Remembering 8: Pinch Me

There is a saying that goes "When a deal is too good, think twice." Also, the last time people were given free things was during the Exodus when manna rained down from heaven. Free things don't just come. Oh, wait. This wasn't free because it's a job he found. He had to work for it.

These were the thoughts that were running through Leo's brain. How? He wanted to believe this but it was kind of hard having in mind that he was fucked up by a family member. So, how could a stranger, who knew nothing about him, be this good to him?

Leo did quick calculations in his head. Twenty thousand by... wait... two days a week, four weeks a month.. that's eight days by twenty thousand.. and that will make a hundred.... and.... sixty thousand a month. No! This had to be a dream. Oooooh, fuck it!

"Let me get this straight. You are saying you will be paying me twenty thousand everyday I come in? So, that means in one weekend I will be making forty thousand? Is that it?" He asked hopefully but still with a little bit of skepticism. He hoped he had not misheard or miscalculated.

"Yeah. Or is that too little? Let's make it thirty thousand then. How does that sound? And if you want me to be paying you every day of the weekend that you come in, we can do that. You just have to decide on the mode of payment you are comfortable with. Cash, cheque or I can even be loading your pay in your bank account," Dylan said nonchalantly like he couldn't see how pale Leo had turned. Shit! Did he say thirty. As in thirty thousand?

"Leo? Are you alright? You look pale," Dylan said worriedly as he touched Leo's cheeks with both his hands. "Are you sure that you are okay?" He seemed really worried. Leo stood up so fast like he had been electrocuted. He had to make sure that he wasn't in a dream and would soon wake up.

"Excuse me. I will be right back," he said and he quickly ran towarda the kitchen.

He shot into the kitchen like someone who was being chased by a swarm of insects, bees maybe, looking all disoriented.

"Leo, watch it! No running in the kitchen! Have you forgotten the rules?" Pendo shouted as she held him by his shoulders to steady him. He looked like he had seen a ghost. Was there a ghost in the cafe?

"Pendo, pinch me," he said seriously when he got into the kitchen and everybody turned to look at him. Was he okay? His eyes were unfocused and he seemed to be miles away.

"What happened Leo? Why are you so pale?" She asked worriedly. "Have you seen a ghost?"

"Pendo, please pinch me," he repeated as if he didn't hear a word she said and she obligingly pinched his nose though not very painfully.

"Ouch! That hurts!" He shouted while rubbing his nose.

"Of course it does. You asked me to do it!" She retorted but with a smiling face. She thought that Leo looked so beautiful at that moment. She wanted to pinch his cheeks next.

"'So it is true?" He asked no one in particular and no one in the kitchen knew what he was talking about.

"What's true Leo? What's happening? You are making me worried? Are you sick? Do you need to go home?" Pendo asked in a worried tone as she felt his forehead with the back of her hand so as to feel if he had a fever.

"Yes. Can I please take the rest of the day off Pendo? Pretty please? I can take two shifts tomorrow if you want me to," he looked hopefully at Pendo who just nodded and told him not to worry he can just come for his shift. She was worried and thought he had urgent matters to attend to.

He then ran to the washrooms to compose himself before he met Dylan again. He splashed water on his face to calm his nerves and to return colour to his face, straightened his clothes, cleared his throat and walked out.

One hundred and sixty no, wait, that's two hundred and forty per month.

Daaamn!

Does that mean he could go back to school, take his brother to a high school of his choice and get his mother better medical care? Maybe he can even buy his mom an automated wheelchair so that she can move freely without help. Oh wait! They can even move from the slums and into a better house!

This was what Leo was thinking as he walked back to where Dylan was patiently waiting for him as he watched something on his phone and he was smiling. Leo was mesmerized for a while there as he looked at that handsome man. He thought that a smile definitely looked good on Dylan. He looked at that man and

wondered how there could be such goodness in the world amidst people like his cruel uncle.

The sight that met him, when Dylan looked up, was a smiling Dylan and that smile could make one faint.