He huddled in his car; with his vigilant glance staring at everyone suspicious around her child in Kindergarten: Teachers whom inserted their hands in their handbags, security guard who worn black sunglasses like a special agent, unusual cars that parked next to his. She dived in with her unending smile and her messed up hair.
‘Where are you taking me?’ Her voice had a tinge of laughter and a higher note at the end of every sentence; before getting to know her one would say mischievous child up to no good.
‘Where do you want to go?’
As usual he fought with the ignition switch and his car coughed up: he is not favorable with vehicles.
‘Mommy everyday takes me…’
The car took off and he hit the steering wheel, ‘Not today. Today its about me and you.’
‘But…’
‘No buts, fasten your seatbelt.’
She wrapped her thin little body with a seatbelt that swallowed her height by slight inches.
‘I am hungry, Stephen.’
Like every child who grew up without the presence of their fathers. Though Stephen did his best by availing himself and when he got fired last night; he came to fetch her for blessings, he thought, as last time he hugged her tightly and he got accepted.
‘You’re going to have whatever you like, Princess, whatever you like.’
‘Even burger?’
‘Even burger.’
She jumped up and down on the loose belt with joy.
They stopped at the certain restaurant; inside it was filled with middle class working people and Stephen wasn’t fit to even be with one in the same room. He turned to walk out but the reeking delicate aroma of fried food made her daughter to grab his hand back inside the restaurant.
‘…You’re going to leave, again?’ her tone had saddened.
Stephen pulled back his tears and ruffled her hair with a forced smile.
‘I was getting my wallet.’
‘Okay.’
The waiter came with his apron wrapped around his thin figure and a tray facing his tekkies.
‘Table for two?’
Stephen nodded, ‘Get her to a table closer to a window. I want to go get my wallet.’
‘Will do, Sir.’
He grabbed her hand and walked with her.
Stephen’s footsteps were heavier than a drunkard’s head. His sight was suddenly blurring up; the heat was too much for him or rather the afterwards shame of not being able to afford a simple Friday’s meal?
He stepped inside his car, fiddled with the scattered letters on the ground to seek for something he found in his pocket: a cellphone. Of course his wallet is empty as a trousers on a washing line.
He dialed his ex-colleague who’s life was bit similar to his, though he had everything in control.
‘Josh, I need a favor.’
‘Cough up, lad.’
‘I need couple of bucks.’
He laughed behind the speaker, ‘And what will I tell the magistrate what I did with my money? you know how expensive this crap of maintenance is.’
‘I got your back. I know a plan to make money, just that I urgently need it.’
‘How much do you want.’
‘Any amount you can.’
‘You still use those details? and speaking of which you owe me.’
‘I know and I will sell my kidney for you.’
Josh laughed again, ‘Don’t be ridiculous and desperate.’
He cut the call. All Stephen did was to cross his fingers and hope Josh doesn’t held grudges or live in the past.
He mopped his thick eyebrows and a message popped in. Josh had transferred the money. He kicked the dashboard and strode inside the restaurant.
‘Listen up everyone, your meal is on my tab!’
He wanted everyone to be happy, even if it means giving up his clothes to a street kid, he would, and walk around in his underwears.
They clapped their hands and cheered up on him.
‘Did you order?’
‘Yes, I did.’
‘Perfect.’
‘Can I eat ice cream?’
Stephen laughed, ‘Of course you can, in fact order the best ice cream on the menu.’
She sank in her chair and murmured something.
‘What?’
‘I just did.’
‘Come here.’ He said with a smile. He hugged her tightly and their order landed along with the dessert. Stephen never saw such food: It was as if he was at the buffet’s functions and he had to dish up for himself not for two people but a whole restaurant.
He sipped his orange juice and his phone rang: It was his boss, former boss.
‘Yes?’
He rose from his chair and went to where there’s no noise of tinkling plates and cutlery and glasses.
‘You mean I should return to work?’
‘As in yesterday. The board made a mistake by voting you out and me as a boss…’
Behind his eyes full of tears he saw his daughter choking up and the devastated waiter hitting her back.
He dropped the call and shortly he attended to her: but she was lifeless with her pale face and her head against the polished table.
‘Princess! Princess?’
Instead the customers took videos and pictures while murmuring low.
‘Help! Help!’
The waiter pulled him back, he too saw that she was no more but his eyes never believed that nor his heart would ever accept it.
‘Here’s your bill sir. My condolences.’
He cried his lungs out even more witnessing the number of zeros on the bill: enough to change his life completely into; middle class.
Through the advertising-dishes window a couple walking hand-in-hand haulted and a woman dropped her smile to witness her daughter lying lifeless on the table. She stormed inside and pushed Stephen aside, he tripped and fall and his head bumped into the corner of the table.
He woke up surrounded by paparazzi taking pictures; a receptionist is sleeping with no worries, instead worries followed him to sleep and tormented his dreams. It wasn’t just day dreaming but nightmares choked him and luckily it was just nightmares and a lie to figure out to tell his boss about why he doze off on a job.