My apartment is small and cramped. The dust, which is illuminated by the little sunlight that can actually break through the heavy factory smoke, finds itself hovering above me. I turn and notice that Bricks is still asleep. I get up quietly and try to move across the unkempt wooden floor without making too much noise, as it groans and moans on each step I take. Slowly, but surely I find myself in the bathroom staring at the mirror; a boy no older than 15, black hair that just barely comes down to his eyes, a decent muscular build that was accumulated by hours and hours of work at the factory and shipyards, skin that is not quite pale but close to it, and a pair of hazel eyes. I sigh and hang my head, not noticing Bricks got up. He is a young man, around the age of 25, and he also has black hair the same shade as mine, but it is kept high and tight, he looks as though a standard factory lifter with his muscular build and his skin is an olive-ish color that I cannot place, and he is the closest person I can call family.
“What are you thinking of Jack?” He says as he leans in the doorway. I can tell he’s worried; he’s got that look he gets when an accident happens at work. He’s a very nice and kind hearted man. “Nothing, just….” He sighs and walks over and places a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry about that, it’s in a few months okay?” He always knows exactly what to say, but this time I’m not comforted which is what I’d like to be. “Alright, I’ll try.” He gives me a reassuring smile and walks out toward the kitchen.
“I know its nerve racking, but don’t dwell on it. I don’t think you’ll be moving to the brains department anytime soon.” He laughs as he pulls out two cans of food and tosses one to me along with a fork. “Just focus on today and then the next day when its tomorrow, it’s all you can do.” I give him a small smile and open my can, meat and peas, not a bad breakfast. I practically wolf the whole thing down within a minute then toss the can in the trash. “What’s your plan Bricks?” He takes his time eating and shrugs, swallowing what he has in his mouth before speaking. “Got the shipyards today so I could be done early, or done tomorrow.” I sigh the shipyards usually take longer no matter what, and I’m not good on my own. I slide down the wall and lean my head back staring at the ceiling. Bricks walks to the window and looks over to the smoke stalks nearby. “Hear there’s talk of a revolution, what do you think?” I close my eyes and speak non-caringly “They’ll just put it down like they always do. The sad truth is that.” Bricks sighs and shakes his head, he walks over and grabs his work pass and ID. “Try and be happy alright? After all today is your birthday. I’ll be back after work.” My birthday? I almost forgot that, usually I don’t pay attention because here in the slums a birthday is seen as one day closer to That day. After a few more minutes of staring at the cracked plaster ceiling I get up and grab my ID then head for the school. Luckily enough today is my scheduled day off that changes every week, but that doesn’t make the day any better. By the time I get to school I’ve become a little less cynical, but only a little.
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