chapter seven
416 Words
I laid on the sidewalk, almost defeated, when someone ran by; wearing a red mask. But that isn't what got my hopes up. The two men from yesterday were back.
“You know, I actually feel kind of bad for her.” The one man took a puff off his pipe. “It's people like her that makes me want to do something about our system.”
“How so?”
“the government takes advantage of people with mental health issues like her. She only got that stupid 50 hour a week job because they are exploiting her need for routine and repetitive action. They make her work long hours, make it seem like her choice not to take her sick pay.” he balled his hand into a fist.
“Who gives a f**k what people are willing and not willing to do for money.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“I give a f**k! They are robbing her of her freedom to actually live, to experience real human connection. And they are making it seem like her choice. She ain't doing it for the money. She's doing it for the sake of avoiding her f*****g problems, her f*****g desires. And they know damn well that's what she's doing and they don't f*****g care! It makes me want to-” the man punched a power pole hard enough to actually leave knuckle shaped indents.
“Whoah, calm down. Ain't that what your pipe is for?”
“Don't tell me to calm down!” Clearly the drugs weren't working and the man with the pipe shoved the other one. “Maybe I can do something about this system.”
He picked up a poster he'd found on the power pole that advertised workers rights protests. The man tossed his pipe on the ground. “Now this is something I'm willing to quit smoking over.”
“Whatever man.” The one guy walked away while the guy still holding the poster started pacing while contemplating participating in this protest.
Unfortunately I'd gotten so distracted by their conversation I didn't remain hidden too well. And he noticed me. “Holy s**t!” He jumped back. “I don't even want to know what you're doing all the way out here. But I bet J17 would care about you. She ain't a monster. You'll find her house that way.”
The man pointed down an alley I'd seen her run down earlier. “T-thank you.”
- Writer
