Homecoming (PT. 01)

Family, our first line of communication on earth. Safety, security, comfort all in the gentle caress of a finger, the assurance that we have people to call our own around us, the confidence that we’re never alone even if we’re far away. The unbreakable bond.

I used to think the saying  `no one treats you better than your family’  was a kind of fallacy parents and loved ones instil into the minds of children to mentally control them never to leave home at a tender age, to keep them in check. Well, not until i got to understand myself the importance of family.

My name is Tony, at 17, I left the only comfort I knew of to start a life on my own in a different zone entirely. I needed freedom from the strict watch and nagging of my parents. I wanted to be a man; only I did not understand that being a man takes a lot more than running away from home and is more responsibility than I had imagined. I took my savings and few of my things, cut off all communications with my family and anyone I knew could give them an hint on where I was and took off to another city. Although I was young in age, my looks and 5ft 11' tall stature told a different story.

Getting to my destination or the destination I presumed fate led me to, I heaved a sigh of relief and let out a grin now that I was miles away from home. I skimmed through the faces of unfamiliar people, taking the serenity of the environment all in.

I used part of my savings to rent a match box sized room in a small hood which I could live in while trying to adjust to my independent life. With no furniture in it, I sat on the bare ground and thought of how worried my parents would be. Somehow, I felt unhappy for going away without leave but on the other hand, this was the kind of life I desired. A life where I could do whatever I wanted whenever I chose to without being pushed around like a grocery cart. I took a deep breath and reassured myself that I could do it. I could be the man I desired to be.

Early the next morning, I sketched out a plan of the things I needed to do now that i was free. I wanted to go to college since i had just completed my high school education. Back home, I used to work partime after school and every weekends as one of the interns at a veterinary hospital because of my love and ability to understand animals and their needs. I wasn’t paid much but from the little I got, I kept in a small piggyback for rainy days. I needed a lot more money to go to college on my own so I decided to look for a job, to save enough to go to college and to be the man of my dreams. It all seemed so easy to me at that moment, i had no idea the real world wasn’t as easy as I pictured.

I set out to achieve the first goal in my plan. Getting a job. After walking down the streets almost back and forth, I spotted a pizza restaurant with vacancy sign that read `Delivery guy urgently needed’ just in front of it and i confidently took a stride in.

“Hi, my name is Tony, I saw the vacancy sign in front of the restaurant and I want to know if I could still apply for the space" I politely told a grey haired pizza chef.

“Hmm, hold on a minute. I’ll take you to the manager” he grudgingly replied.

About an half an hour passed before he took me to meet the manager who screened me in a rather stern manner.

“How old are you boy?” he looked up at me with cold eyes.

“Uhm.. 18" I lied.

“Alright, your job here is going to be very tasking, not for lazy fellows. We are currently short of a delivery man and one more pizza chef. Can you handle both?” He inquisitively asked.

“How do I handle both?”

He let out a hysterical laugh.

“Its funny you’re asking me that question. I believe you should be prepared for anything. Well, that’s for you to decide, you get a higher pay if you can handle them but if you can’t, you could pick either of them” He replied.

“Your main job is to stake out deliveries, you’re only giving other pizza chefs a hand when they need one and you’re not out"

“Easy peasy, i can handle both" I replied confidently.

He introduced me to other employees and we talked about other things including my payment structure and other things i had to know while taking a stroll around the restaurant.

“So when do I start?” I asked.

“Tomorrow, 8, don’t be late".

With enthusiasm, I took out an official looking outfit from my small luggage in preparation for my first day.

I woke up the next day even before my alarm clock made it's loud noise. The song ‘Happy' by Pharrell Williams lingered on my lips as I prepared and took off to work.

“Hey, you’re early and what’re you wearing?” A pizza chef asked in between giggles.

“I thought to look corporate and dashing on my first day at work” I replied.

“Really? Dashing? You think you got a job as the CEO of a company or what? You’re a clown” He laughed.

He threw some old apron and casual outfit at me.

“Put these on and take off the shit you’re wearing. You’re a delivery guy working in a pizza restaurant and not an office. Get used to it.” He hissed.

“Okay, that was rude” I thought to myself. I felt slightly hurt but waved it off after a while.

The rest of the day went down slowly than i expected and I was extremely exhausted. I had never strained my body like that my whole life. After some weeks at the restaurant, I broke down.

“This is hard, my folks at home don’t make me do hard stuff like this. Even at the hospital, it was easy" I almost cried.

I looked through the box where i had been saving my earnings and had second thoughts.

“It wouldn’t hurt if I spend this to compensate myself, Afterall, I’d earn another next week"

I decided to go to a club since i had never been to one because of my parents restrictions. I remembered spotting one a stone throw from where I work, so I told a walk down.

The sound of music from loud speakers filled the room. Everyone seemed to be having fun as they were either dancing or drinking. I seemed like the only stranger in another crazy world, but I loved it. I loved how people barely cared about anything happening around them, only engulfing themselves in the moment. I felt a tap on my shoulder interrupting my thoughts.

“Dude, you’ve been staring like that for minutes, you new in the area?”

“Kinda"

“Thats not a problem, I can show you around. My name is George, what’s yours?”

“Tony"

“Feel free, let’s go get a drink" he beckoned.

I took my first glass of vodka and felt a stinging taste of alcohol burning down my throat.

“Damn, what’s this?”

“First time taking alcohol too? That’s new" he replied.

I took sips of few more glasses till i couldn’t feel my toes anymore.

I woke up the next morning to find myself in a strange apartment with George on the couch.

“You’re awake, you were really wasted last night, I had to bring you here" He said.

“What time is it?”

“12 noon"

“What??! Oh God, I have to go”

“Okay, take care though"

I rushed out of his apartment down to work. My clothes still reeking of alcohol skipped my mind.

“Well, well, here comes our newest chef" The manager stared angrily.

“I am really sorry, something came up, I can explain”

“You don’t need to, three weeks on the job and you’re already making a mess of yourself. Developing a lackadaisical attitude to work. You’re fired" He said.

“What? Please don’t, give me a chance to explain" I cried.

“Get out of this place" He ordered.

I kept crying not just because I just got fired but because everything I saved had been wasted in the club.

“This is the end" I thought.

To be continued...

 What's your advice to Tony? Do you think he has to go back home? What are the chances his family will accept him back if he decides to?