"You can have all the money and power in the world but it can't buy you happiness and it certainly can't buy you love." These were the words my Father expressed to me this morning on our way to the city. This was our usual routine; Waking up, feeding the chickens, immediately leaving and not coming back until 9pm. I could say that I'm not a normal kid my age, I don't get the chance to go to school. You see, my family is pretty poor. By family I mean me and my Father. I used to have two grown brothers but they left us a year ago to Enlist the Army. My Dad told me there was a big War happening in South Korea because North Korea invaded them. I had troubles sleeping since I knew why they left us so quickly, I was terrified the Koreans would find where we live and assassinate us.

Now I know, none of this would really happen. I just had a crazy imagination of a 14 years old boy and I couldn't control it.

"Will, you're getting my box out of what?" My father spoke up, getting me out of my thoughts. I was still sitting in the parked car while my Dad was already positioning his easel on the sidewalk. I guess I let the thoughts gnaw my mind once again.

"Coming!" I exlaimed as I quickly grabbed the box filled with paint, crayons and brushes in the backseat. My Dad's a painter but when it comes to making money, he does portraits of people, especially women's. He loves them.

"Here." I said. "Can I try to draw a portrait today? I think I'm ready."

"Not yet Will. You have to get better." My Father told me. I sighed. "It's hard work, son."

"I'm getting bored. Can you at least draw something else than Womans? Maybe Mens? Or even boys! Everybody loves a good drawing."

"Ladies are the only people interested and patient enough. They got nothing to do all day since their husbands are at work."

I titled my head back in a sign of annoyance and sat along the sidewalk. All I wanted was to draw a portrait and make a little money so I could buy these candies I wanted so bad the other day.

My Father was already getting it's first person of the day as I sat there, watching people walking by on the other side of the street. Their lives seemed so much more fun than mine, especially when you saw kids with their lunchboxes, ready for their day at school. I wish I could be one of them.

I stood up from my sitting position and interrupted my Father as he was speaking with the Lady in front of him. "Dad? Could I please have a quarter? I haven't had breakfast." I said. He glanced at me and got some coins out of his pocket.

"Don't go too far."

"I won't. Thank you Daddy!" I exclaimed and started running towards the candy shop. I was so excited. I was on cloud 9 when I entered the shop. It was filled with candies of all sorts and toys were everywhere to be found. This is what dreams were made of.

"Looking for anything in particular?" The owner of the store asked me. I shook my head no. My shyness was taking over me once again. Talking to people was a very difficult task, it was probably the reason why I couldn't make any friends.

"Alright. If you need anything don't be shy, I'm always available." He said. I proceeded to nod once again and went to the first aisle to look at the candies. Bazooka Gum, Necco Wafers, Tootsie Roll, Sugar Babies, everything I heard about on the radio were there in front of me, It was so exciting.

"Hell, I'd rather be stuck with this frickin' Bitch than having to deal with you ever again!" A voice coming from the outside of the shop shouted. I raised my head up to look out the window. A boy, who looked like my age was arguing with a man. The man slapped him in the face as he pronounced the word "Bitch." Making me jump in astonishment. It's not everyday you see a kid getting slapped in the middle of the street. I quickly got out of the shop to look at them from the other side of the street, the kid was wearing this orange cardigan with a clean white blouse underneath it, a red tie completed the whole look. His hair was well coiffed, tons of grease was keeping it in place. Glasses were also visible on his face. He seemed like he came from a good family but didn't inherit the good manners rich people usually had. Never have I ever heard a kid my age pronouncing such bad words before.

The man shouted things about a record deal they couldn't cancel and that the kid needed to act properly in order to keep their careers safe. I frowned, not understanding anything they were talking about. What was a record deal?

The well dressed boy was left alone in front of the place where they came out of. He seemed unhappy, upset as the man got called in by people who were dressed in nice suits. They all looked so intimidating.

"What are you staring at, nerd?"

It was not until I realized he was speaking to me that my eyes opened widely. "Oh boy." I said to myself. I immediately reached for the door of the candy shop to get back in but it was too late. A hand grabbed the back of my shirt, pulling me away from the door.

"You spy on other people huh? You were eavesdropping were you?" The kid asked me, I turned around to face him. "What have you heard, prick?" He pushed me in the shoulder and snatched the newsie hat that was sitting on my head.

"N—Nothing." I murmured. "Give it back."

"Who are you working for? Russians?" He asked as he spinned the hat with his finger.

"W—What?" I fixed my hair quickly as I tried to grab the hat in his hand. Obviously, he wouldn't let me.

"Why did you seem so curious? You're a fan?"

"A fan? I—I don't even know you!"

"Sure you do." He replied.

"I—I don't."

"Oh. I know why." The kid chuckled. "You're a hobo? It explains why you're dressed like this."

"I'm—I'm not a hobo!" I exclaimed. I felt so attacked by him that my timid self wasn't there anymore. If there's one thing my Father told me was to never let anyone disrespect me. "You bug me. Give me my hat back."

"What are you then if you're not a hobo?"

"I draw portraits and—and you clearly, you're a show off *. I can tell by your egocentric self."

"Wow. I'm flattered but no. My Dad's a show off. I'm just a singer."

"A singer?" I asked.

"Yeah. I'm on this Tv show called Your Hit Parade."

I shrugged. "I don't know—Never heard of that." He looked at me. A smile formed on his lips.

"You're kind of an oddball ." He told me before giving me my hat back. "I like it."

"What do you mean you like it?" I looked at him as he crossed the street to go back to the small building he came out of.

"See you around. That's a very stylish hat." He exclaimed, pointing my head. He stopped walking mid-road to look at me. "What's your name?"

"W-Will." I responded.

"Right-o. I'm Mike."

I nodded and smiled at him, happy I might have just made a friend. A car stopped due to Mike standing in the middle of the street, immediately honking at him. He gave him a dirty look before raising his middle finger up at the Man standing in the white car.

"Eat shit!" Mike shouted.

"Pardon?" The angry man got out of his car. "Excuse me young man? Your manners!"

I held myself back from bursting into laughter, This kid was goofy. I watched him run away from the man as he waved me goodbye.

"Au revoir, Will!"

Show off: Slang word used in the 1950's. Representing an actor.