My First Short Story: Unsullied thievery
This is the first time I am writing a story. So here goes.
Sitting outside the hospital room, Jake questioned his father, “Dad, is Mom going to be Okay”? He answered with a suppressed smile, “Of course, Son she is going to be with us at the dinner”. He knew it was just a lie, he was 12 now and he knew everything about his mother’s incurable disease. After a few minutes some doctors went rushing in her mother’s room. And then after, Doctor Philip came and said, “We tried our best but we were not able to save her”.
Jake was sitting at a sidewalk of a road staring at the passing cars and was thinking about the past, six years have passed since his mother died. Jake was the only child of Edward and Samantha. Edward was a total wreck after death of his beloved wife. She was the one keeping the home together. But after her demise everything was wreck. Edward started alcohol and due to that his business was wrecked and now life was becoming hard as most of Ed’s savings were used in Samantha’s treatment.
Jake didn’t want to go home, he was sitting there at the sidewalk and smoking cigarettes, one after another. A million thoughts were crossing his mind. It was Jake’s childhood dream to become a software engineer. Jake was a bright student but after the demise of his mother he could not focus on the studies and now due to his low grades he could not attain a scholarship. Jake was questioning himself, why? I didn’t study. Tears came in his eyes when he reminisced his mother’s words. Samantha was in hospital in her last days. One day, Jake was sitting next to her playing with something as she said in a low voice, “Son, come here”
“Yes, mother.”
“It’s my dream for you to become a software Engineer, no matter what happens fulfil this dream”
“Yes mother I will.”
Samantha smiled and closed her eyes.
As this came to Jake’s mind he closed his eyes and tears came running down his cheek. He wiped the tears and got up and started walking towards home. It was 8 pm, a cold night. As he was walking toward home just one thought he had on his mind, as to how will he arrange money for his University fee.
Jake inserted his key and opened the main door of the home, lights were off. His father was sitting in his room in his chair, staring at the wall. Jake knew it was no use but still he requested his father.
“Father I need 3500$ for my dues.”
Silence.
He again said in a low voice, “Father.”
Silence.
He came outside, closing the door behind him and went out again. He was not in his senses and did not know what he was doing. He was looking at people paying to vendors and shops, he was rattled by the sight of money. He started walking rapidly towards it. An aged man wearing a hat and black suit was walking in front of him. The old man took out his wallet and went in an ATM booth. Jake stopped as the men went inside. Jake was trembling he did not knew what he was about to do. He was waiting for the man to come out. After sometime man came out of the ATM booth and made a little ball out of his withdrawal receipt and threw it away. Jake was standing there as the old man passed by him. Jake quickly picked up the receipt 4000$ was written on it, Jake was now following the man while he had the receipt in his hands. Jake took out a pocket knife that his father bought him. The old was calmly walking, Jake looked around and mumbled this is right time and quickly approached the old man and ordered
“Don’t look back and hand me your wallet.”
Jake was breathing heavily while the old man as calm as the sea replied,
“Boy you look scared what’s the matter?”
Jake was confused, and couldn’t reckon as to what this man was saying.
Jake said, “Just shut up and give me your wallet.”
The man slowly inserted his hand in the pocket and took out the wallet.
Old man said calmly, “I have to turn to hand you the wallet.”
Jake shouted, “Drop the wallet and walk away.”
Old man did as Jake told him to as he was walking away he said
“Don’t be scared young boy everything is going to be fine….”
Jake stood there frozen as the old man faded in the darkness.
Jake started running, he didn’t know where he was going at last he stopped and found himself on the bank of a river. He was just standing and staring the moving water. He inserted his hand in the pocket and took out the receipt he threw the receipt in the water and after that he took out the wallet. And there were 4000 and a few more dollars he took the money and as he about to throw away the wallet when he saw a picture of old man and is family. Jake took out the picture behind that picture was another picture of a boy being awarded some certificate when Jake turned the picture he was in a complete shock. On back of that picture was written
"Mother I fulfilled your dream"
Jake didn’t know what to do he was trying to process what just happened and now he was again in shock and couldn’t even think straight. He was looking at both of the pictures and when he looked at the picture of his family. He imagined that he will have a family like that and at that moment a thought crossed his mind that my whole life will be based on one theft and all my life will be worth these 4000. Jake sat down and lighted a cigarette he took a puff and in the smoke of the cigarette he could see those pictures. And then Jake started searching the wallet and found and driver license he saw the address and stood up extinguishing the cigarette. And started running again he didn’t knew what he was doing. Tears were running down his cheeks. BAM!!!!!!! Jake fell down but he didn’t cared one bit that he was hurt he stood up and started running again. He stopped and was breathing heavily as he saw the card in his hand and the number written on the door he was standing at front of old man’s house. Jake gathered the courage to ring the bell. He was sweating as he was moving towards the front door. He ranged the bell and placed the wallet on the door mate and was about to leave at that moment he remembered that he had his picture in his pocket. And quickly picked up the wallet and was about to put the pictures back the door opened and there was the old man standing in front of him with smile the old man said.
“Boy you look exhausted, come inside let’s have a cup of warm tea that will fix you”
Jake stood there staring at the old man and didn’t know what was happening. Then the old man took his hand and said,
“Boy come along.”
Jake was numbly walking behind the old man as he told his wife to make some tea and took the boy to his study. Jake was not uttering a single word then old man asked “Boy what’s your name”
Jake replied,
“Jake…. Jake Edward.”
“What a beautiful name, said the old man.” said the old man.
Jake was sitting there not knowing what is happening or even why he is here. The old man was about to utter something that the door opened and his wife was here, “Here is a hot cup of tea for you guys,” Said Anna.
Old man replied, “Thanks Anna”.
Anna closing the door said, “Now I will leave you guys… Enjoy!”
The old man handed Jake the cup of tea as joke was about to grab it he remembered that he is holding is pictures and wallet in his hand he quickly placed the wallet and picture in his lap grabbed the cup tea and said, “Thank you”.
And again there was silence in the room. Jake broke the silence and said in a low voice, “I am sorry I don’t know why I did that”.
The old man replied “It’s okay young boy… May I know the reason for that?”
After a bit of silence Jake said, “I just want to fulfil my mother’s dream. I want to become a software Engineer.”
Then Jake told the old man about his mother and how she died and for purpose he needed the money. Old man was listening to Jake while drinking his tea. And then Jake stopped. Then old man replied with a smile, “You just saved your life from being ruined. You did a good thing young boy”.
Old man asked what was the name of the university you were taking admission in, Jake told him the name the old man got up from his chair and moved towards the wall, while Jake was looking at the empty tea cup in his hand. And then old man said pointing towards the wall. “Look here young boy!”
As Jake looked up he saw a picture of old man awarding a guy some certificate. And it was ceremony of the same university that Jake was going in. The old man was rector of that university. Jake was baffled he didn’t knew what he should say. As the old man said, “Young boy you just secured a spot in the university and all your dues have been paid”.
Jake looked at the old man without saying anything and got up from his chair and handed the old man his wallet and his pictures. Suddenly Jake hugged the old man and started weeping.
As the old man said, “Everything is going to be okay”
After a few moments Jake said, “Thank you so much.”
And then he looked at his watch it was 11 pm. He knew no one was waiting for him at home still he said
“I should go now, it is getting late.”
“I will show you the way out.” said the old man.
As they reached the door the old man gave Jake some money and said,“Buy yourself some cloths you should look presentable on your first day.”
As Jake was going to leave he asked, “May I know your name?”
Old man replied, “That you will know on first day of the university.”
Nice one @shahab3211. For a second I thought you were having a time-travel twist where the old man was Jake's future self. I definitely enjoyed this - I hope this is not your last story! (and it would be great to see you say a few words about the pictures you share as well :)
Thank you carl......
That was some drama. I am happy with how it ended. With this imagination, you would make a great creator of fiction in the future. And, I also caught what seemed like a time travel. It was beautiful. Very well written! :)
Thanks you so much.
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