It was five o'clock. This place was sound asleep. Pearson's Mart had been unoccupied with customers since one hour before.
I went to the storeroom, took off the apron, hung it back to a trolley, and turned off the light in this room. My hand held a key. I closed and locked the door. Then, I headed to the glass main door and turned the open sign to close.
"Bye, Pearson!"
Pearson stopped counting his money. "Goodbye!"
I left the supermarket and walked in the cold weather. I forgot to bring my jacket. My body felt frosty without it. Moreover, the wind around was pretty robust.
The sky looked darker than common. No more full body of the sun was in the west. Just its glow remained. It went down earlier today.
Many streetlights turned on brightly. A hot dog cart was complete with a guy as the seller stayed among the lights. It also had cooking fumes around. It might be new since I'd never seen any hot dog stand hereabout.
I ran and reached the stall in a quick movement. Not only hot dogs, but also several plates of shrimp pasta lay inside the display case. They looked super appetizing with discounted price.
I bought the pasta for takeaway dinner and stood beside the stall to warm my body for a moment. It was comfortable. The iciness lessened a bit.
The guy kept looking at me. His face turned from cheer to gloom. He was strange enough. However, I didn't care about that. I continued walking and leaving the hot dog cart.
Breeze slowly reduced. The heat emerged in each second. It increased my vigor.
About fifteen minutes had passed. I arrived in front of a building, where light lamps in the shape of two steins and a barrel shone on top. Words said "Pack-In Bar" was attached to the wall. The door was very tightly closed, yet it had an open sign.
I pushed the door, went in, and peered at all things inside the bar. A large number of old men sat everywhere. Most of them were jobless. They drank the same beer in here. They were supposed to name this place with "Pack-In Beer" instead of "Pack-In Bar".
Uncle Steven sat on the other end with a glass of beer facing him. His friend, Tony, took a seat next to him. Both of them were blotto. It happened so often.
I trod and approached Uncle Steven. I had no idea whether he was still able to distinguish himself or me. This was a tough thing I particularly did every evening.
"Hey, Uncle Steven!" I called him.
No response or reaction he showed. He'd been drunk.
"Your uncle died," said Tony with half-closed eyes. He guffawed alone.
That wasn't factual, though I agreed with the statement. Uncle Steven looked like a corpse. He didn't move. His neck and fury chin halted on the table. His eyelashes were nearly linked.
"Uncle Steven!" I increased my sound capacity.
Tony stopped laughing. He gazed at me and swayed his neckline.
Uncle Steven lifted his head, turned his face to me, and widened his left eye.
"What do you want, huh?" Uncle Steven hiccupped.
"Let's move!" I demanded.
Uncle Steven grinned. He took a gulp of beer. He didn't listen to me.
"Don't be late or we'll close the door, again!" I cautioned.
"That's not your house. It's mine," Uncle Steven spoke with a dawdling motion.
Uncle Steven cracked up. Tony joined his laughter. The others also laughed one after another. They generated clamor in this place.
It was exasperating. None of these old men was solemn. All of them were sloshed.
No matter what was going on, I just left this place. I spent ten minutes walking on the street. I arrived home at 5.35 pm.
Nothing is pleasanter than our own house. My body got warmer and warmer. The outdoor airstream couldn't bite me in here.
Huge intensity sound located in the kitchen. It was more to a groaning voice, plus a thud. Also, only the kitchen light was on. Even though that was fishy, it didn't frighten me because I often heard this noise when I returned from work.
I pussyfooted to the kitchen. The tone was louder. My eyesight became brighter. And lastly, I reached the kitchen.
As my surmise, Amanda was shaking her body with a guy. Both of them placed their hands on a table and didn't wear pants. The first time I saw, it was very sordid. But now, I didn't see any repulsive thing. It might be that I was used to it.
Amanda and the guy spotted me. Both of them were shocked. They stopped, wore back their denim, and smiled at me.
"You return earlier," Amanda sighed.
"It's actually five minutes late," I reassured.
Some ironware sprawled on table. There was an empty tool bag, a wrench, pliers, a screwdriver, and a mallet.
"Was the washer having a problem again?" I probed.
"Yes," Amanda answered.
The tall person with thin beard who stood beside Amanda kept patting his dusty pants. He's Jimmy Lench, Amanda's boyfriend. He came here for the reason of repairing our washing machine or microwave sometimes. We always asked for his help, since he worked as an engineer in a small company. In addition, he didn't charge any fee for us. It was so enjoyable.
I approached the table and put my packaged pasta on it. The food was still warm.
"Is that for everyone?" asked Amanda.
"It's mine," I replied. "Small portion. It's not enough for all."
"Okay."
Jimmy smiled. He discontinued patting his pants, kept the tools in the bag, and cleared up the table.
"Do you wanna join us for dinner, Jim?" Amanda enquired.
"Sure."
It was ordinary. Every so often Jimmy joined us for brunch or dinner. Not only him, but also Caroline did.
Amanda went to the sink with Jimmy. They washed their hands and started preparing dinner together. Amanda took out some red beans and sweet potatoes from the fridge. Jimmy cleaned those vegetables, cut the yams into small pieces, and placed them in the microwave. Amanda heated up a pan and cooked the beans. Both were very cohesive.
The tempting whiff appeared. Tiny size of fumes materialized. Temperature around here increased. It was very snugger.
Amanda and Jimmy spent twenty minutes doing this. They finished making stuffed sweet potatoes with red beans. It was a perfect and very good menu for dinner today.
I helped them with the preparation. I took some plates and cutlery, placed them on the table, and divided the food on each platter.
Dinner was ready. We merely needed to wait for the others to come home while reducing a little heat level of the food.
My watch showed 6.50 pm. Someone unlocked and opened the main door. Ryu arrived together with Lucy and Will. Their faces looked exultant.
All family members had come home, except Uncle Steven. We just started dinner without him, although he seldom joined us. We enjoyed the meal. It was very scrumptious.
Ryu looked at my shrimp pasta. He wondered how I was the only one who had it. He kept watching me slurping the pasta.
"Is it yummy?" Ryu stared at the pasta. "Can I have some?"
Ryu moved his left hand. He tried to take some of my pasta with his fork.
I pulled my food. I loathed letting anyone take my items, including food. Everyone knew that. But, Ryu still insisted.
"No. It's mine," I said.
"Oh, come on!" Ryu stopped moving his hand. "Don't be greedy. You ate the beans."
"I said 'No'."
"Sigh! Fine."
My appetite reduced. I had no idea why Ryu liked to harass people in the middle of dinner hour. He actually savvied we all hated it.
Ryu continued devouring his food. Lucy didn't stop gobbling. Will swallowed the beans in slow action. Unless Amanda forced Will, he didn't want to eat any kind of beans.
Time by time, we finally finished our dinner. Ryu, Lucy, and Will left. They went to living room. Jimmy and I helped Amanda clean the table. We washed the tableware together.
"So, how's your day?" Jimmy asked me.
"Nothing's great," I said. "More to terrible. Yeah, I met the slut at Pearson's Mart."
"That Jessy again?" Amanda cackled. "What a pesky day!"
I just smiled. Jimmy and Amanda knew who Jessy is. I used to tell them about her when I was a high school student.
It was done. Everything was sanitary and arranged well.
We went to the living room. I joined Lucy and Will in watching TV. Also, they were eating potato chips. Ryu was reading his magazine. It was a hot magazine. He liked to buy and collect that kind of paperback. Amanda and Jimmy sat on the edge of sofa. It was very pleasing because gathering is always fun, no matter at what place or what time it is.
We spent around one and a half hours here. And, it was nine o'clock now.
"Bedtime!" said Amanda.
Everyone got up from the sofa. I turned off the TV. Ryu kept his book under the sofa. He was the first person who went upstairs, followed by Lucy and Will. Jimmy kissed Amanda and left this house.
Only Amanda and I remained in this room. We sat back on the sofa.
"Our food stock now is only left less than one week," Amanda sighed. "I think it's just enough for four or five days."
"Until this Wednesday?" I asked.
"Yeah. I guess so." Amanda looked fretted.
"How much more money do we have left exactly?"
"Seventy bucks."
I took a cigarette and a lighter from my pants pocket. I lit it and started smoking. It brought tranquility to my mind for a moment.
"I'll find something I can do tomorrow morning," I comforted.
Tomorrow was Sunday. I was free because Pearson didn't let me go to work at his supermarket, though it opened every day. However, this would be perplexing since looking for a job is never easy.
"Anyway, I'll get paid this Monday," I continued. "But, only this time, I'll lend my money."
The bell of front door rang. It startled us of a sudden.
I got up from the sofa and strode to the door, stood nearby, and placed my right eye to the peephole. I thought it had to be Uncle Steven standing in front of the door, but my judgment was erroneous.
"Holy crap!" I whispered to myself.
"Who's that?" asked Amanda with a quiet voice.
"It's a cop." I soothed her, "Stay calm!"
Amanda gazed at me. She was very panicked. It was hard for her to be serene, but she could be unspeaking in this condition.
I questioned myself why a policeman came here. One reason that I could assume was we messed with Mr. Cleame yesterday.
I opened the door and let the officer see me.
"Good evening!" he greeted me.
"Good evening! Can I help you?"
"Does Steven Cavergon live here?"
"Yes," I answered in uprightness. "But, he's not here... now."
"Of course. That's what we need to know."
He moved a little bit. Two other officers appeared from his backside. They walked toward me while holding Uncle Steven who looked defenseless. They threw Uncle Steven to the ground, right in front of my feet.
"Your father is drunk," said the officer. "Very drunk."
"He is my uncle," I corrected. "Thanks, anyway."
"You're welcome. Take care of him next time. Good night!"
"Good night!"
The cops went to their car. They left us on a bitter night.
"Nice," I muttered.
This was embarrassing and maddening. Uncle Steven was unconscious. He slept on the ground with his mouth open and snored in high decibels.
I held Uncle Steven's hands, dragged him into the house, and placed him on the welcome carpet. He was too heavy for his body size.
"Amanda!" I called, "could you help me, please?"
I stopped for a while to mend my capability. My respiration worked double faster. It needed a lot of strength to pull Uncle Steven to the living room.
Amanda came. Her expression changed.
"Ow!" She rebuked. "C'mon, Dad! You suck!"
Ire existed in Amanda's body. I understood her feeling. She'd done a lot of things today. She was exhausted. Now, she couldn't stand seeing her father like this. Moreover, this was not the first time. We'd been watching it multiple times.
Amanda approached Uncle Steven. She raised her right hand and intended to slap him.
I already knew it. My left hand moved at full speed, captured Amanda's right arm, and managed to prevent her.
"Stop it," I consoled. "He's drunk."
"I can't hold this any longer!" Amanda spoke with an angry voice.
"I know. I know. We can do this, together. We can. Okay?"
Amanda closed her eyes for a moment. She gulped and took a deep breath. Her eyes glistened with tears. Then, she removed it.
"Let's move him. C'mon," I demanded her.
We pulled Uncle Steven together, moved him to the sofa, and covered his body with a blanket. It was enough. We didn't require bringing him to his room. Also, it was impossible for us to do that. This even had drained a lot of energy.
It was time for me to go to bed. I left Amanda and Uncle Steven.
Amanda was still there. She talked to Uncle Steven, but without any reply. Her voice was very small. Furthermore, I didn't pay much attention. I had no idea what Amanda was talking about. I just continued up the stairs and went to my room straightway.