A Recycling System in Jamaica

Chapter 5

Reed's heart raced; he didn't expect such a big reaction. He knew his face looked good now, but he didn't know that his new looks plus his new demeanor because of the system added together to create a heart-stopping young man that put all others to shame.

“Reed, what happened?” His mother was the first of the two to recover.

“What do you mean, just because I dressed up a little you both are acting like I changed.” Reed wanted to hit himself because this was his first time talking to others since his enhancement and his voice had also changed. It was deeper. The type of voice that makes girls weak in the knees.

Hearing his voice, both women were even more amazed, not knowing how to react. Maddy's heart raced and Pat was speechless.

“Are you my son?” She asked in a whisper. She saw that his features had some of hers and even some of his older brothers, but never had she expected that it all put together could create such a handsome face. Not only had her son's face gotten better looking, but he seemed taller and his voice deeper and more appealing.

For the first time, she was worried. With a face like this, girls would be throwing themselves at her son and she didn't want him to be a father any time soon. She had been a teen mom with her first son and times were harder then. But money was still tight right now and if Reed got a girl pregnant things would be a lot harder for them. She wanted her son to have a better life. She wanted him to go to college and find a good job, not be held down by a child.

“Reed, do you have a girlfriend?”

“Mom! Why are you asking that? Where would I get the money to be in a relationship?” Reed asked, stunned by his mom's train of thought. How does looking good result in him having a girlfriend?

“So you don't have a girlfriend?” his mother asked again.

Seeing that she was going to be stuck on this, he decided to answer.

“No, I don't have a girlfriend. I don't even have a girl that I like. So can you please not ask this question again.”

Maddy, who had been ignored, didn't even hear what Pat asked, and she didn't hear Reed's answer. All she heard was how deep Reed's voice was and how he looked good as he spoke to Aunty Pat. Due to the large age difference, although Pat wasn't her aunt, it was the most appropriate way to address her. Maddy felt that her cousin was now the most handsome boy on earth, and she didn't know what to do. She can't marry her cousin, right? It will be so unfair when other women get to see him. Maddy now believes that her cousin should be for her eyes only; she wants to look at him forever. She took up her phone that was on the dining table and took a photo.

When the click of the camera sounded, it attracted the attention of the mother and son.

Why are you taking my photo? Reed asked.

“No reason, are you going to May Pen?” She asked, hoping to change the topic because she felt very embarrassed to be caught sneaking photos of her cousin. Why didn't she turn off the sound on her camera?

“Yes, I am going to see if I can find a summer job.” Reed lied. Not knowing that he had been distracted by Maddy. Pat, who was watching, could see that her little cousin was shy, and now she was sure that her son's face was going to be an issue. Even her prepubescent little cousin had been charmed by his looks at what would happen if other girls not related to him saw it.

“If you're going to look for a job, ask your cousin Dave if he has any leads.” Pat said after she heard her son's reply. She didn't think anything was wrong with a boy of his age working over the summer. She believes it would lead to him having more knowledge of society and be good for his growth into an adult.

Reed nodded his head and agreed he was going to ask his cousin some questions. Yes, but he didn't intend to go looking for work. He planned to find out which construction company could build houses quickly. He wanted them to start building the house tomorrow. Dave was a taxi driver, and he was always on the road, so he knew a lot of people. Reed didn't know who else he could ask because he had very little experience in society. Other than some classmates, he didn't have any friends. When his mom said this, he knew that he had gotten away with the changes he had shown.

“Okay, come and eat before you go on the road.” Pat served the breakfast she had prepared. It was fried dumplings with fried eggs and frankfurters plus a cup of mint tea. Reed sat down and ate quickly.

“Who washed the dishes last night? The sink was so clean when I got up this morning I swore it looked brand-new. Whoever did it will have to do it again. Plus the dining room was cleaned too.”

Maddy originally wanted to say she did it but knowing that whoever did it would have to do it again she decided that it was best not to try and take credit.

“It was me,” Reed answered. “I washed the dishes and cleaned the dining room before I went to bed last night.”

Pat already knew it wasn't Maddy. She is not lazy. But she wouldn't do it so well. She was very surprised by how detailed Reed was. Looking at her son who seemed to have grown up overnight made her happy and sad at the same time. Happy that he is showing signs of being a responsible adult and sad for the baby he used to be. His father had abandoned them right when Reed was five years old and had never been in contact since she didn't know where he was; she only knew that she hated every bone in his body.

“Mom!” Reed called to her, seeing her looking at him but not paying attention to him at the same time.

“Yes,” She said a bit loudly, seemingly in a bit of fright.

Realizing that both kids were staring at her, she remembered what she was saying and continued.

“You did a good job and makes me proud to have you as a son.”

Reed smiled, knowing that she was hiding her other thoughts but not wanting to trouble her, so he let it go.

“Mom, I am feeling lucky today, so maybe good things will happen today. Who knows, today may be the day that changes our lives.” Reed said, hoping to give his mom a bit of a warning. He didn't want what he was going to tell her later to surprise her too much.

After eating and leaving Maddy to do the dishes, Reed used his Samsung Galaxy S9 to call his cousin asking him to pick him up. Then he walked out of the house. The debit card that he had been given by the system was in his wallet with the 10000 cash he had gotten before. Most places use card machines, so he didn't need too much cash, but he still wanted to withdraw some to give to his mother for her peace of mind.

It was already 10 am, so all the normal morning crowds had already left the roads, so it didn't take long for his cousin to arrive.

As the Toyota pro box stopped before him, he could see that his cousin had passengers but had left the front seat for him. So he opened the door and went in. At first, Dave didn't pay attention to his little cousin but soon noticed that the teenage girl around the back who had been talking before was now quiet, and her eyes seemed to be glued on his cousin. So Dave turned and looked at his cousin while he drove and was so shocked that he had to stop the car before he crashed into the sidewalk.

Reed didn't want to attract the attention of the passengers. That's why he didn't talk when he came in. He just had a feeling that his new voice could cause trouble.

“Reed, is this you?” Dave asked in shock. When did his little cousin grow to be so handsome? No wonder the girl around the back couldn't stop looking. He could only imagine how fast her little heart was beating.

“Cousin drive!” Reed said when Dave just continued looking at him and not driving the car. However, the moment his voice sounded, the girl in the back seat released an audible moan.