A Human Among Countries

Prologue: The beginning

(This song hits hard than my dad's belt! That's a joke, I'm fatherless. *Laughs at being fatherless*)

A house can be seen burning down with firefighters rushing to put out the fire. A group of police officers can be seen nearby keeping a bunch of rioters away. A group of firefighters quickly gets the fire hose and starts spraying the flames. As this is happening, a young man can be seen exiting his car, looking at the house in horror, taking off his glasses to see if his eyes were playing tricks with him. He walked towards the house, only for a firefighter to approach him. "Sir, I'm gonna need you step away from the fire." The firefighter said politely. The man didn't respond and only falls to his knees as he starts to shed tears. "Sir... was this your house?" The firefighter asked, looking down on the man. "It was my father's house..." Was all the man could say, staring at the burning house while the firefighters co to put out the fire.

Earlier before the incident

(James' POV)

I was currently heading to work, in my car. It was early in the afternoon, but I wasn't in any rush. It's been about a year or two since I've graduated from high school and I've been working at a restaurant to help my father pay with house payments. Now, working at a restaurant wasn't something that I wanted to do, but it was something I had to. I mean, college is expensive! Right? My father couldn't afford it, but I was okay with that. Even though getting a college degree is something a person should get, it's hard to afford.

Anyways, I arrived at the restaurant. Getting out of my car, adjusting my uniform and headed inside in the employe door. I was a bit nervous, cause I'm only a little bit social and I'm a nervous wreck when it comes to people. Now, I know what you're thinking, working at a restaurant will require you to be social, yeah I know that! But thankfully one of my friends from high school works here with me, and let me tell you. He's quite social with anyone, and he helps with my shy demeanor.

As I entered, I was greeted by one of my fellow staff members aka my friend. "Glad to you made it." He said, offering me a handshake, which I hesitantly took. "You still shy even after high-school?" He said, making adjust my glasses. "Y-yeah, I am Richard." I said, not loud though, but he still heard it though. I then felt his hand on my shoulder. "Hey, If it wasn't for me being your friend, you would be even more shy and distant without my support and help!" He said rather patting me on the back. I lightly chuckled. "Yeah... I guess so." I said. "Anyways, let's get to work before the boss sees us slacking!" He said, which we both headed to are work area. Now, I maybe a historical nerd, but I did took cooking lessons at school and also my dad taught me as well when I was younger. Though, it was only me and dad, I've... never had a mother. My mother, left when I was 2 or 3 years older old, and my dad almost gotten into a drinking habit, but he stopped with some of his friends help.

After he went sober, he did everything he could for me to have a good life, and the world seemed to have been on his side in my perspective. He had a job that paid well, about $23.60 an hour and he got his paycheck at the end of the week. He worked in construction, it's dangerous, but he's been working in construction even before I was born. Anyways, I'm getting off track. Without a mother, I'm never really uhh, okay around woman. Due to my shyness and nervous behavior I sort of freeze up when I'm near a lady. I've never been a pervert 'cause I keep those thoughts to myself. But sadly I've... never had a girlfriend before, so I'm not really great around women.

But I can't let myself get in the way with my work, so I just suck it up and move forward!

I was currently in the kitchen, making some food for the customers. I finished a food order, which a waiter had came inside the kitchen and took the food. After they took the food, I continued on to the next one. Richard was next to me as I was cooking. "Hey, hows your old man doing?" Richard asked me. "He's doing okay, a bit tired from working but his okay." I said, with a slight smile. "Anything interesting happened?" He asked, as we continued to cook. "Well, he told me that a pile of bricks almost fell on top of him." I said, chuckling softly. "Well damn! He's a lucky guy." He said, chuckling. We both chuckled and continued to talk for a bit as we continued to make food for the hunger people in the restaurant.