Chapter 4: A Long Day's Work
Roman cleared his thoughts and greeted the other workers as he changed into his worn jeans and faded construction shirt. He knew he had a long list of tasks to complete, so he dove straight into work, determined to finish quickly.
The sun beat down on him, and he was soon sweat-drenched, but he pushed himself to keep going. On Saturdays, as long as you finished your tasks, you could leave, so it was clear Roman was working himself to the bone to be done.
When break time arrived, the other workers trudged over to the shaded area, exhausted, and collapsed onto the benches. "Man, this sun keeps getting hotter every day," one of the construction workers complained, wiping the sweat from his brow. It was a sentiment shared by all, as the sun beat down relentlessly.
As they ate their lunch and chatted, they regained some of their lost energy, but Roman knew he still had a long way to go. He finished his lunch quickly and headed back to work, his mind focused on the tasks at hand.
The rest of the day was a blur of physical labor, but Roman pushed through, determined to finish everything on his list. Finally, as the sun began to set, he put down his tools, exhausted but satisfied with a job well done. Little did he know, his life was about to take a dramatic turn.
Roman didn't head home yet, instead, he trudged towards the locker room, his exhausted body craving a refreshing shower. As he undressed and stepped under the warm water, he felt his muscles relax, but his mind remained restless. He was drained, both physically and mentally, and all he wanted to do was collapse onto his bed and snooze off.
But as he showered, Roman's thoughts turned to his life, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of dissatisfaction. He wanted to change it, to do something more productive, something that would bring him a sense of purpose. He was tired of just scraping by, tired of living paycheck to paycheck.
Everything had a risk, and Roman knew that. But risk was not something he was willing to take when his sister was dependent on him to put food on the table. He had to be responsible, had to be the rock she could count on. If he was alone, he would have definitely taken more risks, done things that may or may not have worked out. But with Bianca to care for, he couldn't afford to be reckless.
As he finished his shower and changed into fresh clothes, Roman felt a sense of resolve wash over him. He would find a way to change his life, to make it better, but he would do it responsibly, with Bianca's well-being always in mind.
So, when Roman came out of the locker room, he decided to search for more options that were productive and paid well when he got home. He was determined to improve his life and provide a better future for his sister.
As he walked out of the locker room, he found some of the workers who had stayed back longer sitting down and chatting. They were swapping stories and sharing laughs, and Roman considered joining them for a bit.
"So, Joe, how's life been? It's been a long time since I visited you," one of the men said to a worker named Joe.
Joe sighed and responded sadly, "Haaa, man, I wish I could say I'm happy and just waiting to retire, but fate is a bitch."
The men looked at him with interest, and one of them asked, "What do you mean? What's the issue?"
Joe's face contorted in pain as he revealed, "Well, man, I found my wife sleeping with my son's friend. I don't like that she cheated, but for it to be some brat... even worse, my son's friend." The men offered comfort and condolences, while others snickered and laughed, making Roman uncomfortable.
Just as he was about to leave, a worker came running up to him, "Hey! Roman, the boss wants to see you!"
Roman's heart skipped a beat as he wondered what the boss could want. He hoped it wasn't bad news or another problem to add to his already long list of worries. With a sense of trepidation, he followed the worker to the boss's office, unsure of what lay ahead.
Roman walked into a small, cluttered office on the construction site, the exterior of which was a humble trailer with a rusted metal roof and faded yellow paint. The sign above the door read "Jefferson County, Construction Manager" in bold letters.
When he walked in, he saw a pot-bellied man sitting behind a desk, devouring a massive amount of fast food that could easily feed four people. This was Jefferson County, the construction manager, known for his love of food and his callous attitude towards his employees.
"Sir, you called for me," Roman said, trying to hide his nervousness as he sat down in the creaky chair.
"Ahh, Norman, you're right, I called for you. I have some news to tell you," Jefferson said, licking his greasy fingers.
"It's Roman, sir, not Norman," Roman corrected him, cursing Jefferson and his ancestors under his breath.
"Who cares, Norman or Roman? I don't remember names of people leaving anyway," Jefferson said with a shrug, making Roman's heart sink.
"What do you mean by that, sir?" Roman asked, trying not to jump to conclusions, but it was clear as day what was happening.
"What do you mean, what do I mean? I'm saying you're fired, Norman!" Jefferson yelled, getting Roman's name wrong again.
~minutes later~
Roman left the office feeling devastated. The only job he had was gone, and he thought about Bianca, his heart heavy with worry. He wouldn't be able to provide for her now.
"Mom and dad, I'm sorry, I failed," he whispered to himself as he walked to the Red Lion, a local bar where he could drown his sorrows.
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Shadowwarrior_007
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