Ben proceeded to walk on the streets as he thought of where to apply. "Where should I go? I can't return so I can only go forwards!" Ben told himself as he walked to a cobblers shop.
"Excuse me sir, are you hiring?" Ben asked as he walked up to the old man behind the counter that was wearing a apron.
"Sorry but no. The only reason this shop is still open is because of a hobby of mine. Modern day manufacturing has reduced the need of cobblers, I don't want to have to put up with the hassle of having to manage employees. " The old man said in a raspy voice.
"Do you know anywhere that is hiring? " Ben asked as he tried not to stare at the old man's wrinkly face.
"There are no that I can think of but you will have to ask around yourself." The old man replied as he looked at Ben.
"Thank you. " Ben said as he turned around and left.
Ben continued to walk and ask around for any job positions and was met with the same answer each time.
"Well, it wouldn't hurt to try the docks." Ben said as he headed east. The city that Ben lives in is mostly strives off of its exports, such as fish, raw materials and the produce of the companies inside of the city.
Ben spent the entire day asking the captains of the ships currently docked at the city, but alas he was met with the same decline.
"What am I supposed to do now? Where am I supposed to go now? " Ben asked no one in particular as he went to leave the docks.
"You need to leave kid, the port isn't a place where kids like you can play. " A middle aged man dressed in a dark thin jacket over a heavy metal T-shirt and jeans. The most intimidating thing about him was the scar that ran from his right temple to his lower jaw.
"I have no where to go and nothing to do. If you have any advice please give it. " Ben said as he looked at the man.
"Haha, I like you kid. Why don't you come work for me? " The man said as he laughed.
"Yes, thank you sir! Oh, I already agreed without even knowing your name." Ben said as he laughed with joy.
"My name is Skylar Smith. Just call me Mr. Smith, the only thing that you will be doing is run errands for me. " Mr. Smith said as he looked serious.
"Yes, Mr. Smith. " Ben said as he tried not to get fired within five minutes of being hired.
"I like you kid. Meet me back here tomorrow morning at eleven. " Mr. Smith said as he laughed and walked away.
Ben was excited as he ran back to the park. He awoke the next morning as early as possible and ran back to the dock.
"Wow, your here early kid. I had some things to do so this could be considered your first moment on the job." Mr. Smith said as he walked closer to Ben.
"My mom always told me if you can't be on time then be early. " Ben said as he laughed.
"She sounds like a smart woman, you should definitely follow her advice. Follow me. " Mr. Smith said as he led Ben into the alley near the docks where tour boats unload their passengers.
"What are we doing here? " Ben asked as he constantly looked around.
"Shhh, try not to draw attention to us. " Mr. Smith said as he watched a man dressed up as a tour guide walk behind a young woman towards the alley that they were in.
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"Alright hand over anything of value and we will let you go. " The man said as they stopped in front of the dumpster Ben and Mr. Smith were hiding behind.
"Nice work Bill. " Mr. Smith complimented as he walked to stand next to the man dressed as a tour guide.
"There is no way you are getting away with this. " The woman said as she tried to walk past Bill.
"Did you already forget about this sweety. " Bill said as he pulled out a gun he was concealing in one of his pockets.
"What are you guys doing! " Ben asked them as he finally realized what was going on.
"Work, if you want to get paid then go walk to the entrance of the alley and be a lookout for us. " Mr. Smith said as he pulled out a hand gun similar to the one Bill was concealing.
"There is no way I can go through with this. " Ben said as he backed away.
"What, did the thug grow a conscious? " The woman said with sarcasm as she turned and glared at the only man nearby that wasn't holding a gun.
"Shut up. " Mr. Smith said to the woman as he turned to face Ben.
"Go stand by her and don't think about doing anything because there is no way for you to out run a bullet. " Mr. Smith told Ben as he pointed his gun at him.
Ben walked to stand by the woman who was still glaring at him.
"Hand over anything of value or there will be consequences. " Bill said as he pointed his gun at the two of them.
The woman handed over her purse and then Bill turned to face Ben.
"What, are you going to be stubborn kid. " Bill said as he raised his gun.
"Easy there Bill. It's not that he is being stubborn it's just that he doesn't have anything on him. " Mr. Smith said as he tried to avoid conflict.
Bill lowered his gun as he noticed the cheap shirt and jeans that Ben was wearing. "Alright miss, was that so hard. " Bill asked as he went to turn around but stopped
"Hand over the necklace. " Bill said as he walked back over to her.
"I won't, this is the only thing left that I have of my mother. " The woman said as she began to cry.
"Handed it over or I will get it myself. " Bill said as he walked over.
"No! " The woman screamed as she kicked Bill away and ran through a fence separating the alley from a nearby skyscraper construction cite that was vacant at the moment.
"Get back here. " Bill screamed as he and the rest of them chase after her.
Ben ran ahead of them and followed the woman up the ramps near the steel pillars that we're towering up into the sky.
"Miss stop! " Ben said as watched the woman run to the edge of the scaffloding.
"If you come any closer I will jump. " The woman said as she watched Mr. Smith and Bill run up behind Ben.
Is there really any reason for you to do something so stupid ?" Mr. Smith asked.
"Shut up! What are thugs like you to know about things such as being filial to your family! " The woman screamed as she started to cry..
"My name is Benjamin David, what is yours? " Ben asked as he walked slowly closer to the woman.
"My name is Sarah, why do you want to know? " The woman said as she raised her head to look at Ben.
"Well Sarah, right now I am trying to help you okay." Ben said as he stopped walking.
"Why, would you help me? Earlier he said you were working for him! " Sarah screamed as she walked closer to the edge.
"Sarah calm down please! Would your parents want you to do this? " Ben said as he walked closer to her.
"No, but what else am I supposed to do. " Sarah said as she stopped moving.
"Live, live your life to the fullest that you can so that you will not have any regrets when you do die. " Ben said as he walked closer to close in the 1.5 meter distance between them.
"Okay, I will" Sarah said as she quit crying and went to move forward, but she slipped and fell backwards.
"No!! " Ben screamed as he grabbed one of her flailing arms and pulled towards him. Sarah quit calling back but Ben continued going forwards and went over the edge and fell over the edge into the sixty foot plunge.
What is happening? Why is there so much wind? Wait, Sarah went to fall and then... *SIGH* so this is how I die. Twenty-five, single and full of regrets. I should have been less of a loner, more active and at least went to the gym once a month. Why didn't I lift? *sigh* I hope Sarah doesn't make the same mistakes I did.
Ben thought as he first felt the wind and until it ended. Sarah and the rest were led off of the top of the construction by police officers and Ben was escorted in a body bag. Sarah sobbed as she told the officers everything in the police station as Mr. Smith and Bill we're put behind bars. Ben's mom got the news of his death from his obituary in the news paper. She attended Ben's funeral with Sarah and the people who attended the reunion. Sarah followed Ben's advice to the fullest and became a doctor. His mother died said months after the funeral after spending those six months in depression.