Joel walked to a nearby food stall, the enticing smell of grilled meat drawing him in. He bought a cheap cheeseburger and sat on a small bench, the faint hum of city life surrounding him.
As he bit into the burger, his thoughts swirled. I finally got the role, he thought with a hint of satisfaction. But the excitement quickly gave way to practicality. Now, I need to hire a lawyer to review the contract.
The original Joel hadn't bothered with lawyers before, foolishly signing agreements for his extra roles without much thought. That wouldn't happen under his watch. Contracts could be traps, especially for someone new to the industry.
Pulling out his phone, he debated calling his mother. Even after his father had disowned him, his mother had continued to support him in secret, sending him just enough money every month to scrape by. The memories from the original Joel were so deeply integrated into him that it didn't feel unnatural to speak with her. In many ways, he truly felt like she was his mother.
After a moment of hesitation, he made the call. The phone rang a few times before her familiar voice answered.
"Joel, how have you been? Are you eating properly?"
Joel glanced at the greasy cheeseburger in his hand and smiled wryly. "Yeah, Mom, I'm doing well. Eating just fine."
She paused for a moment, then asked, "Why did you call, Joel? Are you short on money? Don't worry, Mom will arrange something for you…"
Joel shook his head, though she couldn't see it. "No, Mom. It's not about money. And I already told you, I'm not going to my aunt's place. I know Dad's stubborn, and I know you can't change his mind. But this isn't about him. It's about me. I want to pursue my dream."
There was a heavy sigh from the other end of the line. "Joel... you know how hard life is. Your father only kicked you out because he wanted you to see that."
"I know," Joel replied gently. "But I don't care how hard it is. I want to be an actor. This is my choice."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, in a resigned tone, she said, "Alright. So why did you call, then?"
A smile crept onto Joel's face. "Mom, I got a small role! Do you know any lawyers?"
"You got a role? Is it an extra?" Her voice carried a tinge of disapproval.
"This time, I got a line," Joel said proudly. "One line!"
His mother scoffed, but there was a warmth in her tone. "Just one line? Well, don't give up. You'll slowly get more. And if it doesn't work out, you can always come back and take over your father's business."
Joel laughed softly, sensing her gentle teasing. "Let's focus on the role for now. About the lawyer?"
"Oh, right," she said, as if suddenly remembering. "I know a guy. I'll send you his number. Go meet him—I'll talk to him, so you don't need to worry about paying. I'll just add it to your father's account."
Joel couldn't help but laugh. "You're the best, Mom."
They talked for a little while longer. Joel asked about his younger sister, but the mood shifted when his mother mentioned her.
"She's become a bit unruly," his mother admitted. "Ever since your father disowned you, she's been giving him the cold shoulder. She won't even talk to him."
Joel sighed, guilt weighing on him. "She's not answering my calls either. I think she blames me for leaving."
"She'll come around," his mother said softly. "Just give her time."
They moved on to lighter topics, chatting about everyday things. By the time the call ended, Joel felt a bit lighter, though a twinge of guilt still lingered in his chest.
As he stood up and tossed the burger wrapper into a nearby bin, he looked up at the bright Los Angeles sky. One step at a time, he thought. This is just the beginning.