[i]
Waking up at 11:30 a.m.
Strawberry Toaster Pastries. Orange Juice.
All day shift at China Wok.
Delivering an order to Lisa Square. I remember giving this
lady a menu yesterday. After I knock I hear a little boy’s voice demand softly,
“Who is it?” Normally I get irritated when customers do that but because the
voice sounded innocent enough I’m not as annoyed.
“Chinese food,” I reply.
Boy: “Mom! The Chinese food guy is here.”
He turns to me and asks, “What’s your name?”
Me: “Robert.”
After the transaction with the mother I start to head off
but the boy demands, “Wait! I wanna a hug.”
How cute is that? I’m just a stranger to him. I mean how
could I say no. I couldn’t.
Me: “Okay.”
I offer one of those side hugs, like an uncle would give.
“Bye, Robert,” he says as I make my way down the stairs with
a smile.
Grilled Cheese with Tomato. Blue Multi-Grain Tortilla Chips
with Salsa. Mango Oolong Tea.
Delivering an order to a regular customer off Goldsboro
Avenue. The mother requests that her daughter hold the tiny yapping dog as she
gets the door. As soon as the door is opened the girl insists on telling me,
“My dog is smarter than you!”
During the evening shift I have two back-to-back phone
conversations where I take on the role of an encourager. The first one is with
Wyatt. Him and Rachel have been staying at our place this past week. And
apparently Rachel just got into quite a car accident a few hours ago. As she
was trying to leave Chanticleer a truck zooms by and hits her head on. The car
is totaled but she survived with only a few nicks and bruises. My goodness.
At any rate, Wyatt’s frustrated because it’s just one more thing, just one more
problem, just one more thorn in their struggle to settle down as they don’t
have a legit place to live currently and now they’re without a car.
Me: “Just be strong, man. You’ve got plenty of friends
around you. Things will work out.”
...
Then, on the phone with my precious mom. She’s got her own
dilemma in Florida, a personal one. A lot of major shifts on the line. This is
one of those heart to heart conversations that I’ll always remember. As a son I
needed her the most growing up. I’ve found that as I follow behind her in age
that she needs me more now. As we both lost important people in our lives we
can always count on each other’s support. A mother and a son’s bond is
indestructible. She’s in tears at some point. I try to assure her that despite
all the screwed up stuff she’s been through she never failed in raising me
properly.
Me: “I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for
the person you were and are.”
Fried Shrimp with Onions, Carrots, Broccoli, and Rice.
I get off work a tad bit early.
Packing up at home and getting ready to leave. James takes
me to the bus station.
It’s about 1 a.m. I’m New York bound, soon to be Russia
bound. Gonna try to get some shut eye on this crowded bus.
[i] Image by me.
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