The Rise of Mackin Jones

Chapter 2

'Hey, Mr Man! Don't come this way…a beggar is not allowed here!’ shouted a security man at Real Bank of London when Jones was approaching in his poor and humble dress. Jones didn't react as if he was being addressed.

He entered the surroundings of the bank, moving towards the entrance. The security man yelled again, ‘Has your poor life deafened your ears? I said a beggar is not permitted to come here…’

With confidence and calmness, he voiced out, ‘I am not a beggar, Mr Janitor! Mind your tongue; it is not every book you judge by its cover or do you know who I am?’

‘Erm…No! But you look like a pauper in your unmatched dress; wearing a worn-out suit on jeans. This speaks of nothing about you but a homeless beggar.’

‘You have to be very careful with your tongue, Mr Janitor, so that you will not be hanged by it. Anyway, I don't have time for gibberish.’ said Jones, trying to enter.

‘Where do you think you are going?’ said the security man forcefully.

‘I want to see someone inside.’ He retorted.

‘That will never happen when I am here. Do you want me sacked for allowing you to enter? Na na na! That will never happen.’

What kind of world does a hustler like him belong to? The man struggled with Him seriously until when he was compelled to call the man who called him earlier but he didn't pick up his call.

Everything turned obscure to Jones. Why didn't the man pick up the call? And why had the security man chosen to be his stepping stone? Maybe that was his luckiest day but a devil-like man had decided to ruin him. Those thoughts crossed his mind as he was battling the man, who had been joined by other security men, to enter. They got to a level with their struggles that caught the attention of the bank manager on camera from inside. Suddenly a two and half inch tall man with gold hair appeared at the entrance.

‘What is happening here?’ said the bank manager, waving his right hand. The security men heard his voice and were conscripted, looking like a spanked boy.

‘It is this beggar who wants to force himself in.’ said one of them.

‘Can you hear what he says, Sir? This is appalling of him and the rest, treating a visitor like a dog.’ said he frankly.

‘I don't think you look different from how you are described.’ The men laughed sarcastically as the manager mockingly said. Jones was embarrassed, but the manager continued, ‘Anyway, what do you want?’

‘I was called by someone from this company some minutes ago, but…’

The manager interrupted eagerly, ‘Are you Mr Jones?’

‘Yes, I am.’

‘Shit! I don't think you will come here ridiculously like this…let me take you around.’ Jones gave the men a disdainful look and followed him.

He was thinking of how much would be given to him by the manager or anybody who called for his attention as they were walking around the premises. Though he was not a lazy man who lingered into others’ pots, hope kept a lame pushing.

‘We have heard about how hardworking you are from two different firms; Top Notch Super Market and Yummy Restaurant where you do delivery services and receive meager wages of $10 per day, but we want to reward you for that. That is why you are here.’

He was elated to hear such good news.

‘Can you help us clean our surroundings?’ said the manager, and Jones answered, ‘Yes’ as if he meant ‘If you will give me millions of dollars, I will’.

‘Then,’ he cleared his throat like a presenter who was ready to give a special announcement, ‘we will pay you $30 every day if you meet up with our terms and conditions.’

‘What?’ asked Jones as if his ears had betrayed him.

‘Yes, that's why you are here, and I can see that will help your life.’

‘I think you called me for a special thing…’

‘What rubbish! Is this not special enough? Are you looking for who can buy your poor life…nope, that can't work for you. If you are tired of working, get your ass out of here.’ said the manager furiously.

It was then clear to him; that his dream had been dashed into an ocean of imagination. He was puzzled. He checked the time and remembered Lana and the challenges he was facing with her and her parents at home. He was already late for his first out of the three work of the day. Not to experience double losses, he submitted to the man.

‘Sir, where can I start? I'm ready to work with you.’

‘I have made up my mind. I think you will do, but a beggar and lazy man like you is no more needed here. Thanks.’ he said to Jones with a castigating look.

‘Sir, I…’

‘Security men! Pack this man out or else you are doomed.’ he used the word ‘pack’ as if Jones was a bag of waste and left him shocked. Understanding the language, Jones walked out of the bank like the sick drenched by the rain.

It was already dark before he could finish his work for that day. To cheer up his wife and in-laws, he dashed into one of the supermarkets along the road on his way home. He bought a sparkling and radiant necklace for his wife which she could seldom reject, and some chocolate and pizza for everybody because that's the favorite meal of the family. He checked the tokens he had made, counted them, and frowned his face a bit before he paid. He wore a sad happy smiling face before leaving the shop. He walked down leftwards, holding his shopping bags tightly as if he feared someone might snatch them.

When he saw their house from about 10 yards away, he smiled at the romantic life he would have with his wife and her family tonight. As he moved closer to the house, he noticed something unusual. One, the light from the house which used to glow looked so dim. Second, a car was parked in front of the house. Even if his in-laws had a visitor, he/she was supposed to have left. And nobody would visit him because he belonged to nowhere other than the house he was approaching. Whatever may be going on, a man must take heart to die but once.

He moved swiftly to the door. He was about to knock when he heard some undertones inside.

‘I want you harder tonight.’ said Lanaand giggled. Followed by a slightly thick voice, ‘I’m seriously ready for the challenge.’ said a man from inside and groaned as if he lifted a heavy load which signified he had carried her, and that was followed by a soft romantic wane of winn from Lisa. Jones became so cold and was touched by what he heard from his brain down to his backbone. He didn't know when his shopping bags dropped from his hands when he was being told something in his heart that it was a dream. He dashed in forcefully and reached out for the light quickly.