A Dream. A Hope. A Scar. A Mission
Chapter 1: Stone Cold Believer
Edgewater. The largest city in the region. It was formally named as such because of the nearby ocean. That seemed to be the way everything else ran here in the city. Formally, of course. Everything has a preset course here. Some people call it fate that the bank manager's son becomes the bank manager, and that the prized rookie on the force always becomes the chief of police.
It even seemed that this would hold true for our hero, Jack Munich. His father was an important official at the nearby life insurance agency. It seemed that Jack was to become his father's heir when the time came. But fate had something different in store for Jack.
.....
On the 27th day of winter a disturbing letter reached the Munich household, which was now only occupied with my father and myself, Jack, since the death of my mother four years ago because of a train accident. The letter read:
Dear Arnold and Jack Munich,
"I am very sorry to give you this letter. Your beloved father and grandfather, Hess Munich, has passed away most recently on the day of Winter the 25th. My deepest sympathies to you. Hess was a great man. It seems there was a heart failure. I do wish you will join us by the 1st of Spring to send him off. Peace to you and your household"
Sincerely, Mayor Frank of the Flower Bud Village ~
I just collapsed onto the table with my head in my arms and let myself be swallowed up in my emotions. A rush of sadness, anger, and fear came over me. What troubled me most was the fear. I didn't want to see my Dad come home and read this. But more so, I feared what would happen to Grandpa's farm. I had a hard time going to sleep that night, and just wondered how I would survive work the next day.
......
Work was turning into an almost good day. I always went to bed before
Dad got home, and got up before him, working the early morning shift and all. 6 AM was pretty early for me, and I had been late more than once. Even so, when Dad got to the office around 9 in the morning, he had a sunken head and didn't look like he was in all that great of a mood, if he ever was. He had obviously read the letter.
"Jack" Dad started " You saw this, I take it?" He held up the letter sent from the mayor of the Flower bud Village.
"Yeah" I said in a low tone.
"We're leaving the 30th, the day after tomorrow." With that Dad just got up and left sulking to his office.
I fell back into the despair from the night before, but I had no place to hide it here. I didn't know how dad would respond to this kind of behavior at work. Still, I couldn't take it. I slammed my fist down hard on the cubicle desk, raising the curiosity of my nearby co-workers. This even attracted one of my peers, Mr. O'Malley, who was Dad's boss.
" Will you come with me, young Master Munich?" the director asked.
I knew he wasn't really asking this of me, he was telling me. I nervously got up and followed Mr. O'Malley to his corner office.
Sitting down in the chair is the director's office, assigned to his guests and victims, I noticed three things. One: my boss was one heck of a big guy, and bald too, with some remnants of orange hair on his head. Two: This had just become the worst day ever. Three: I wanted out of here.
" So... um.... you've had a few lates I see" Mr. O'Malley began "and I saw your recent outbreak in your cubicle. Now... I usually don't tell people this, but we're going to be laying off a couple or so people this Friday, the 30th. We figured the extra long weekend would help those who have been... *hem*.... disjoined to get over it."
Mr. O'Malley seemed to be going nowhere, I figured. Maybe a promotion? Heck if I knew. All I could tell is that the boss was a nut case.
"Yes..." the director continued " So if you don't want to... you know..." Mr. O'Malley's tone began to change. " I'd figure on shaping up a little!" Mr. O'Malley just got real stern. " Ten lates! What in the name of God! And that's just for this quarter! I outta' fire you right now! But since your my best supervisor's son, I really can't. If you don't wanna get laid off though, I'd suggest you be on your best behavior for the rest of the week! Now, get on out of here and get back to rolling out those numbers."
At this point, I really didn't care what was going on with my life, this just kept piling up. I don't really care if I lose my job I thought. So I just slugged out the rest of the day, and the next.
Friday came and, as normal, the sun came up after I did. My bags were
already packed, and was waiting for Dad at the door by 9 o'clock to get to the shipyard . Finally Dad came in with his normal brown suit and a suit case. Well, Dad called it a suitcase. It was really just his brief case with all his claims papers taken out and stuffed with clothes.
" I want to be in and out of here in a day" Dad announced.
".... Fine...." I replied. But how can you say that Dad? I thought. This is your own father. I would stay long enough to pay my respects for you.
I had to think twice about the thought that just went through his head, but after double-checking, agreed with himself.
.....
The boat trip thus far had been rather uneventful. I was looking over the side of the boat when he thought about doing something I hadn't honestly done in a long time. Start a conversation with Dad.
" Hey, Dad..." I started, feeling a little awkward " How you feeling?"
" Fine" Dad shot. "Look, I'm not much into talking right about now"
I was feeling a little frustrated at his stubborn father, and decided to do something dangerous.
" I don't care" I replied.
" I know son, I know" Dad said with a loss in the fire of his voice." But I do right now. I just don't wanna remember all the pain right now. I'm... sorry."
I felt that was enough. I gave it my best try. I tried to see if anyone else was on the small ship to this hole in the wall of a village. I did see one other person who didn't look like a sailor on board. I just stared for a minute at the scruffy looking passenger. He had some muscle on him, and his hair was something similar to a pile of hay.
" Name's Cliff" said the scruffy passenger.
I just realized how long I had been staring at this Cliff person, which was quite a while.
"My name is Jack." And with that, neither of us said anything more. .....
By the evening Dad and I had reached Rosebud Village. The sun was setting on the western horizon, creating an orange twilight. As the boat pulled up to the dock, I noticed something very strange. I didn't see any buildings. All I saw was a man with a bright red top hat and a red suit to match.
As I boarded off with his father, I noticed that Cliff person get off as well in front of them.
" I wasn't expecting you," said the man in the red suit.
" I'm the vineyard master's nephew" Cliff replied.
" Very well, I'm sure they will be pleased by your company" the red suit man greeted.
Cliff stalked off, across the beach and up the hill. I wasn't really sure if Cliff was more honest than he looked, or if he just lied through his teeth.
" And this is a familiar face I'm very sad to see here" said the red suit man.
" Pleased to see you again, Mayor Frank" Dad managed out. I could tell he didn't like it here.
" Wow, Jack has really shot up. I haven't seen you, boy, in...." the mayor obviously wasn't a financial genius, although his fluffy mustache and monocle gave you a different impression.
" Twelve Years!" the mayor finally managed.
" Yeah, sounds about right" I reasoned.
" Let me show you too the inn" the mayor offered. "Must have been a long boat ride."
With that the three of us continued silently off the beach, down the country road and into the village, with only the occasional talk about better times between the Mayor and Dad.
.....
The next day Dad and I attended the 10 AM service for Grandpa. I looked into the old man's eyes one last time. Just seeing him brought back to me so many flashbacks of when I was a little kid, around six years old I think.
The end of the service ended up leading the church members out to the cemetery where Grandpa was put in his final earthly resting place. I shed a few tears and thought Nothing could stop you Grandpa. I guess I'm just not as strong as you.
.....
After the service I found myself rummaging through Grandpa's cottage. It really wasn't a house by any standard. I couldn't even find a bathroom to speak of.
I pulled an old book off the shelf, showing a family tree. Then it hit me. Sure, I knew we were all Germans. I mean, look at my last name. But we were all farmers. Until Dad that is. Something clicked in the back of my mind -something crazy.
Just then I heard someone walk in. I whirled around to see Dad, seemingly ready to go with his brief case and/or suit case in tow.
" People called him a stone cold believe" Dad said so quietly it was almost a whisper. " If he said he could do it, he did it."
" Dad.... I...." I paused, not sure that I was going about this the right way. " I want the farm."
"You've gotta be kidding me" Dad shot back " You've got a great job back home."
" Then I am, as Mr. O'Malley says, disjoined from this buisness," I said in defiance.
" You'll never make it son, you don't know the first thing..." Dad argued.
" And I suppose you do?" I interjected.
" You'll never make it boy. I grew up here. You can't leave!" Dad shot back
" I'm going to be layed off when I get back anyways, it doesn't matter," I returned.
" You can't do it!" Dad shouted in anger. With that he just turned around and moved for the door. He shot one last glance back around at me " You'll starve son!"
I narrowed my eyes. Anger was rushing up in me. " Yes, I can do it."
Edgewater. The largest city in the region. It was formally named as such because of the nearby ocean. That seemed to be the way everything else ran here in the city. Formally, of course. Everything has a preset course here. Some people call it fate that the bank manager's son becomes the bank manager, and that the prized rookie on the force always becomes the chief of police.
It even seemed that this would hold true for our hero, Jack Munich. His father was an important official at the nearby life insurance agency. It seemed that Jack was to become his father's heir when the time came. But fate had something different in store for Jack.
.....
On the 27th day of winter a disturbing letter reached the Munich household, which was now only occupied with my father and myself, Jack, since the death of my mother four years ago because of a train accident. The letter read:
Dear Arnold and Jack Munich,
"I am very sorry to give you this letter. Your beloved father and grandfather, Hess Munich, has passed away most recently on the day of Winter the 25th. My deepest sympathies to you. Hess was a great man. It seems there was a heart failure. I do wish you will join us by the 1st of Spring to send him off. Peace to you and your household"
Sincerely, Mayor Frank of the Flower Bud Village ~
I just collapsed onto the table with my head in my arms and let myself be swallowed up in my emotions. A rush of sadness, anger, and fear came over me. What troubled me most was the fear. I didn't want to see my Dad come home and read this. But more so, I feared what would happen to Grandpa's farm. I had a hard time going to sleep that night, and just wondered how I would survive work the next day.
......
Work was turning into an almost good day. I always went to bed before
Dad got home, and got up before him, working the early morning shift and all. 6 AM was pretty early for me, and I had been late more than once. Even so, when Dad got to the office around 9 in the morning, he had a sunken head and didn't look like he was in all that great of a mood, if he ever was. He had obviously read the letter.
"Jack" Dad started " You saw this, I take it?" He held up the letter sent from the mayor of the Flower bud Village.
"Yeah" I said in a low tone.
"We're leaving the 30th, the day after tomorrow." With that Dad just got up and left sulking to his office.
I fell back into the despair from the night before, but I had no place to hide it here. I didn't know how dad would respond to this kind of behavior at work. Still, I couldn't take it. I slammed my fist down hard on the cubicle desk, raising the curiosity of my nearby co-workers. This even attracted one of my peers, Mr. O'Malley, who was Dad's boss.
" Will you come with me, young Master Munich?" the director asked.
I knew he wasn't really asking this of me, he was telling me. I nervously got up and followed Mr. O'Malley to his corner office.
Sitting down in the chair is the director's office, assigned to his guests and victims, I noticed three things. One: my boss was one heck of a big guy, and bald too, with some remnants of orange hair on his head. Two: This had just become the worst day ever. Three: I wanted out of here.
" So... um.... you've had a few lates I see" Mr. O'Malley began "and I saw your recent outbreak in your cubicle. Now... I usually don't tell people this, but we're going to be laying off a couple or so people this Friday, the 30th. We figured the extra long weekend would help those who have been... *hem*.... disjoined to get over it."
Mr. O'Malley seemed to be going nowhere, I figured. Maybe a promotion? Heck if I knew. All I could tell is that the boss was a nut case.
"Yes..." the director continued " So if you don't want to... you know..." Mr. O'Malley's tone began to change. " I'd figure on shaping up a little!" Mr. O'Malley just got real stern. " Ten lates! What in the name of God! And that's just for this quarter! I outta' fire you right now! But since your my best supervisor's son, I really can't. If you don't wanna get laid off though, I'd suggest you be on your best behavior for the rest of the week! Now, get on out of here and get back to rolling out those numbers."
At this point, I really didn't care what was going on with my life, this just kept piling up. I don't really care if I lose my job I thought. So I just slugged out the rest of the day, and the next.
Friday came and, as normal, the sun came up after I did. My bags were
already packed, and was waiting for Dad at the door by 9 o'clock to get to the shipyard . Finally Dad came in with his normal brown suit and a suit case. Well, Dad called it a suitcase. It was really just his brief case with all his claims papers taken out and stuffed with clothes.
" I want to be in and out of here in a day" Dad announced.
".... Fine...." I replied. But how can you say that Dad? I thought. This is your own father. I would stay long enough to pay my respects for you.
I had to think twice about the thought that just went through his head, but after double-checking, agreed with himself.
.....
The boat trip thus far had been rather uneventful. I was looking over the side of the boat when he thought about doing something I hadn't honestly done in a long time. Start a conversation with Dad.
" Hey, Dad..." I started, feeling a little awkward " How you feeling?"
" Fine" Dad shot. "Look, I'm not much into talking right about now"
I was feeling a little frustrated at his stubborn father, and decided to do something dangerous.
" I don't care" I replied.
" I know son, I know" Dad said with a loss in the fire of his voice." But I do right now. I just don't wanna remember all the pain right now. I'm... sorry."
I felt that was enough. I gave it my best try. I tried to see if anyone else was on the small ship to this hole in the wall of a village. I did see one other person who didn't look like a sailor on board. I just stared for a minute at the scruffy looking passenger. He had some muscle on him, and his hair was something similar to a pile of hay.
" Name's Cliff" said the scruffy passenger.
I just realized how long I had been staring at this Cliff person, which was quite a while.
"My name is Jack." And with that, neither of us said anything more. .....
By the evening Dad and I had reached Rosebud Village. The sun was setting on the western horizon, creating an orange twilight. As the boat pulled up to the dock, I noticed something very strange. I didn't see any buildings. All I saw was a man with a bright red top hat and a red suit to match.
As I boarded off with his father, I noticed that Cliff person get off as well in front of them.
" I wasn't expecting you," said the man in the red suit.
" I'm the vineyard master's nephew" Cliff replied.
" Very well, I'm sure they will be pleased by your company" the red suit man greeted.
Cliff stalked off, across the beach and up the hill. I wasn't really sure if Cliff was more honest than he looked, or if he just lied through his teeth.
" And this is a familiar face I'm very sad to see here" said the red suit man.
" Pleased to see you again, Mayor Frank" Dad managed out. I could tell he didn't like it here.
" Wow, Jack has really shot up. I haven't seen you, boy, in...." the mayor obviously wasn't a financial genius, although his fluffy mustache and monocle gave you a different impression.
" Twelve Years!" the mayor finally managed.
" Yeah, sounds about right" I reasoned.
" Let me show you too the inn" the mayor offered. "Must have been a long boat ride."
With that the three of us continued silently off the beach, down the country road and into the village, with only the occasional talk about better times between the Mayor and Dad.
.....
The next day Dad and I attended the 10 AM service for Grandpa. I looked into the old man's eyes one last time. Just seeing him brought back to me so many flashbacks of when I was a little kid, around six years old I think.
The end of the service ended up leading the church members out to the cemetery where Grandpa was put in his final earthly resting place. I shed a few tears and thought Nothing could stop you Grandpa. I guess I'm just not as strong as you.
.....
After the service I found myself rummaging through Grandpa's cottage. It really wasn't a house by any standard. I couldn't even find a bathroom to speak of.
I pulled an old book off the shelf, showing a family tree. Then it hit me. Sure, I knew we were all Germans. I mean, look at my last name. But we were all farmers. Until Dad that is. Something clicked in the back of my mind -something crazy.
Just then I heard someone walk in. I whirled around to see Dad, seemingly ready to go with his brief case and/or suit case in tow.
" People called him a stone cold believe" Dad said so quietly it was almost a whisper. " If he said he could do it, he did it."
" Dad.... I...." I paused, not sure that I was going about this the right way. " I want the farm."
"You've gotta be kidding me" Dad shot back " You've got a great job back home."
" Then I am, as Mr. O'Malley says, disjoined from this buisness," I said in defiance.
" You'll never make it son, you don't know the first thing..." Dad argued.
" And I suppose you do?" I interjected.
" You'll never make it boy. I grew up here. You can't leave!" Dad shot back
" I'm going to be layed off when I get back anyways, it doesn't matter," I returned.
" You can't do it!" Dad shouted in anger. With that he just turned around and moved for the door. He shot one last glance back around at me " You'll starve son!"
I narrowed my eyes. Anger was rushing up in me. " Yes, I can do it."