Another incoming call put the sleep-deprived Cal in a state of extreme discontent, hoping to prolong his sleep for a couple of minutes, the call could not be accepted. After a while, under the pressure of the ringing melody, Cal finally regained consciousness, and immediately picked up the phone with apologies on his lips, referring to the short period of time and immediate readiness to continue the work started yesterday. In response to which he heard a sneer, and a premeditated plan to wake him up.
- The buyer will arrive at 10 o'clock, take a cab and pick me up on the way, - said Timothy.
- Okay. I'll be there in about 30-40 minutes.
Having met the buyer, the guys sat down on the sofa, giving the opportunity to leisurely examine the proposed goods, while explaining the situation. Soon the buyer expressed a desire to buy everything that belonged to Timothy and asked about the price. Timothy did not hesitate to offer the buyer his price, and in response he heard:
- I'm willing to buy it all, for twelve thousand.
- Add a thousand and take it," Timothy replied.
After counting the money, Timothy handed him the keys to the premises, saying that he had the rest of the day to take it out, and the keys would be taken by an authorized person as soon as the premises were empty. Then, all day the guys drove around the city returning their money to the owners, and in the evening, having ordered pizza and sweets at home, began to summarize the past two days. Putting the rest of the money on the table Timothy said softly: "Three thousand, not counting change, but it's too little for my flight and a comfortable stay, wherever it takes me."
- It's a good thing I got a discount on the weekly rate or it would have been even less, so where would you like to go?
- I haven't decided yet. In any case, I need to think about where to get more money and most importantly, to properly explain the situation to the people I originally borrowed money from. They won't like what they hear.
- At least we have a few days before the eviction, and during this time we are obliged to develop a proper plan of action. What I don't understand is, what's the basis for that? If you haven't decided where you're going!
- I still have to sell some of my stuff.
- Why not all of it?
- I think I could use some of it," Timothy said in the tone of a man with a plan, staring off in a direction, "a camera, a printer, a TV, an exercise bike and a cue! If you want any of these things, take them for free, they'll be my gift to you.
- If we had money in our pockets at the moment, maybe I'd take something, probably the cue, - smiling and shaking the bank card in his hand, Cal emphasized his friend's generosity and gestured his gratitude. - We could take it to a pawn shop, and when the time expires, the property will go to them and they'll sell it, we don't have a lot of time to look for a buyer for every item. What do you say? I just don't think they'll take the exercise bike and the cue.
- Let's do it!
After finding the number of one of the pawnshops, the guys found out that they would only accept a camera and a TV set for $500 at best. A couple of hours later the guys arrived at a billiard club, where Cal often spent his evenings, with the intention of selling a cue to one of the familiar players. The price of $200 turned out to be quite attractive for players who understood something about billiard paraphernalia, and the cue was sold with incredible ease within a few minutes. Adding $700 to Timothy's available money on arrival back in the kitchen, he counted it again, ending up with $3700 in dollars and a small balance in local currency, for expenses before departure.
- Satisfy my curiosity at last! - Having no idea what was coming, Cal returned to the main question.
- Do you think that I want to hide from you the place of my arrival, and shut myself off from everything that has happened in my life, thus cutting off all ties and silently saying goodbye forever to all the people who have been a part of my life for almost two years? That's exactly what it is! I no longer wish to see or hear from anyone I have ever done business with or otherwise interacted with, with the exception of you and a few others. I don't really have a desire to go anywhere in particular, but I do have a firm decision to go. And where exactly," Timothy said with his hands in silence.
- I understand your desire, and I didn't think you wanted to get rid of me, either. But flying somewhere just because you don't want to be here isn't the best solution, and I think we should take 100% of the benefits of the situation, so that when you arrive anywhere, even at the top of Mount Everest, you won't have to bite your elbows and look for ways to go on another trip.
- To put it as it is, I basically have no one. I rarely talk to my parents, I have no siblings, I only care about a few people who care about me on the level of words and small actions. As you told me in the past, people mostly communicate with each other only to get benefits, and at the critical moment everyone pulls the blanket on himself. Get it right this is not an accusation or a complaint, just reality. No one owes anyone anything! I, like you sincerely hope to find a true friend. That's why I don't know where to go, in fact I am completely free and intend to keep control of my life from now on. If I had more money, I would visit several cities in Europe and Asia, maybe even fly across the ocean, stay there for a while, at least a week in each big city and decide where to stay, but you see, there is no such opportunity, so I do not know.
- Tell me what you want to do in the new place? What do you want to do? I guess I took your departure superficially, because wherever you go you have to live on something, to do something.
- Before I thought I wanted a chain of small cafes/restaurants, but as it turned out I couldn't handle it. Not because it's hard, but because it didn't ignite my heart properly, and looking at the success of others in some cases I often wanted to do what these people do. Maybe if I had succeeded with the cafe as I saw it in my imagination, I would have been sure that it was my life's work and I had found my calling. So I don't know what I want to do, and I guess I'm looking for an answer to that question, to the question of who am I? What do I want? And many others, I will go looking for the answer bro, I don't see any other way.
- Then click on any point on the map and fly without a plan "B", without thoughts of future events, without the burden of the past, live in the present. Perhaps this is the right decision, perhaps only in this way you will find answers to your questions, I can't give better advice than this. I've been trying to answer my own questions for years.
Cal jumped to his feet, excited by the idea that had just come into his head, shook the index finger of his right hand and said loudly.
- Today is the last day we'll see each other, knowing each other only by our first names and not knowing who we are, so let's make a pact, shall we? We'll talk slowly, laugh, say things to each other that we wouldn't normally say on a normal day, have a great evening, then say goodbye and don't look for each other until one of us finds the answers to our questions. There would be no correspondence, no pictures, no videos that we like to laugh about, just one call for 365 days that we could use if we wanted or felt it was necessary. A moment ago when this idea struck me, it seemed unbelievable and it made me feel good. But after saying all this out loud, I feel or should I say realize our parting. When a person is near, in the same city or at a small distance, you can not see him or her even for a hundred years, and not feel his or her absence, as we do from time to time. I mean that I have not always behaved as a friend, at times judging, being clever, not interfering in those moments when I should have interfered and vice versa. I'm sorry, I guess I'm far from being called a friend, but I really wish you success, not in something specific, but success in general.
- It's a really interesting idea, I could use the extra incentive. Shall we limit the competition to an expiration date? Or maybe an exception for critical situations? Something like incarceration, loss of loved ones, serious illness or something else unforeseen, in case we need each other for real. What do you say?
- Yeah, you're right, anything can happen. So let's add a clause to our contract about critical situations, in which, if any, we will contact each other in any way we can, help each other as much as we can, but the rest of the contract will remain in force, and this will be the only exception. Do you agree?
- I do! I can't wait for you to leave, ha-ha.
In their usual manner the boys continued to banter with each other and with the rest of the world, laughing loudly and interrupting each other to tell the joke that came before their eyes, they sometimes could not make out the words they heard mixed with hysterical laughter. Thus passed the last evening of these self-seeking, not in any case not giving up young guys, in the warm company of each other. Cal said one of his favorite phrases, which at that moment he understood only by looking at the situations of people other than himself - "Closing one door opens another,"
- See you later, buddy.
- See you later. - Timothy said as he looked at Cal.