The poor man turned rich. That's the title of the magazine Joseph Jones reads at his kitchen table, while eating a single piece of toast. He's half tempted to read it, but he knows the fakeness of it will just anger him. So he throws it away, and walks over to the giant window at the front of his house. It might be weird to have to some people, but he enjoys the view of the city. He can even see the old bridge he was living under only weeks before .
Which reminds him.
The women at the gas station. The one who said he might just get lucky, the one who made all of this possible. He decided right then and there to see her. To say thank you. Quickly running to his room, he pulls out a plain white tee and a pair of jeans. Throwing on his new tennis shoes he stands up and looks in his full length mirror. A gift from the lady at the interview.
His beard is gone and he now sees a very thin face with grey eyes. His hair was to matted so he ended up shaving all of it off. Leaving a buzz cut, Joseph looks younger then his forty years. He wondered if the women would even remember him at the station.
He quickly runs outside, and heads to the sidewalk. Getting ready to walk to the station, he glances in the driveway and the big silver thing reminds him that he doesn't have to walk everywhere anymore. Joseph runs back inside, grabs his keys, then runs back out. Jumping in his car he backs out of the driveway and turns out of his neighbor hood. People wave at him as he drives by and he just nods in return.
Funny how the people that would pretend he wasn't even there, now treat him as if they are long time friends.
Eventually after some turns and twists he made it to the gas station. The outside still looks the same, the paint is chipped and the parking lot is still tiny. Parking his car, he sits there for a few moments. Thinking of what to say, what not to say. It shouldn't be that big of a deal to him, but this is the first time he can walk in there with his head up. The first time in years where he doesn't get bad looks from people, where they don't glare at him because of the way he smells or even looks. Because now, he doesn't look poor.
He looks like a normal human being, but he knows at heart.
He knows he will always be a poor man.
After much thought he gets out and makes his way over to the doors. Opening them he see's few people there, and most of them get shocked faces when they realize who he is. They smile and say hello. Joseph just nods and tries to politely get away from them . Looking at the front desk, he see's the woman. And luckily no one is in line.
" Hello . "
She looks up from the book she was reading. " Hello, can I help you ? "
She doesn't remember him, Joseph thinks. Has he changed that much in the past three weeks?
" You don't remember me ? " It was meant to be a question, but it came out more like a statement.
" No. I don't sorry. Although you look like a friend of mine. "
The women says with a frown.
" Really ? What was his name. "
" Joseph. He was a nice man. Friendly. "
Joseph gets a big smile.
" It's me. Joseph. "
The women stares at him as if he was trying to make some stupid joke. But soon she catches on.
" Oh my god. Joseph it is you. "
