“Once summer came, we’d go to one of my cousin’s houses in the countryside. The house was among few in a dying village, the youth afterall—went to the city to chase jobs and dreams.” My grandfather took a moment to take a breath. He was recounting a bloody but somewhat funny experience he had as a child.
He was seated at the end of the table, facing everyone, however, us ‘adults’ were too familiar with the story, and simply continued eating. He still had an audience with the few children my younger uncles had, but it was a far cry compared to when I was younger.
“Over there, my siblings, cousins, and I would play everywhere, anything we could move with our hands was a toy.” He chuckled in between. “Our play was interrupted by supper, and resumed by the sun's faltering.” He took another gulp of air.
“Unfortunately, night was our limit; even as we fantasized ourselves as heroes and explorers, searching for what lurked in the dark; our parents would faint if we were ever not in time for dinner.” He smiled, creasing his face into having more friendly wrinkles. “Besides, we were always hungry at the end of the day.”
“One day, once we were all tired, and the lampposts were on; we found ourselves in a peculiar situation.” He eyed the children, who were listening attentively as there wasn’t anything else to do.
“When we were just outside the house, something came out running. That thing seemed to bump into the different walls of the street, until it faced the direction of my younger cousin,who was only 7.”
“The thing now went chasing towards him, the poor lad was frightened beyond relief, and went off running.” He barely spoke coherently, as he laughed at the same time.
“The rest of us were no doubt clueless but amused at the spectacle. Then, one of my uncles came out saying ‘Where did the chicken go!?’, we looked at him funny.” He stopped to take a glass of water, producing a void of words, with only the clattering and slicing of cutlery.
“One of us then broke the silence, asking ‘The thing that chased Pau?’ My uncle merely nodded.”
“We then showed him the way, finding ourselves with a tired chicken and a bloody Pau.”
“Poor kid had been chased by a clueless headless chicken, a headless chicken!”
…
I jolted out of sleep, after the sudden halt of the bus. I was sleeping on the bus to avoid the streets, however, I couldn’t stay for long.
“Sir, please leave, this bus is done for the night.”, the bus driver seemed to teleport right to my seat, a clear sign of my sleepiness. I hazily lifted myself out of the seat, before turning to him.
“Yeah…good night to you.” I said groggily
“Good night. I left soon after.
The bus was parked at the local train station, which was almost a sanctuary of silence, if you ignored the trains passing. I couldn’t sleep here sadly, I’d get fined or worse.
I promptly left the station and into the town. My stomach rumbled, but no shops were opened, but even so I’d have to ration the money I had.
The dim lights of the lampposts and my fatigue did nothing to make me stay awake, as I seemed to float through both worlds. A headache soon took over my mind, rendering my thoughts chaotic. My body was turning against my mind.
I could only manage a few steps before falling into an alley.
The last thing I saw was a figure.
…
“Hellooooo… Earth to… whoever you are.” A mature voice echoed through my mind, I paid little notice to it, trying to relish the few moments of dreaming.
“You’re moving, that’s a good sign.” He thought out loud. I felt two hands gripping my shoulders, a rumbling shook my dream. I seemed to endure it for what seemed an eternity.
“Gah! What the hell?! Wh-where am I?” I desperately questioned my mysterious awakener. With some sense of reason coming back to my mind, I became terrified of what happened after my blackout. The only thing else I knew about my surroundings was a pungent odor.
“You fell asleep in an alley, kid, not the smartest decision.” My eyes slowly open to an older man with rags as his clothes. On top of his head is a dusty beanie, with a withered scarf protecting his neck, and a thick jacket around his body. Even with his dire appearance, his expression showed off confidence and security.
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“Who… are you?” I ask him meekly. I took a quick glance at the sky, seeing that it was nearly dawn.
“The names Joan, pleasure meeting you.” He took a quick glance, before clasping his hands together.
“We should get out of here, the smell isn’t the most pleasant.” He said the obvious, and I nodded. He then gestured to me to follow him.
The town now seemed very different than when I came stumbling around, with the lamp-posts and few specks of light creating an interesting contrast, nothing awe-inspiring though. It was becoming a bit more lively, with a few people leaving their homes to do their business. Joan stole a few glances from the fellow passerbys, but they were polite enough to not stare.
“ So tell me sir…?” He asked in an almost pompous tone.
“For simplicity’s sake, call me Marc.” I said neutrally.
“Ok, so how come you’re following me without question? Shouldn’t you be more… hesitant?” He was right to believe something was fishy with me, afterall, I wasn’t a drunkard who forgot to bring a sober friend.
“Well it’s a bit hard to explain, not only that, I’d prefer to not say why.” Joan looked at me pensively for a moment, before deciding to drop the subject. We walked in silence for a good while.
“Where do you need to go? I’ll drop you there if you want.” He offered companionship, which I accepted, but I had no place in mind, and the only pl-no, that was out of the question. I guess I should stay with him, as I was standing besides the man I’d become.
“Um, would it be fine with you If I stayed with you, I… have no place to go.” The man was taken aback, but quickly composed himself, forming a faint smile.
“It’s been a while since I had anyone over…” His last word drowned.
”Is that a yes?” I nervously ask for confirmation.
”Isn’t it obvious?” He raises his left brow.
“So is it?”
“Yes, kid!” He replied with… laughter?. Was he mocking me?
“What’s so funny?” He snorted.
“You’re like a mouse, nervous beyond belief.” He said a truth in which I agreed, I was petrified. A pale comparison to his aura, maybe I should ask him where his calmness comes from.
“Let’s get out of here first, we’ll talk later.” He read my mind. And I heeded his suggestion, making the walk silent. We continued till the walk became a hike into the outskirts, and until the sounds of the town diminished. Till the path became dirt, and the path into grass.
We finally reached his friendly abode, a huge tent with several ‘furniture’ dotting the camp. It wasn’t the best, but it didn’t seem to be from a slum.
Joan looked at me, and gestured for me to sit on a chair that was just outside the tent. It was flanked by another chair, where I presume he’d sit on. So I did, crossing my legs, and using this moment to brush my hair.
“Give me a moment.” He asked, receiving a curt nod from me. He went inside rummaging for something, which only took a few moments, before he came out with a half-empty bottle of some sort of alcohol.
“This is the only thing that’s keeping me sane.” A chuckle came out, but his tone was half-serious. I tilt my head.
”Would you like some? You do seem like you need a sip or two.” Raising his occupied hand to me, I shake my hand, saying “I don’t drink.” That raised Joan’s brow for a moment before he shrugged. He slumped back to his chair.
We each took a fresh breath of nature’s green paradise, admiring the simple beauty that surrounded us. There were few trees, but each was filled with life, with squirrels, insects, and several birds calling them home. All chirping, trilling, and squeaking in their mysterious tongues.
Joan took a swig of alcohol before facing me, he eyed me and my apparel closely. He looked up at me saying “ You’re so uptight… so formal.” I had no idea what he meant, I thought I was in a relaxed stance. “What do you mean?”
”Your legs are crossed, you keep brushing your hair, as if someone was judging you. Your back is straighter than a plank!” He turned his free arm ninety degrees trying to create emphasis. I didn’t get his point so I pressed further “So?”
“You should be more relaxed, slacked, slouched, head back. No big brother in sight, kid.” I looked back blankly, as if the man was saying blasphemy. But he’s right, I’m so far from returning. I deserve a break.
My first act of defiance was slouching back on a barely intact chair, and it felt magical. I fell into a doze, one fantastical I had been aching for ages.
However, nothing lasts forever. “Hey kid, you up?” My eyes flutter in annoyance, and I turn to him. He sits in a casual yet striking position, with him inspecting the bottle as if he was hamlet.
“Now yes.” I let some sarcasm out. He grins slightly, “I’d like to ask some questions.” Specifying nothing in general, it left a cryptic undertone in the air.
“On what?” I said with a bored face. “On your origins, why are you here?” He looked at me with genuine curiosity. I feel hesitant, he’s a stranger I’ve just met several hours ago, but he’s taken me in my lowest. To hell with it, what’s there to lose, “If you answer one of my questions.” To which he replied with a nod and a renewed offer of some alcohol, which I accepted, gulping a good amount. A warmth filled my body.
”You go first” He said while leaving the bottle on the grass bed “When did you find me?” He seemed taken back, but quickly realized it was only fair. “Just right after you went fast asleep. You might have seen a figure before hitting the hay.” My eyes raised in surprise, I quickly checked my pockets, feeling everything in place, I sighed relieved. I gestured for him to continue. “I thought of taking a few valuables off you, as it was a golden opportunity, but I know better. So I tried waking you up, to no avail.” He took a breath.
”I thought of leaving you, but the tired face you had, reminded me of younger me, and no one should go through what I’ve been through.” He said with a sorrowful voice. “So I stayed up with you, until I managed to wake you up, the rest is history.” A pregnant silence engulfed us
”Thank you.” I finally said, he simply nodded, before asking his barrage of questions. “How old are you?”, “Almost eighteen” I replied, “Are you in school?”, “I guess not anymore.”, “Were you a delinquent or any other troublemaker?, “Never.”, “You seem to have ran away, why?” I found myself the first hard question, I always had good enough grades, I had good behavior, I had a loving family, afterall, It seemed so bizarre to be with Joan.
But, a fear had been growing inside me, one made out of doubt, which made me lose confidence in myself, which spiraled into a sort of depression. That depression stagnated my promising career, turning me into driftwood. “I became lost at sea, depressed to the point of deterioration. I wanted no shame on my parents, so I ran to you I guess.” Joan's face rightfully turned into confusion, and I could only lower my face.
“You should get back to them.” He shaked his head. “My parents? But isn’t it too late?” I gave home a dejected look, but he waved that away. “Nonsense! You can easily go back, rebuild yourself into the best man you can be!” He almost shouted. “If it’s so easy, how are you still here?” My response made him almost aghast, cursing him into silence. His eyes turned to the ground.
“It was different…much-much different.” He said shell-shocked. “How?!” I angrily said, however, It provoked nothing. He only sighed before saying “I was left in the rut, with no one to turn to, no one to guide me into this life. I learnt alone, and suffered for it…” I was ashamed at my outburst to a miserable man who wanted to only help me.
“Joan-“, “ You need to leave, get back to your loving family.”, “But-“, “But you shouldn’t forget what you learnt, you shouldn’t throw away opportunities like I did!” I tried to interject, but he cut me off “Leave…please. I need to sleep, god knows you’ve drained me.”, I took out my wallet to offer what little money, but “Don’t waste precious cash on an old fool like me, besides you’ll need it for the trip back.”
I tried to negotiate with myself to talk sense to him, but I realized he was right, and I should talk sense to myself. I knew what I had to do, so I stood up and let my back face Joan. This probably would be the last time I would see him, ironic, such a big impact on me yet so little exposure.
Nonetheless, I took off.