Dan Smith sitting alone in the office waiting for the principal to talk to him for enrollment. He tapped his foot on the ground. Why is it taking so long?... Maybe because of the grades on my card… My old school shouldn't have given me that kind of grade…. His foot is now tapping faster and his body is trembling.

“Mr. Smith” He looked at the principal. Her black hair down on her shoulders, her eyes are sweet and black. “Sorry for waiting, Mr Smith.” She apologizes in a sweet, calm voice.

“it’s ok…” He said nervously and stopped tapping his foot.

2 weeks ago…

“W-why my grades are like this?” Dan asked, holding his card.

“Don't worry about it. They are not your real grades because you suddenly pulled out of the school and didn't take a first quarter test so they gave you those grades…” Dan’s mother explained.

“But why is it written that the purpose is poor academics?” He looked closely at his card and he felt a pang of disappointment and guilt that he didn't finish studying there. He looked at his grades that were full of lines of 7.

“Dan don't worry about it… it's not your real grades after all.” She spoke calmly

“I never had this kind of grade, only one in my elementary days but I always get lines of 8 to 9.” He muttered. He can feel his eyes getting watery and warm but he holds them back and puts down the card on the table. He took out a deep sigh.

“Just calm down and don't worry too much, Dan.”

A few minutes later, he couldn't take it anymore. He walked out the bedroom and went to the bathroom and cried only for a second and wiped it off, went back to the bedroom just like nothing happened.

“Are you alright, Dan?” His mother asked. She can see that his son's nose and eyes are quite red.

“Yes mom. I'm alright, I'll continue washing the dishes now.” He left the bedroom full of disappointment.

___________

Dan got out of the school, he's now walking on the streets. While thinking about it.

The conversation between him and the principal is good. He let out a deep sigh.

He's staring at the ground deep in thoughts. He shakes his head, slapped his face with both hands. Don't worry too much… Just study hard and make it to the top….

The rain suddenly poured down with a strong wind.

“...” He's standing in the rain, completely shocked by a sudden rain. “What the hell!” Why is it suddenly raining?... He ran into a nearby store holding the document from his school. Dammit my papers will get wet.

He shakes his head, drying his hair.

He stands there waiting until the rain is gone. He's leg's hurt and his head as well. He wakes up early just to enroll and walks only from home to school, saving his money even though his mother gives him extra.

He sighed and sat on the ground, brushed his hair back as he leaned on the wall of the store.

He got home soaking wet.

“I'm home!” He spoke as he took off his shoes.

“Dan, why are you wet?” His mother asked as she walked towards him.

“I walked…” He muttered, he put the document on the side.

“W-what? You walked from there to here without an umbrella?” She asked, looking at him.

“Yes…” He answered without looking into his mother’s eyes.

“Didn't I give you money? Where is it?”

“It's here…” He shoved his hand into his pocket and took out his wallet and got the money inside.

“You didn't use it?” She looked at him but he kept avoiding.

“Yes…” He then handed it to her mother’s hand.“I know you need this more than me.” He spoke softly and went upstairs.

Dan entered his room and closed it letting out another deep sigh. He looked around and saw a towel hanging. He walked towards, grabbed it, wiped his face and dried his hair. He goes to his closet and changes his clothes in dry clean clothes.

A knock on the door.

He fixed his clothes and said, “Come in.” He brushed his hair back.

His mother opened the door but didn't go inside his room; she just stood there. “Dan, I know you know that I need money but you know I'm making more ideas to have money. So next time use the money I gave to you and don't walk again eventually it's raining that strong.” She spoke knowing her tone is concerned.

“Yes, mom…” His mother smiled, walked towards him and got the wet clothes from him.

“Good, I'll take care of this.” After that she left the room, closing the door.

He stared at the door tapping his foot on the ground. I'm sorry mom but I still won't use it. I don't want us to have a lot of loans so I'll keep saving the money. He brushed his hair back again and walked towards his table and opened the desk lamp , and started studying.

The phone lights up and gets a notification. He gets his phone on the side of the table. “I forgot to turn off this when I got out…” He looked at the phone, saw a text from one of the loans that his mom applied for.

Pay the 20,000 at the end of the month.

Dan sighs. This is the 5th time since yesterday I got this loan… I'm sure the others will text tomorrow. He put down his phone and turned it over.

He rubbed the corner of his eyes, exhausted. “Augh…” He can't focus on his studying, he keeps going back to the loans.

He slapped his head hard on the table…

The door opened. “Are you alright? I heard a loud bang in here.” His mother asked full of concern.

“Yes, I'm alright…” He answered with his head still on the table.

His mother let out a sigh. “I brought the documents that you left downstairs.” His mother placed the documents on the table.

“Are you sure you're alright, Dan?”

“Yes…” his mother left the room, closing the door.

He pulled up his head, glazed at the documents then grabbed it, put it in the drawer.

He holds his pen and starts writing, reviewing.

. . .

“I will become a scholar and a lawyer when I grow up.” Little Dan said, standing confidently.

His mother chuckled and pinched little Dan cheek. “You have a nice dream but I'm looking forward to it.”

Dan at grade 6. He stared at his card. Line of 7 in math… I always answered correctly but how did I get this grade… He hated to see that grade. He's always got high grades but not this time all his subjects are full of 9 except this one subject. He felt disappointed in himself for the very first time after all the hard work he had done…

Dan now is much more disappointed in himself. He got all the subject lines of 7 just because he pulled out of school and didn't take the test for the 1st quarter.

Much worse is that he's 2 years older than his classmates because he stopped studying for two years because of money.

Dan woke up before the alarm. He pushed himself to a sitting position. He rustled his hair and yawned. He stretched, feeling pretty good considering he only got a few hours of sleep. 

He looks at the window as the rain taps against the window, a relentless rhythmic tempo echoes through the room. He looks away, gets up from the bed and leaves the room.

He went into the bathroom, walked towards the sink and opened the faucet. He cupped the water and splashed it on his face. His body shivered; it felt like he washed his face into ice water. He dried off with a towel then opened the bathroom door and got out.

He goes downstairs, scratches the back of his head. "What's for breakfast?" He asked as he got to the bottom.

"Bacon and eggs." His mother spoke as she settled down the foods.

He walked towards the dining table and sat down.

"Did you sleep well?" She asked as she sat down as well.

"Yes." He answered as he put the towel on the chair back.

Dan continues eating, thinking if he should tell his mother about the texts that he received but he doesn't want his mother to get stressed out much more so he stays silent.

He got up, grabbed his plate and walked towards the kitchen and put the plate in the sink.

"You're done, already?" His mother asked.

"Yes, mom and I need to go to work now." He turned to look at his mother.

"You have a part time job?" She asked, looking at him in shock. "When did you get a job? Why didn't I know that?" 

"Yesterday, when I'm on the way home…" 

"What's your work then?" She looked at him confusedly.

"A cashier… at the convenience store that is near the school." 

His mother sighs not knowing if it's relief or she's mad that he got a job without telling her first.

"Don't worry about mom, I can do it and I'm old enough to do work…" He smiled.

 ________________

"You're late…" The store owner sounded a bit mad. 

"I'm sorry, sir…" He bowed down. His hair is wet as well as his clothes and a bag on his shoulder.

The owner sighed."Go to the employees only and change your clothes."

Dan nodded and hurried, going to the employees only.

He got out wearing the owner's spare clothes that he gave to him. "Thank you, sir."

The owner just nodded. "I'll leave now and take care of my store. If you need the price there's a notebook in the drawer where the price is, understood?"

Dan nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Ok good and don't do anything stupid at my store." The owner left the store.

Dan is now alone at the store. He gets the notebook in the drawer and reads the prices. A few minutes later he heard the door open and looked. "Welcome, ma'am." The lady smiled and started picking foods. 

Another person entered and he greeted it but the man ignored him and walked towards the refrigerator.

The lady walked towards the counter and put down the foods she picked. "You're new here?" She asked. 

"Yes,ma'am." He smiled and did his work. "This will be $345.28 dollars, ma'am." He spoke as he put it in the plastic bag.

The lady paid. He gave me the change. She got the plastic bag and smiled then left the store.

The man walked forward and put down a bottle of alcohol and a box of cigarettes. 

He looked at the man. The man looks like a drunkard in thirties looking like a drunkard well it's obvious.

"The total is $108 dollars." He spoke as he put it in the plastic bag.

"Didn't know Mr. Brice hired a kid." The man said but Dan knows that the man is still in a drunk state. He ignored what the man said.

The man grabbed the plastic bag and left the store.

Dan sat down on the chair and got his notes in his bag and studied.

He heard the door open. 

A few minutes later the man walks towards the counter and puts the thing down. 

Dan put down his notes and froze to see condoms. He looked at the man. Well he looks old enough to buy this… 

The man paid, put it in his pocket and left the store.

 He shook off the thoughts and continued to read the notes. 

The owner arrived and my last customer left. 

"Welcome, sir." Dan spoke

Mr. Brice just nodded. "You can go now." 

Dan put his notes inside his bag. 

"Thank you, sir. I'll bring your clothes back dry clean."

Mr. Brice shakes his hands. "It's yours now."

Dan bowed down, grabbed his bag and put it on his shoulder.

"Kid, your new time is 6 pm." Mr.. Brice spoke.

"Ok." He answered and left the store.

"It's still raining…" He muttered. He then starts running. "Shit! My bag will get wet." 

As he ran. He saw a sign in the corner of his eyes. He ran towards it and entered a restaurant. "Umm… excuse me." He brushed his hair to the back.

An old woman walked towards him.

"May I help you?"

"Are you still hiring?" He asked.

"Yes, it's still available." The old lady smiled.

"Can I start working?" 

The old lady looked around the restaurant and there's a couple of people inside waiting for their orders. She nodded and pointed at the counter. 

Dan nodded and put his bag on the chair and got the food tray.

"Table number 8" The chef says.

"Got it." He walked towards the table and put down the orders. "Here's your order." 

The person thanked him. He walked towards the counter again and got another tray and went to the other table.

Dan now wipes the tables and starts cleaning.

"You did great, young man." The old lady patted his back.

"Just doing my job, Ms. Kate." 

He heard the name of the old lady from the chef.

Ms. Kate gave him money. "Here it's for your transport and it's still raining. You need it." 

Dan looked shocked because he didn't expect Ms. Kate to give him money. "T-Thank you, Ms. Kate." 

Ms. Kate smiled and went to the kitchen and gave the chef money as well. 

He didn't expect that Ms. Kate would be so nice. Well Mr. Brice is nice as well because he gave him clothes. He turned to the table and continued cleaning.

 . . .

Dan got home looking like a wet cat. He saw the door was open wide and the floor was dirty and full of shoe prints. He ran inside to find his mother. He looked at the kitchen, saw that the fridge is not there, he even looked at the living room and the tv was gone and his mother was not there as well. He runs upstairs and his mother is not in her room or every part of the house and their house is messy and a lot of electronics are missing. He starts to panic. He took out his phone and dialed his mother's number. "Please pick up…" He starts biting his lips, tapping his foot on the floor. He dialed again and it's only ringing.