Unfortunately that had all changed when the economy began to drop. The stores owner was already having issues maintaining bills, so when prices skyrocketed that was all she wrote. Not even a free loan from Shane Watson, owner of the local Action World Pizza and one of our best customers, couldn't convince my boss to keep the doors open.
A few weeks later, I had a meager severance check in hand and no job. The town I live in is small, so there wasn't much I could do in the area of job hunting. I eventually lost my apartment and eventually found myself on the streets a few times despite taking on a few odd jobs.
At one point I had almost gained a job at Action World Pizza as a technician, but after an interview with Shane Watson I knew I wouldn't get it. He was too stoic and unimpressed, and I already saw the next persons application on the desk. Just a glance. College degrees beat me any day. I never checked back, and I didn't have a phone at the time to get reached at, so I considered it a loss. Eventually I found a steady beat at the local grocery store.
I remember seeing Mr. Watson a few times, I also remember him looking at me as if I had forgotten something. I simply tried to avoid him, and for two years I did. I saved my money, rented a room offered by my supervisor at her place, and eventually moved into my own single-room apartment. It was less than what I had before, but I didn't complain. My supervisor at the grocery was kind enough to help me find it.
A year past. I got a promotion to security and a meager raise (no complaints from me!). I got a used car (with the help of some friends pitching in), a cell phone, and I made a life for myself. I was poor, but happily poor, and while there was little to do in my new position, I enjoyed the freedom it allowed. I made friends, and soon I would find myself hanging out with most of the town.
At the end of my second year at the local grocery store, I confronted by Shane Watson out in the parking lot. He seemed intent on talking to me, but I still felt a tinge of anger at being overlooked two years prior, so I did what I always do in socially awkward situations. I ran for an escape, specifically my car. Mr. Watson must of read my mind, because made it there before I did.
"Why are you avoiding me?" Mr. Watson asked.
Now, to be clear, Mr. Watson was an intimidating person. Sure, he was old, probably in his eighties, but he kept himself so well maintained that you wouldn't know that. The only dead giveaway to his age was his gray hair and mustache, which both was always neatly kept and presentable. He really didn't smile a lot either, and right now the only thing I saw on his face was a frown.
"I um..." I couldn't find the words at first. "I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Watson. But I really need to go."
"Bullshit," Shane Watson replied flatly. It was the first time I had ever heard this man curse. He took a step toward me, forcing me to step back.
To be fair, I was a pretty intimidating person myself. I stood at five-feet and eleven inches, and I regularly worked out since I couldn't afford cable or any other distraction. There wasn't much that scared me. Mr. Watson on the other hand? Six-foot, four inches, and he appeared to work out as well. As a matter of fact, I knew he did, because I saw him at the community gym a time or two. What really put the nail in the coffin for this situation was his fatherly demeanor, and how horrible and guilty I felt with his stare.
"Edward Reign, right?"
"Yes sir," I replied.
"You know," Shane began, "for two years I've been trying to talk to you. You applied as my technician, and you never left a way to contact you. Why didn't you ever come back? Why are you avoiding me?"
At this, he crossed his arms, staring intently at me, almost as if I had done something wrong. What did he mean "come back"? Hadn't he already lined up someone else?
"I-I saw the application," I muttered.
"Pardon?"
"The application? The guy with a college degree in electronics and engineering?"
I watched as his face scrunched in thought. He looked away for a moment, only to look back with a confused expression, eyebrow raised. "What did that have to do with anything? He didn't apply for the technician position."
It was then I felt my heart fall into my stomach. What? The guy didn't even apply for technician?! I had-
By this point Shane had taken note of my bewildered state, and it appeared he put two-and-two together as his eyes widened. He let out a long, "Oh!", and lowered his arms, one of which patted my shoulder and shook me from my broken state of mind.
"Son, are you telling me that all this time, you thought some college educated kid had already taken the position?"
There wasn't much I could say at this point. I simply nodded. Mr. Watson proceeded to burst into laughter, much to my dismay. But it didn't die down. He continued to laugh. Eventually all the regret and anger rose the surface, and I burst into laughter too. It had all been done silly misunderstanding, and the stress if it all finally found a release.
After a few moments of both of us laughing, Mr. Watson patted me on the shoulder, looking at me with a smile. "You mind if we get around to talking now?" He asked me.
"Not at all," I replied with an equal smile. "If you want, I can drive us to the coffee shop. We can talk there."
"Sounds good," Mr. Watson replied. "I think we have much to discuss."
With a turn if a key, and a shift of a gear, My destiny began to unfold that day. Little did I anticipate what Shane Watson was to talk with me about. Needless to say, it would change my life forever. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Right now, at that point, I'm just happy to have a second chance.
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