Matias (2)

Matias flicked the butt into the street and turned away from the clerk. Holding out his hand in the rain, he watched as the drops splashed and sparkled in the dusty light of the bare bulb reaching out from the side of the building. He proceeded to rub his hands together, as if washing them, before turning and resting himself against the wall. The clerk shifted his weight and lit himself another cigarette. Neither Matias nor the clerk talked, nor did they exchange glances of any kind. The clerk understood the need for silence, and he let himself drift into reverie.

After serving his country in the war to end all wars, he came home a hero amongst his family, yet not his fiancé, who died of fever only months before. She had been deathly afraid of doctors, and the isolation of the small hamlet of farms led her to die slowly in bed, all before her 20^th year. William Hubert, Bill, had never encountered death, having arrived in Europe merely days after V-E day. So, he was a hero in the eyes of his family, but he doubted this status as he watched casket after flag covered casket arrive in the towns around. Eventually, he saved up enough money to head out to the city, Chicago. He would work in a pizzeria, he had always loved cooking.

Now, 48 years later, over a thousand miles away from home, Bill ran the small convenience store in West Roxbury. Not exactly a dream job, but then again, not many reach their aspirations. Just look at this guy thought Bill, has the look of someone down on his luck.

Matias stirred, shook his head vigorously, and look over at the clerk, thanked him and walked out through the dark alley in the direction of the street, rain drenching him instantly. Bill sighed, put out the cigarette on the red brick and went back to his counter.

-David