Chapter 4 My world

He stopped me at intervals,blocking me with his Michael Jackson mimic dance moves jumping from one door step on the street we walked on to another.He was happy.He had always been happy.Coming from a broken home where his father left him because of his mother, but he stayed with his mother who was battling addiction, Drug addiction.

He always had a strong conscience and staying with his mother during these trying times when she was aggressive or repulsive, caring for her regardless felt simply right to him. And he did just that.

"I presume this is just you practicing for later today?" I asked slighting him .He jumped from another door stairway,snatching his bicycle from me.

"Think what you want Will,I'm trying to avoid dying alone and being cranky"he said taking the other part of the junction that led to his home .It was just some couple of blocks ahead opposite the road path that led to mine.

"Send me that essay we are supposed to submit tomorrow by 1" I said almost on top both hands curved around my mouth trying to be histrionic ,while standing at the end of the junction.

"I won't!!!" He replied,without looking back marching forward.One hand pulling his bike with him and another showing me the peace sign with his fingers. Hands above his head. All without looking back.

He would. Definitely would. With the thought in my mind, I turned around and walked away.Stepping into the street that led to my own home.It was quiet and scanty.Few shops opened left and right,having usually few to none customers on a daily.

The discouragement was evident on the faces on the shop keepers. Their source of livelihood was running thin.It made them all grumpy and easily irritated by the slightest of stimuli.The few who had the supplies were short and demand and the others on both sides of street didn't have a full shop as the neighborhood would have wanted.

The sun was hot.It was almost like it was giving a hint at what hour of the day it was.I hummed out my favourite song 'That's what I like' from my favourite album of Bruno Mars. 24k Magic .I didn't know the lyrics that well so humming it did quite well for me.Being down to earth didn't mean I could alone listen to sad songs from heart broken 90's musicians. I had feelings too. And giddy funky music got me,and I get it too.

"Good afternoon,Mrs Hopkins" I said with a bright involuntary smile taking an apple of her wooden structure that served as a fruit kiosk while greeted a very healthy old woman,somewhere in her early 70's.She was very delightful and always wore a smile. She was more like a grandma I never had. And I knew she felt the same.

"How's it going Willie-boy?" She asked brushing her hands through my hair without any form of concurrence.

"Well you know,just another day I'd have preferred to skip"I let out taking a second bite off the Apple.

" Look here Willie boy, if you skip the delight and mysteries the day has to offer everyday. You'll have nothing to ponder on,or wonder about when you are my age"She said in a calm and mesmerizing tone.Like she was impacting a line of adage on me. Or so she thought.

"Have a nice day Mrs Hopkins" I gestured to her with the apple in my hand as a show of appreciation looking at her,walking backwards .Nothing tastes better than free food.Or in my case fruit.

Turning around to enter the next door immediately beside the old lady's stall,it was a 4 storey building.And my apartment was somewhere there on the last floor.Hopping on the 3-block stairs that led to the entrance of the building,I heard a weak shaky voice behind me.

"And oh,Your dad said he's not going to be home today.He said you shouldn't do anything that'll make the fire department come around" Mrs Hopkins added with giggles.

Looking back as she spoke, I opened the closed door with my back with the right amount of force it needed.It was not one of the heavy doors, but it was quite very old and needed a good amount of pushing.

"Thanks Mrs Hopkins" I thanked her letting my back of the door and slamming it shut.

Climbing up to my apartment through the stairwell,It reminded me of all the reasons it wasn't my favourite place to be.Shouting and arguing between couples that could be heard between the thin walls.Moaning that I could not explain, sounded like pain and pleasure too.The choking funk of blunts and cigarette that stuffed the air within the building,the beseeching sound of hungry babies that just wanted their needs met.All dissipating through the weak walls of the dully lighted building.

I reached the front door of last apartment on the left flank on the building reaching for my keys somewhere in my bag. Bringing them out and opening the door,letting myself in.I got a warm welcome from another of the most valuable creatures in my life,Buckles,and he was my dog.A Basenji.

He ran towards me, jumping up and around me,standing on both hind legs gesturing with fore legs towards me,panting heavily.I let out the half eaten apple I had taken down stairs earlier and he ran after it.He had been waiting for me.I was the only person he knew and could a playful dog care, regardless of how many times he would get ignored? Absolutely not.

Entering my room, I pulled off my Nike sneakers just using my feet. I flinged them towards the place they usually are in my room,knowing they would not land on that spot.

Slamming myself freely on my bed,face down letting out a big sigh of relief.This was the one place I had control over.The things I ate,the time I slept,the clothes I wore,every nit and bit of what happened in here was decided by me.

Buckles jumped up on my bed circling round me,climbing upon my body ignored,hoping I get to throw him something else to eat or at least throwing him a disk to catch.He collapsed all four of legs at the same time, in a lying position, disappointed,still panting loudly.

Caressing the top of the dog's hair,hoping he would understand that I had become very trite. Bringing down his head,he layed low.Knowing it was too late to watch any series of movie,turning my head side ways to look at the clock on the wall,hoping my eyes were not too tired already to be strained.I saw the time.3:20.

It was late.Late past my self proclaimed siesta period.And luckily I didn't have to battle with daytime insomnia.Being tired made the sleep come easily and naturally.Slowly letting go of Buckles, I dozed off,with my clothes on regardless.