I enjoyed my time in Burroughsville with my family, but I'd made an agreement with my uncle on my 17th birthday that sort of ruined it, understandably. He wanted to stop working three jobs. He was getting older and deserved to slack off a little, so on my 17th birthday, he came to me and said. "William, I know you're going to be initially unhappy with me for making such a decision, but I know you'll be understanding with me." He went on to explain that when I turned 18, I had to move out as soon as I was able to see if he was paying extra money for me and working an extra job to provide. I nodded, disappointed at the time, but rather okay with it.
The weight of his decision hit me a week before my 18th century. I hadn't even thought of it once. I was in the library talking to a young man, maybe only a couple of years older than me. He was an African American fellow, and times weren't easy for them. It'd still be a few years before a bill was passed, eliminating all laws Galveston had against them. Knowing how hard business was for them, I always visited this library for the books I bought, and the owner's son was always there for conversation.
One day could never remember his name, he was talking about his future, he said how desperately he wanted to be a land owner, build something on some blank property, and just see what he could do with it. It was a good dream, and I was excited thinking he was gonna talk about what business he wanted to own, but then he asked. "So, William, what are you planning in your near future?" It got me thinking, I realized I didn't know what I wanted to do with myself, I had a week before I'd have to move out and didn't even have plans for where to go. "Maybe I'll work to become a teacher someday, I think it'd be nice, huh, teach the youth?" He nods in approval, "That sounds like a plan. Where do you think you'd go for the education needed?" I felt so embarrassed being unable to come up with an answer, I wasn't able to name one university in the whole country. It made me feel unbelievably stupid. "I couldn't tell you, Fletcher, I have zero play for where I'm going to move in a week, so I'm way behind even thinking about schools."
He pulls out a notepad and writes down an address, "Park Hill Flats, apt 150, Sheffield Road." He hands me the note. "Come to Damianstown, you can stay with me for a bit until you get on your feet. I shook his hand and gracefully accepted.
When the time came to move out of my home, Ellian was hanging around me all day, extremely disappointed I was leaving, but Uncle Phil, something was on his mind it seemed, always looking down, always zoned out. "What's wrong with you today?" I asked the second I'd gotten a chance to talk to him alone. He looks up and waves his hand as if to say "Follow me", but not saying it. What he led me to was his closet. He opened it and spoke the words. "Will, it's been on my mind all day, and I feel like a cliche even suggesting to myself that I give you such a thing at such a time in such a way, but I'd like you to have something" He pulls from his too shelf a box with a flip top, and he does as imagined, flips it up. Trying to avoid cliches, he lets me grab what's inside. It's a plastic sack, and inside is something familiar, a red mask of wood with golden pattern decoration around the left eye and right cheek, I couldn't believe I was seeing it. "How'd you get ahold of it?" I asked him. "It's part of your family history. It was rather easy to get back from the police. You could do whatever you want with it, sell it, keep it on a shelf, wear it, it doesn't matter, it is an heirloom. " I just awkwardly carried the box around. "Sure, I'll probably keep it in the and, though," he shrugged and stood up, an action visibly difficult for him, which concerned me, but I did not comment on it.
I took the mask with me out the door and walked to the train station down the path, I was stopped by Ellian. "Will, I've gotten you something." I turned quickly. "What is it, Elli?" She hands over a well-soft grey sweater. "I picked it up from the market, I figured it was the exact thing you liked, and maybe you'd appreciate considering winter is coming along." I slipped it right over my head as my train approached. "Absolutely, thank you, Elli." I hugged her tight and bored the train, not looking back out of fear of it being awkward.
DamiansTown was different from what I expected, living-wise, of course. Every time I'd gone, it'd been for small trips, like the drunken music search, for example. It was humble, and polite, like a crazy child after a punishment. This place felt beautiful once you got to walk around it, I loved the city so much. In general, but I loved DamiansTown, too
Fletcher was great to be around once you got to know him, a humble and funny man with a knack for cooking some of the best meals I've ever had. We talked a couple of days in. "So, why were are working in a library in Burroughsville if you live so far north?" I asked. He responded quickly, "My sister, she lives there, she's was only a kid when I started the library with my father, so I stayed around there for work to take care of her, and at the end of the day, I'd travel the train back up here and sleep for the next day. However I'm probably going to quit and stay up here for work, she'll be 17 soon, she's old enough to take care of herself" I nodded and, we both agreed it was about time to kick our lives into motion
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The Phoenix-Book 1: Farforth Martyrdom
General FictionWilliam Phoenix is born into poverty but slowly makes his way up through the ranks of society. He has all he can dream of, the girl, the friends, the money. but it all begs the question, who are you with and without challenges in your life? and he f...
