The Technological Tracker

Chapter 1 - One big lie

"Why can't you understand that we are low on money?"

Mom is walking around in the room with heavy steps. She is frustrated because my father just bought a fishing boat. He is sitting beside me, looking down in the wooden floor. He raises his head.

"Just think of it this way, I can go fishing and we can sell the fish I catch in this place."

He is referring to the family shop, the shop our family has owned since before I was born. If I remember right my grandparents owned this place before my parents. They are telling me that I am going to inherit the shop after them, but I am not sure if I want to. In fact, I have other plans for my life than owning a noodle eatery.

"It would help much more spending that money on upgrading the shop instead. How could you even think that a fishing boat would help in any way?"

"Calm down, mom."

Mom breathes out while placing her hand on her forehead.

"I don't know what to do, what this family is going to do," she is almost in tears.

"It's ok, what's done is done," I respond in a calm tone.

"I know, but how are we supposed to live, when we almost don't have enough money for a piece of bread? It's a miracle that we still get to keep this family shop," she wipes a tear from under her eye.

With a mask of shame, my father turns towards her.

"Don't lose hope, darling."

He knew he stepped on a toe when he said that. My mom's voice turned quickly from sad to a more string and sur tone.

"I haven't lost hope, but if I do, It's because of you."

We are interrupted by a man standing outside the shop knocking on the glassdoor. He is pointing on top of his wrist. Mom checks the clock on the wall.

"We should have been working by now! Fred, open the door please, change the poster from closed !" Fred is my father's name.

He stands right up from the chair and fast he goes towards the door. I can hear a little "sorry" from him to the customer. We don't have a lot of customers these days. There is better places to go I guess. We have our competitors. My mom always says that we are in war, but it's just that it is three more noodle shops down street looking much more better than ours. I have tried to open my mom's mind to new ideas but the whole family tradition thingy is important to her. She doesn't want to change anything with this place. Not with less, it's the only option we have, and I think we're closer to that point. Now, is when I enter the picture.

Still sitting on my chair by a table, I put one of my hands down in my jacket pocket. From it pull out a stack of money, and my mom sees it with wide eyes.

"W-what? From where did you get that? It must be at least a thousand daras!"

My dad turns his head quickly around saying nothing, but his shocked face is saying enough. Even the man beside him is staring at the money.

"I have been working."

"With what?" She says confused. "How can it be that we haven't heard about this from you before?"

"I am still new at the workplace and I waited with telling you guys that I was working because, I wasn't sure if they were gonna let me keep the job or not, but the results were positive and I am working there firmly now," I answer her.

Dad joins the conversation.

"So that's how you've been able to take care of yourself after you moved out?"

"Yes, dad, and this is for both of you. Spend them well."

I push the stack over the table towards my mom.

"We can't accept this, it's too much money."

"Mom, I want both of you to be happy, you are not gonna be that without this noodle shop."

"Well, we have you," mom says.

"You understand what I mean, just take it," I say commanding.

Mom hesitate a little before she grabs the stack.

"I don't even know what to say." Tears are rolling down her cheeks.

My phone makes a sound and I see a message popping up on the screen.

"Oh, I have go," I stand up and push my chair away.

"Where are you going?" My mom asks, despairingly.

"Work," I say while on my way out the door.