章 2: Theodore Meets Doctor Walter Wright
Theodore met up with James at a barbershop in London. He helped Theodore prepare the materials needed to clean and repair their customer's shoes: rags, shoe polish, a brush, and other tools needed.
"It will be hard at first," James said. "You'll get used to it." Theodore nodded as they waited for their first customer.
A man in his forties came up to them and asked for their service. James told Theodore that he should do the job, and he will check if he did it nicely. Theodore's heart was pounding as he grabbed his tools while the man sat on the chair and placed his foot on a stool. Theodore started working as the man reads the newspaper.
Theodore thought he was doing a better job at what he is doing. However, James started to tap his shoulder and whispered in his ear. He stopped what he was doing, and he looked down at the man's shoes. Theodore's eyes widened, and he realized that he used black shoe polish instead of brown shoe polish. The boys got nervous as to what the man would say.
Immediately, the man noticed that Theodore stopped working and found out about the mess he made. His first customer was outraged about what he had done. He kicked his foot right away and hit Theodore's face, making him fall on the ground.
"You bloody idiot!" the exclaimed. "This shoe is worth more than your life, you stupid street rat!" The man immediately got up from the chair and walked away. James helped Theodore get up from the ground as he grunted from the pain.
"Let him be," James said. "I experienced worse than that." He noticed that Theodore's head was hanging low. "Don't get upset. It's your first day. Come on! Let's go someplace else." Theodore followed him as James placed his arm on his shoulder. While walking around the streets around London, they decided to stop at a local clinic.
"This is a good spot, don't you think?" James asked, but he felt that Theodore ignored him. He saw him looking through a window and joined him. "What are you looking at?"
"He is amazing," Theodore said. James tilted his head and wondered what he was referring to. "I dream of becoming like him one day."
"Who?"
"The doctor inside the clinic."
James laughed at Theodore's words. He thought that his new friend is foolish to have a dream like that. When he looked back at Theodore, he stopped laughing, realizing that Theodore is serious about his ambition.
"I'm sorry for laughing," James said.
"It's all right," Theodore replied. "I know that I wouldn't be able to be that successful like he is, but it is never wrong to dream, right?"
James felt ashamed for laughing at Theodore. He became quiet and continued to join him, watching the doctor treating the patient.
Suddenly, the doctor noticed that the two boys were watching him. Both of their eyes widened, and they turned their backs right away. They heard a bell rang from the door, and a man in his late twenties went in front of them.
"What are you two lads doing here?" the doctor asked. He looked young to be a doctor. The young boys were looking up at him with fright. "I believe you boys haven't eaten yet. Why don't you join me inside?"
James's eyes twinkled, and he immediately nodded his head. He bumped Theodore's arm, and Theodore blinked, nodded at the doctor's offer. They followed him inside the clinic and told them to stay by the dining table as he prepared the food.
Theodore was scanning the doctor's office, and he became fascinated with everything that he saw. He saw his diploma, certificates of his achievements, pictures of him while performing medical procedures, books of anatomy and chemistry, and medical artifacts. The doctor approached him and became curious about Theodore.
"Do you like my office, young man?" he asked. Theodore turned his head at the doctor and nodded.
"I do, sir," Theodore replied. "I dream of becoming a doctor, but I can't be one because my dad told me that we belong to a world where people treat us differently. However, he tells me that it is never wrong to dream."
The doctor smiled and patted his head. "Don't stop dreaming, okay?"
Theodore nodded his head and asked him to follow the dining area. James's mouth is already watering from the dishes that the doctor prepared. Varieties of foods that only the middle-class and upper-class can afford: steaks, ham, soup, and water.
"What are you boys waiting for?" the doctor asked. "Please help yourself." The boys smiled and grabbed food to place on their plates, and started to chow down up to the last bite.
"Sir," Theodore asked. "Why are you so nice to us? Isn't that rich people should look at us like garbage?"
The doctor laughed right away. "I am not like them. You see, my mother was just like you. She was living along the streets and eventually became a maid to my father's family. My father came from a wealthy family. I hope you would understand that two people are not the same. Now, I would like to ask you. What are you doing outside my clinic?"
"We were looking for a place to do our job," James said after he gulped the last drop of water from his cup. "We are shoe shiners."
"I see," the doctor said. "Well, you can stay there outside until I close the clinic. However, you can come in here when I am in the office."
"Yes, sir," they answered in chorus.
"I was not able to get your names."
"I'm James Parker. He's Theodore King."
"I'm Dr. Walter Wright."
They continued to chat until the sun started to set. The boys bid goodbye to the doctor and went home. James went to one side of the alley and stayed there. Theodore, on the other hand, continued to walk until he arrived home.
As he opened the door, he saw his mother sitting by the dining table alone. She was in a daze until she saw her son coming through the door. Theodore slowly approached his mother.
"Mother, where's father?" Theodore asked. His mother ignored him and continued to be in a daze. He noticed that there is food already on the table and sat down to join her. "Father will come home soon. Let's start eating dinner."
His mother suddenly moved, nodded, and began to join Theodore while he started to eat dinner as silence shrouded their home.
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