At dawn a horrendous, mind-seizing knock slammed on our door. Since I had no bed, I had to sit up all night to sleep. I was very much awake to answer the door, should there be any visitor.
But father was faster than me to answer the door and afterwards a yell came at him.
“Mr. Patrick how long is it going to take you to pay a five hundred dollars house rent, uh?”
I paid attention carefully as I heard father plead with our landlord, “Please Mr. Kenny, give me some more time. My wife’s illness has taken everything from me. I am going to pay up in due time, please I promise.”
The landlord groaned annoyingly, “You are less than poverty, Mr. Patrick what other due time do you want other than the ones I have given to you. You just manage a one room yet you can’t pay for it. Isn’t it better you pack out and relocate to the cold street, uh?”
Initially I craned to behold the landlord but since I couldn’t stand my father being insulted by anybody, I came out side to reprimand him.
“Oh who do we have here?” Mr. Kenny sounded once I came out. He gave me a toothy smile suddenly so I thought he was about making a meaningful speech, “Your criminal son is out of prison, so why are you finding it difficult to pay your rent, uh? Didn’t he siphon fifteen billion dollars?” he turned his gaze at me, “Answer for yourself, ex-convict.”
I lowered my gaze in shame, molded my lips as I fought back tears. I summoned the effrontery to talk back at him.
“I beg your pardon, Mr. Kenny, how dare you talk to my father in such manner. And how much is it that he owes that warrants such insult?”
He smiled mockingly at me, “if I tell you will you be able to pay? Oh I can see you still have the fifteen dollars you stole. Criminal,” he cursed me.
Father gritted his teeth, rolled his eyes at me and walked inside, leaving me and the landlord.
“With all due respect Mr. Kenny, I didn’t steal any fifteen billion dollars and it will be in your best interest to stop calling me ex convict.”
“What are you then? You are an ex convict as far as I am concern. Can’t you see your horrible scraggly looks? Do you look like a normal human being? You are a failure that is about to happen.”
The frown on my face crammed me so much that warm tears trickled down my cheeks and my lips got sealed up. All I did was weep for myself.
“You should be able to pay up five hundred dollars house rent for your father, since you still have enough of the fifteen billion dollars. Listen up, you ex convict, I have not come to banter words with you. All I want is my house rent. The next time you will see me, it will be to send you and your poverty-stricken father packing. Do you understand me?”
He warned and scuttled straight to his Austin Martin car and zoomed off.
I was still weeping at the time when father appeared at my side.
“This is just a tip of the ice berg of what I have been suffering since you went to prison. Do you know what they call me wherever I go? Father of an ex-convict! Yes that is what they call me? Right now we have need of five hundred dollars for our house rent.” He opened his palms at me, “Can I have it?”
I bit my lower lips and hesitated to reply him. Father knew I just came out from prison and can’t even boast of a cleaning job, so I wondered why he should be demanding money from me.
“I don’t have it now father. You know I just came out from prison. I am going to get a job and soon I will begin to earn enough money to pay mother’s hospital bills and our house rent.”
Father tossed his head in disappointment, “I believe you brought your parents shame and pain that is the reason they abandoned you to wander in the street of Rio Hondo. You don’t deserve to be called a child. You are full of shame and disgrace. When you worked for Morgan Harris, how much were you earning as a cleaner, uh? Answer me you son of poverty!” he yelled at me.
Hurt I walked inside, had a wash, squeezed into my regular worn out sleeves, pants and shoes and dashed out to hunt for job.
I ran into a job opening at T and T Oil and Gas and there was an urgent need of a garbage boy. I puzzled, stretched the edge of my sleeves, packed my hair into ponytail before prancing into the office.
“Hold on heh, heh!” a voice called me and when I cast a glance it was the receptionist.
As I advanced to her, she pulled away, “Hold on, please what do you want?”
“I am here for the job opening of a garbage boy.” I replied.
“But you look so unkempt. Okay. That you are applying for the job of a garbage boy doesn’t mean you will look horrible.” she sounded and peered to her desk top, “Are you a citizen of Rio Hondo?”
“Yes I am a citizen. You can check up my bio data. I am a citizen…” I said at a breath
“Hold on, hold on just reply me gently,” she warned. “What is your name?”
“Brian Patrick. I am a citizen you can check it, and give me the job.” I gave a nod.
Quickly her fingers clicked into the keyboard and then she shook her head disapproval “I am sorry, you are unemployable,” she said, and narrowed her gaze.
“But why?” I queried.
“Because the Brain Patrick I saw here is an ex-convict. I am sorry you may take your leave now.
“But…but …I just need the job so I can take care of my mother’s hospital bills please,” I cried.
“I am sorry we can’t employ an ex convict. Good bye Mr. Brian Patrick.”
I burnt within me…