" Oh heavenly force of luck and wisdom, our days are numbered. The world once fought by our Great Leaders have fallen to abyss! What has I done to live enough to see this very day?
Oh the Great nightingale of the west, please forgive us, the youths and the adults for being such a disappointment. The future is grimmed. The pupils once look down as an igniting flame of tomorrow are being the one who has become a lost protester of civic rights. This is nothing but absurdity at its peak! "
" Had me lose my braincells while hearing that. "
" Huh-hh! " The lone speaker got startled after hearing a sudden commentary, who was giving his life long gripe in a swing.
He turned towards his left and saw a young man casually enjoying the scene while eating a packet of potato chips from his bag.
The lone speaker didnt spoke to the man but instead his eyes lower to the packet of chips the man is holding.
The man notice his source of attention and then spoke firmly.
" Sorry, I have only one packet left. "
" I wasn't going to ask seriously." said the lone speaker but his looks clearly betrayed his words.
The young man gave a friendly smile and offered him his food possession.
" Well I didn't expect you to be kind, stranger. " spoke the speaker.
" I wasn't going to be really. But sometimes you know, our expectations exceeds our reality."
The man stop for a while as if recollecting something and then continued.
" Besides, I am no stranger. Call me James. James Wakson, a normal teacher. And you?"
The speaker sighed and then spoke after a while.
" I would prefer to have no name and honour. Names are something that gets easily rusted you know? It's something I have already lose before. Past hurts like truck, so my reponse is void. "
" Yeah I would imagine a scene of something like that. Wasn't that the reason why you were loudly expressing your gratitude a minute ago?. " Said the man in a mockery tone.
The lone speaker shrugged his shoulder.
The man gave a humorous smile.
" What are you smiling for? Besides who still eat potato chips nowadays? "
" My apologies. Well the potato chip is much cheaper than other chips but it is rarely available in the shop. I had to dig every corner of the town to get one. But I like it anyway. "
The speaker thought something and asked awkwardly.
" Uh... What year is it? "
" 2040. "
The man raise his hand above his head in disbelieve.
" Whats the matter? You are acting like you have been living under the rock to this day? "
" No that's not it. I am just surprise on how absurd the society has gone through this years. Believe me every woman would prefer a pet dog than a loyal husband. They are the epitome of treachery. Young fools like you should beware of that. "
" Speaking from experience? But let me pass on that advice. "
" Good for you. The amendments and the laws of the associate government and society are nothing more than a curse. "
The man pause and stare into space. He looks up in the sky filled with dark clouds and smokes devoid of sunlight.
The speaker spoke however with resentments and reassurance in his tone.
" But even curse doesn't last forever. It is that one disease that remains in a person's body until it gets rid off. Even though how many curses, corruptions and political threads line up in our society. I believe this all will come to an end. That's why we the socialist fought with our flesh and blood for the Integrity of others. "
" Love the speech but didnt expect that you were a socialist. "
" So what did you took me for? "
" Uh... Well.. Like a beggar? "
" Huh! That is even more absurd than the malicious trends rounding the world. "
" Sorry, my great apologies. Well just pulling legs in a smokey day. " The man spoke awkwardly.
The man stare up the sky trying to avoid the topic in hand.
" OK well and done. I should head home. The storm gonna engulped the sky in any hour. This isnt going to be a safe ground for conversation any longer. "
The speaker lets his anger flew away and speaks with assurance.
" Sure go home and have a nice sleep. "
" And what about you? "
" I am not homeless okay? "
" Oh okay okay, I get it. "
As the man was gonna disappear in the shadows. The lone speaker call out to him.
" James."
The man, James, turned back. The speaker hesitated for a bit but said with gratitude.
" Thanks for the treat. "
James didn't reply but offer a soft smile and disappeared into the streets.
As James was heading home, the clouds start roaring. Slowly the day goes full dark. Rain starts to drive the town with its enormous sprinkling water.
It didn't took much time for it to get intensified.
But fortunately, James already made his way to his home by then.
He took off his coat and kept his things on the table. James was exhausted after working the whole day while walking weary miles catching with the pace of rain.
James Wakson was a 30 year old loyal institutionist who sincerely departs his time on poor children. He walks 20 km everyday from his town to another town for his career. Even though he has a job, he doesn't get enough wealth to make up for his living. In other words, he was still living poverty.
The future had dramatically lose its power and vitality over the past years. There were many conflicts between nations leading to many economic crises in their nations. James motherland also fall under such victimhood. It is also a reason why jobs are limited and even those who got one doesn't receive enough. Sometimes they would have to wait for months to fill their hunger with that low paid money.
So Infact, it had come to the period where humans could count their days.
James sat in his old chair and started wondering for hours, until he was tired enough to fall asleep.
The next morning the same routine hits off. James took his coat he left off the previous night and start to ascend towards his destination. Of course each day feels more closer to world wide extinction but James freshen up his mood and start off each day with a smile, finding delight in the new blessing they are living up to see.
He walked off the place where he had his conversation with the lone socialist the previous day. But the lone socialist was nowhere to be seen. James wasn't surprised because apparently there was only one possible explanation for this.
The world killed him.
It wasn't clear but that was the rule the world was being govern on.
The lone socialist was right and his gripe heats the accuracy. The world indeed had gone ridiculous.
James continued to travel for hours by bare foot. Soon he reaches towards his destination, Sacred Franca Mary. It was an old school once known for its vast number of great percentage. But now it's just a place of nostalgia where James once graduated from.
He opens the door and specks of dust filled the area. The school doesn't have any caretaker and peon to clean the place. It was just James and the poor children.
James starts ascending towards the corridor and reaches his classroom. The poor children had already gathered there by the time. They look happy after seeing their teacher. James offered them an assuring smile and continued the close.
The day came to an end and the students get ready for departure. James had already noticed that one of the student haven't attended the class today. Well it is often natural that laziness hunts every human especially in this tiresome time. But in his class every student is ignited with enthusiasm. So just in case, James decided to inquire it with one of the student before they left the school.
" Hey Nora, so you know why Michel didnt attend the class?"
Nora who was on the verged of leaving, stop and paused for a whole minute. She hanged her head. She starts sniffing and then she slowly raised up her head, her eyes full of tears.
" Michel got caught in a cross fire along with his mother. He wasn't able to live. His body was found half eaten by street dogs."
Hearing it James frowned in disbelieve and shock. But he approached towards Nora and gently put his hand on her head and mutted a soft encouragement.
" Everything will be okay. I believe Michel will be forever release in peace in another world where despair, torment and suffering won't exist to bother him."
With that James Cast a short prayer for Michel which finally helps in resolving Nora's mood.
All of them headed home. It was the same as usual.
Next morning, James headed for his work as per his daily routine. Only this time when he reached the school, he found no one. He waited for a while but after seeing no progress in patience, he decided to leave. James was even afraid to think that the other students might have receive the same fate as Michel.
But soon, his phone starts ringing. It was a phone he rarely use but always carry it in his pocket. He picked up the phone and it was from the employee of educational institution.
" A very Good morning Sir Wakson. I hope your day isn't going as bad as mine."
" Good morning sir. I can say my day isn't going bad as per the time. Well the reason behind your call?"
" Surely, lets get to the topic in hand. You see Mr Wakson, our economy is coming down day by day like wild fire which everyone is pretty much aware of. It's hard for us to corporate the site institutions for now. So in other words, we are taking down the old school where you have been putting your whole hearted work on. Please try to understand our situation, we are trying to cope up as much as possible and these are direct orders from the government, I hope you can understand it. "
" Yeah I can understand it. But what about the students? What about their future. "
" I can guarantee with utmost certainty that the children of yours will surely have part in our constitution but can't say how might their future turned out to be. Even we can't guarantee on how long our cope gonna hold. So let the time decide for now. "
James felt a sudden relieve after hearing those words. He doesnt care about his living but the pupils of his.
But the employee wasn't done talking.
" But sir Wakson, as a sincere loyal citizen of our country, we can't let your skills go to waste. If you get what I mean. You are homeless yet sir, your skills and profession in itself is excellent and it is needed somewhere else."
James paused for some seconds, processing what the employee just said and lastly asked with impatient in his tone.
" Where is my post exactly then? "
" A town which isn't that well known, I mean that town only got recognised the previous year but it is surprisingly inhabitated by most people, it's name was something like Garden of Enunch or Erent. There you would find a school where your skills are needed. I have already talked with the institution over there and they have accepted you as a fellow member. You don't have to worry about low income Mr Wakson, the town itself is cheap, you may have more money than needed but don't let lust and greed take over you. Anyway, that's the matter I wanted to clarify to you. If you excuse me please I got other errands to run on. "
The employee hunged up.
James is left in silence once again. He couldnt reject the pay back. It was already decided.
He went home and packed his things up. By Dawn he had done all his stuff. He heads out on the streets and turned one last time back to his old home. It wasn't going to be a home any longer after he leave this place. It may have been old and dusty but it was what gave James the slight happiness that no one can deliver. He smile slightly, a kind of language only he can speak at home. That language clearly says goodbye. Because James knew he isn't going to return in this place.
He disappeared in the streets once again and soon took a train. He headed out to the address the employee had given him.
Hours or perhaps days passed by. Soon he reach his destination.
He stood infront of an ominous town always covered by a perpetual fog. The scene would give chills to any ordinary worker.
But James took his first step and entered the lonely maze.