Survival

Change

"I knew I shouldn't have wasted that money on a permanent stay in France," Lucas regretted in his living room.
"I'm sorry Mom, I couldn't make you proud. But you should have bought me that Happy Meal when I was 6," He continued to brood.

Lucas got up from his sofa and went to the kitchen to take out a beer from the fridge. Popping the cap off, he took a large sip and went out to his balcony. He gazed at the night sky and the city lights, all shining like stars. A gust of wind came by, making his black hair flail around. Lucas drank more, contemplating his choices. White shirt covering his chest, with worn-out blue jeans. That was what he was wearing; Lucas did believe that he looks like a drunk with his messy hair and nordic blue eyes. Especially with porcelain skin, Lucas looks and is an outsider. He has fallen down the ranks of where he used to be. From most rich to most poor.
"I better get some shut-eye before I go mad," Lucas told himself.

He drank the rest of his beer, tossed it in the trash, and turned off the lights. The only place he could let free of worries was his bed. The coziness makes everything Lucas cares about forgettable. The warmth as well makes Lucas feel like he is snuggled up with a bear, ready to eat him alive if he makes another move.
"Oh, cozy bear, why do you have a marshmallow on your head?" Lucas spoke in his sleep.
Everything soon took a turn for the worse as his cozy bear faded away. Lucas held out his arm, desperately trying to retrieve the bear from the hands of the darkness. Then a voice spoke, catching the attention of Lucas.
"That gift won't be for me; that gift will be meant for both of us," the voice sounded like a young woman as the voice gradually faded away.
"Noooo, don't take away Sir Snuggles," Lucas weakly pleaded.
No interruptions occurred for the remainder of the night. Lucas smoothly rested, not giving one bit of acknowledgment to the voice. As daybreak came, Lucas woke up sharply.
"Ok, I need to go to the factory and load some bottles. Those free beers won't be chasing me because I'll be chasing them," Lucas confidently said.

He dressed into his grey work uniform and headed out of his apartment. Comprehending well that he was poor, he brought fairly enough money for a taxi to the factory. In the nick of time, a taxi passed by him slowly. Lucas got the attention of the driver and got in the passenger seat.
"Vakulo Brewing factory please," Lucas ordered.

The driver complied and pushed the pedal. It is nice living in Nantes, France. What isn't nice is being poor while still managing to pay the rent of a somewhat expensive apartment. Factory work isn't a good job for Lucas. Most of the time, he justs slacks off. On the other hand, some absurd things do happen. Lucas remembers those moments, especially when one time, one of his co-workers filled a bottle with their urine and managed to get away with it. Or the other time when Lucas and another lad created a new type of drink called "vosiky." It was a mixture of urine, vomit, and a few shots of vodka. Lucas couldn't agree on it, and the project was scrapped when he tasted it. The guy got fired as well, and Lucas still feels bad.
After reminiscing all those moments, Lucas realizes that he had just arrived at Vakulo. He paid the driver but, then the driver stopped him. Lucas looked back, wondering what happened. The driver pointed at the price that was on the price counter. It was precisely 12 euros; Lucas looked at how much he gave the driver. He was one euro off, and in a panic, he tried to find change. By luck, he spotted a euro in his shirt pocket. He tossed it to the driver and ran towards the entrance.

Opening the door, Lucas was greeted by one of his co-workers: Timmy. They shook hands and, Lucas went to the checking station to fill in his shift entry time. Inside the factory, it was dusty; rats roamed the floor as well as homeless people who might have wandered inside before closing time. Sometimes the conveyer belt would breakdown, and Timmy would have to fix it. Another problem working in the factory for Lucas is how little light there is; barely any light was conducted through the ceiling lights. The other co-workers had the same complaints as Lucas, but it pays the bills so, Lucas tries his hardest to cope with it. Who knew such a shabby workplace was the reason why Lucas is still not out in the streets.
"Hey, Lucas, they gave us a new drink to bottle up," one of his co-workers told him.
"What is it, wine? I swear if it is wine," Lucas scowled.
"No, it isn't, you know that beer factory nearby. It started collaborating with this company. So, now they want us to package their beer; how does that sound? I know you like beer," His co-worker explained.
"I guess it's all right with me, but I swear if you package eight bottles instead of nine," Lucas warned him.