authority, the tables will turn. You remove his authority when you question his preaching. He became a clown. That is where it all started."

  "Where do you get all that Ram?"

  "I was homeschooled, they told me I was a genius, but I don't know."

  "Make sense." The old man said. "And people shouldn't hurt each other."

  "We are destructive. Maybe because we do not understand each other because people have different culture and beliefs. I think it is mainly because of our differences. We have a different language. We divided ourselves into the land, we put imaginary boundaries, and we put walls. Sometimes we want more. It may be money, land, and emotions. We are indeed a different species."

  "You are a different kid."

  "We are the same grandpa."

  Then someone embraces the old man from behind. The old man can't understand what is happening. The old man raises his index finger near his mouth to signal Ram to be quite.

  "Don't move old man." The unknown guy said. "Or I will kill you."

  "What do you want?"

  "Hand over that suitcase and all your money."

  "Please, I will give you all my money but do not take my suitcase."

  "What is inside the briefcase?"

  "I don't know. That is why I need it."

  The unknown person releases the old man, he turns the old man around with his other hand ready for a punch. But both of their eyes met. They know each other. The un
known person was Mushy.

  "Gramps?"

  "Mushy?"

  "What are you doing here?"

  "Why do you do that?"

  "Do not answer me with another question," Mushy said. "So why are you here?"

  "We run here because the preacher is chasing us."

  "Ok."

  "Your turn."

  "I was trying to rob you."

  "Are you serious?"

  "Dead serious."

  "Is this what you do for a living?"

  "I will answer that later. This neighborhood is dangerous."

  They walk until they reach the playground.

  "So why are you doing that bad thing?"

  "Need some extra cash, I am living alone."

  "Why don't you work?"

  "This is much easier, has more thrill."

  "You kids are adventures. This kid runs away, and you, I guess runs away too."

  "I do not run away. I am old enough to support myself. I am at the right age."

  "You gave me a lot of money. I will give it back if you are short of money."

  "I am not short of money. I have my ways. That money is yours. You earn it."

  "What do you mean?"

  Mushy start to laugh. He even stomps and cries while laughing.

  "What?" The old man asked.

  "Think about it.

  "What?"

  "Ok. I will explain, but promise me that you never send me to the police."

  "Ok, I promise."

  "Remember my place?"

  "Yes, I just sleep there."

  Mushy look at the old man like that is the punch line.

  "Ok gramps. So let's make a long story short." Mushy said. "I do not own the place. I rob it. No. We rob it."

  "What? I am calling the police."

  "No. You are my accomplice. If you call the police, we both go to jail."

  "Ahhhhh." It seems the fireworks inside the old man head explode. He starts to understand things.

  "That is why you never go first. And you pick the weakest lock. You also let me check the room first in case someone is inside. And you never sleep the whole night. You lie to me."

  "No, I do not lie to you. And always remember, everything has a price. You help me. I give you money and a place to sleep. That easy. Remember, no one is going to help you for nothing. It always has two sides."