After James finished explaining the reason why he traveled back to Detroit city, he asked Simon.
"The Mr. and Mrs. Lewis you spoke of, do they reside in this city?".
"No, they reside in California".
Then Simon began explaining what made him migrate from California to this city. How he successfully ran out of their house and how he survived on the streets as a homeless person. He told James about the young boys he met in California that shared the same dream and passion as his...football.
How they threatened to whoop his ass if he wasn't good at football playing and how he amazed them with his football skills. The guy he felt connection with and how they sat down on the football field discussing for hours. Then he came to the main reason that made him move out of California,
"They chased the hell out of me but they couldn't catch me. People kept on standing in my front to grip me, but I dribbled and dodged every single one of them. Seems like according to what Mr. and Mrs. Lewis posted on social media, the person or people that catches me would be rewarded with a certain amount of money, that's why they were so eager to catch me. Knowing that I was in danger staying in California, I boarded a bus that drove me straight to this city".
After Simon's explanation, the both of them began talking about how they've been surviving since they ran out of the places they found themselves. Sleeping in hotels, sleeping in uncompleted buildings, sleeping in buses. Then Simon asked James how well he had prepared for the audition he was gonna partake in tomorrow, and James told him that he wasn't even prepared at all. This was the next statement that flowed out of Simon's mouth,
"Sing for me, let me confirm if you are good at singing or not".
"There is nothing for you to confirm, am ain't that good at singing, I just wanna try out my luck". James stated.
"Music auditions isn't something you go for just to try out your luck? You have to make sure that you are good at singing to a certain extent. Do you know how many talented singers are gonna be present there?".
"Am gonna do some personal voice training before tomorrow, at least, that would help in enhancing the quality of my voice a little".
"That wouldn't do much, that would most likely not be enough to make you pass through the audition. Going to a music school would help a lot". Simon asserted.
"Yeah, I had plans of doing that before my stupid uncle took the lives of me and my parents. Am still gonna find a way of doing that anyway".
"Try singing for me anyway, I wanna hear you sing". Simon uttered, he still wanted to hear James' singing, he wanted to know how bad it was.
"We are at the side of an alley, people are passing by, I don't want them to hear my singing".
"You can sing in a low tone of voice, that way, most people wouldn't hear your singing". Simon contended, he really wanted to hear James' singing.
"OK then, since you insist, I'll sing".
With that, James cleared his voice a little and began singing a song of one of his favorite artistes. Now, his favorite artistes consist of both males and females, and the particular song he was singing at that moment was owned by a female singer...one of his favorite female artistes. The song was a slow jam and the original song was very pleasant to the ears, but with James singing it, it wasn't as good as the original song.
Sincerely, Simon wasn't feeling James' singing that much, he had discerned that James still had a lot of work to do regarding his vocals, a lot of improvement needs to be done regarding his voice. But Simon could feel the love and passion he has for music, and with some little voice training, his vocals would become standard.
James finished singing, then he turned his attention to Simon and inquired,
"So what do you think? Bad right?".
"Hmm, not that bad, and not good either, you still have a lot of work to do regarding your vocals. Maybe you shouldn't go to that music audition you plan on going to tomorrow. You ain't well prepared for it". Simon said, he wasn't trying to discourage James or bring him down in any way, he was only telling him the truth.
"No, I'll go, I've filled and submitted the form already. The judges should make fun of my performance and give me constructive criticism. That would give me more determination to improve my singing skills. I'm surely gonna partake in the audition...whatever comes".
"OK then, if you say so".
"So what plans do you have under your sleeves to achieve your dream of becoming a professional footballer?". James asked Simon.
"I don't know man, I had already taken a step to achieving it in California, but it got spoilt 'cause of the stuff the Lewis family posted on social media. Remember, I told you about the guys I met in California that shared the same dream and passion as me. They all loved football and they were skillful footballers. Associating with them could take me to greater heights someday...but it got spoilt anyway. So I don't know what next to do, I'll have to find a way to settle in this city first, then I'll strive towards achieving that". Simon explained.
James forwarded his palms towards Simon and uttered, "Let's become friends man, let's try achieving our dreams together, let's survive together. Let's have each other's back in times of distress. I feel like we are meant to become friends, the connection is really strong".
Simon smiled and received James' handshake saying, "Yeah, let's become friends and do all the stuff you mentioned. We are similar in many ways. But first of all, let's talk about how we are gonna survive, you've still got some money left with you out of the money you stole from the orphanage, right?".
"Yeah, they are in my pocket". James retorted.
"And have still got money left with me out of the money I stole from Mr. Lewis' briefcase. But you know what, the money is gonna finish as far as we continue spending. So I had plans of finding a job in whatever city I settle in, and if possible, rent a mini apartment. I'll be doing all these while trying to achieve my dream of becoming a footballer. Let's do this together". Simon uttered.
"We are similar in many ways, I also had plans of finding a job in whatever city I settle in also. Since we've gotten to know each other and we've become friends, as you've said, let's do this together, let's accomplish all these together". James stated, a broad smile on his face.
The both of them shook hands together once again, then they sat there discussing for a long time. They talked about their lives as a little kid, their best food, and other stuff like that. They had become best friends, the connection between them was as strong as ever. Then suddenly, James asked a question that was of utmost importance,
"Where are we gonna spend the night today?".
"Since we have money on us, we'll have to spend the night in a hotel, like you said, you've been sleeping in hotels even before we crossed paths. Then tomorrow, we'll go our separate ways to engage in our various activities. You have a music audition to participate in and I might engage myself in some activities. Then we'll meet again to talk about how we are gonna find a job and settle in this city". Simon explained, that was great thinking.
"That's a nice idea".
Simon felt his stomach rumbling, he hadn't eaten anything since he arrived in this city, he needed to eat something...it was mid-afternoon already. He would have drunk coffee if not for the accusation that was laid upon him...thanks to James for clearing his name. James was hungry also, but he wasn't feeling it that much 'cause of the conversation he was having with Simon. Simon said to James,
"I don't know if you are feeling hungry, but I am. Nothing has entered my mouth since I arrived in this city, I wanna grab something to eat".
"Yeah, I am hungry also, just didn't notice it 'cause of our discussion. Let's go grab something to eat together". James voiced out.
With that, both of them stood up from the chair they had been sitting on for hours carrying their backpack along with them...it's about time to go eat something.