THIRTEEN YEARS AGO...
, The soft splats of teen boots sunk in the mud leaving imprints on the wet ground. They crossed a pile of butter-textured dirt lying by a heap of freshly cut green grass. They were all dressed in smart white packet short-sleeved shirts and black shorts. They had smartly designed handkerchiefs tied neatly in a crossed style and nestled on the left side of their necks. The tired eighth graders trudged into the woods wearily. They were famished. The shrill cry of the whistle reverberated through the forest as the scoutmaster blew loudly into it. "Stop slacking boys it's only been an hour." A scout should.....??." He said, waiting for the boys to wrap up the sentence.
"Always be active and ready to serve. " Said the boys after him wearily. They were exhausted. One of the boys named Henry fixed his beret on his head, it was already slipping off. He adjusted his wristwatch to a more convenient hole and brushed his shorts with his hands to remove particles of dust. He loved looking clean. He walked up to Elvis Jacobs, his fellow scout.
Elvis was a good-looking young guy everyone admired. He was very attractive and smarter than kids his age. Everyone adored him, his gentle nature made him endearing to people. The fact he loved minding his business was the icing on the cake.
"You're not coming this year are you?." "As usual there's probably an excuse. "
"Why does your family avoid social events?." Henry Haul peered curiously. He was talking about the "Elite Conference", which was an annual gathering for remarkably wealthy families in the city, families that had retained wealth for at least two generations. Only dignitaries get to attend.
"It's family business," Elvis mumbled a reply.
"Just curious, rich people like us got to stick together, but your family is different."
"No one knows your dad, but you're the wealthiest kid in school." "How is that even possible?." Henry persisted.
"That's enough for today, you got us into this mess after all." Elvis reminded him.
Henry fell silent. He was the reason they were out here in the first place.
Elvis walked off to join the rest, he didn't like Henry Haul.
Elvis Jacobs was the son of a mafia lord, Jacob Jones.
They were the most feared family in the society, they commanded respect from the elites, and no one dared to mess with them.
Elvis was his successor, he was going to take over when he was old enough. But ever since he lost his mother, Elvis wanted more than just belonging to the mafia. Elvis craved peace, he craved a real family, the one thing he never had. His childhood dream was to marry a pretty wife, he had no ulterior plans for his future. Little did he know his childhood dream was on its way to getting destroyed by the mafia rule. A rule his father was yet to tell him, which was… "NO LOVE IN THE MAFIA."
They marched for a long time, the children whined and grumbled, they were hungry. "The town is close fellas." "We must not show any sign of weakness, lest we come off as weaklings incapable of handling tasks, we won't want that."
"We must arrive in style." "Understood? " The scout master addressed them without turning back. He had a grand body frame, his poise was like that of an army commander.
With the little strength they had conserved, the boys chorused energetically. "Yes sir !!!."
The small town was soon in sight, it was a mess. The buildings were dilapidated, the houses were identical to each other, and they had many unpainted walls. Dead plants were strewn all over the ground. Henry turned up his nose in disgust, his mother had taught him to avoid poor places and impoverished people, being poor was contagious, he could get it by breathing in the same space as they did, or touching anything they touched. He couldn't wait to get this over with.
The assistant scoutmaster ran up to the scoutmaster. Unlike the scoutmaster he was petite, he had no hairline. He had small beady eyes and a crooked nose. He wore a smile most of the time.
He leaned in close and whispered to the scoutmaster "Henry Haul has to stand out, he needs to gain favor from the natives, and his dad's campaign is close." "I suggest he stays ahead of us, and act as nice as he can."
The scout master thought it brilliant. Henry Haul's father Gideon Haul was a helper to anyone who helped him. He had promised them an upgrade if they managed to make everyone like the nasty Henry. Personally, the scoutmaster didn't like the kid, he was full of himself. "Come forward Henry Haul." He instructed the young Henry who ran to be at the front in excitement.
They walked into the town majestically, the little town was already out to welcome them. They had felt a surge of relief, for the first time, the capital had sent people to help them. Although they were scouts, they were better than nothing at least. Henry wore fake smiles as he greeted the elderly among them, bowing politely. A child gifted him a handmade paper kite, he had spent all day crafting it. Henry promised he was going to hang it up as a decor in his bedroom.
Henry Haul had always been a cunning and deceitful two-faced chameleon. He learned from his father.
Henry's father Gideon Haul had organized a family reality show for his campaign. It was all about him making dinner, walking the dog, and spending time with his family. It was filled with stuff he had never done for them his whole life. His dad had turned into Mr. Goody two shoes in a flash just so he could win some stupid ministerial appointment with the government. He was contesting to occupy the vacant position of prime minister.
Henry would never forget the reply he got the day he asked his dad why he was being nice. "It's a crazy world out there boy." His father replied.
"Dog eat dog."
Henry would never understand what that meant until he crossed paths with Chevy.
His karma.