June 3, 2001
11:41 PM
Flint, Michigan
Xavier Zed Barnes was sitting in his bed, reading one of the many novels that were propped up against his wood bookshelf in his room. Xavier was reading Stephen King's Salem's Lot. He was residing in his mother's duplex. His mother, Queen Olga Barnes, chose a duplex due to the fact that it was the only house she could afford. The duplex was on East 1st Street in Southern Flint, Michigan.
His neighbor lived with Xavier's father, Harald Schuchardt Barnes. Xavier was born in Czechia. Queen was Czech and Harald was a German tourist visiting the country. After the 90's, Harald had lost almost all of his money due to debt, so Queen had to work 2 jobs in order to get money after having Xavier in 1983. They had been living in the duplex since 1995, where they eventually divorced.
Queen and Xavier's neighbor was Cleve Brant, a man who had become close friends with Harald before agreeing to let him live in the duplex rent-free. Harald had decided to start getting loans from "pretty suspicious people" according to Queen. This got Harald into even more debt. This led Xavier to where he was now, still living with his mom at 18, trying to find a job while reading a Stephen King novel. Xavier had just finished the third chapter, before deciding to go downstairs to get a snack. So he did so.
He didn't have a bookmark, so he just folded a dog ear at the top right corner of the page he was on before closing it and pulling off his covers, sitting up on the side of it. He did a prolonged stretch which was accompanied by a prolonged grunt. He sat up and walked out of the room and into the small hallway. In the hallway, he saw his great dane, who was named just Zed, after Xavier's middle name. It was just 2 months old and was a brindle dog. Zed had barely ever barked, even if an unexpected guest was there. Xavier walked down the stairs.
He saw his mother, Queen, watching TV, specifically Law & Order. He heard the theme of it playing as he went into the kitchen.
"Hey, Xavier." Queen greeted him.
"Hey, ma." Xavier responded.
"You wanna watch Law & Order with me?"
"Sure, ma, I need to make this sandwich real quick, though."
"Alright, hurry up though, this intro can only last so long."
"Alright, ma."
Xavier quickly grabbed a container of roast beef out of the refrigerator, before grabbing a loaf of white bread, throwing out the end pieces, and grabbing a small plate out of a cabinet. He placed the bottom piece of bread on the plate, before grabbing a lump of roast beef and throwing it on the piece. Xavier grabbed the top piece of bread and placed it on the plate, before grabbing another lump and throwing it on that piece. He then grabbed a bottle of sriracha, and put it on the top and bottom pieces of bread. He then put it in the middle of the roast beef sandwich.
He grabbed a knife and slowly sawed through the sandwich diagonally. It eventually left a perfect cut. He brought the sandwich to the living room table, before sitting down on the couch next to Queen. Queen yawned before asking Xavier a question; "So have you gotten anything back from that job?"
"The janitor one?"
"Yeah."
"I haven't got a call yet."
"You know, I think you could do better than just a janitor."
"Yeah, but I haven't gotten a--"
"Shh! It's back on!"
YOU ARE READING
Remember Who I Am
ActionThey ruined his life. Now he'll take theirs. After his mother is killed and his father commits suicide as a result, Xavier trains for years and years in hope to find a lead. These prayers are answered when, after meeting a contractor and a younger...
