Capítulo 6: Tom's Memory

T-1 Days to Incident

#After School– near the park

As Tom neared the park, clouds of thoughts crowded his mind. Ever since his childhood, he had no memory of him walking or playing with his dad—neither inside the house nor anywhere public. Anyone hardly knew him to be Edmont's son! He neither smiled at his son nor took pity on him, let alone pride. Edmont never introduced his son to others. He never said, "This is my son, Thomas," unlike other normal fathers!

“The society my dad belongs to will never allow him to associate with a son like me.” Tom contemplated how this could be detrimental to his career and fame. “If just paying money could solve that problem, he would just do it discreetly.”

The soothing view of the park in front of him helped him forget everything, even if it was for a moment. But the discomfort in his body pulled him back to reality. His waist was hurting like hell.

“Thank God! At least Mom is there at home,” he thought as he was harrowingly dragging his feet through the park. This was his only undisturbed spot. He thought about his dad. “Unless a kid is an orphan, he gets some sort of mental support and courage from his dad so he can bravely face the difficult world, he scoffed, and my dad!”

Edmont Baker was a successful lawyer. Money, connection, and power decided one’s worth in the society Edmont Baker belonged to. If it ended just there, Tom wouldn't have complained!

“Why bring in the kids to your game? Why? Just leave us alone! Leave me alone, for God's sake.” Tom winced as he thought, in retrospect, about how his dad, Edmont Baker, treated him recently.

# Sometime in the past: flashback

Not too long ago, Edmont Baker hosted a party. This type of party wasn't meant to celebrate any success but only to please the host's connections in high places. The invitees were capable of influencing national politics, law, and the economy. The party was for them to brag about themselves. The conversation from the other room was still fresh in his mind.

"Ah! Mr. Baker! My daughter is leaving for a study-abroad program. She got an invitation from a renowned school in the Omortolok Kingdom. What a great achievement at such a young age! Don't you think?" Even from behind the thick wall, Tom could feel the vibe of the other room change.

"That's good to hear," but Mr. Baker's face of envy said otherwise.

Adding more salt to the injury, the guest continued, "Ah! Where are my manners? I don't see Baker Jr. What's he up to these days?"

Edmont felt a humiliation he would never forget.

Another guest scoffed, "Oh! I heard your son transferred schools again! What happened? In our time, only the problem children were transferred. He's not one, right?" He faked his concern. Then he said to the other guests, "Kids these days, I tell you! They have no civility! You need to be strict, or else they won't listen to you! It's all about proper home education, right? I mean, charity begins at home after all; isn't that right, Mr. Edmont?" The last part was directed at Edmont.

Tom ground his teeth as he thought, “Why did you have to reel me into your little game? Why? Would you have constipation if you didn't? Your food won't digest? Will you have diarrhea if you don't involve the kids as well?”

These people were never the type to cry a river at Tom's hardship. Tom wasn't even on the mark. He was just a means to humiliate Edmont Baker. That guest wanted to hurt his pride.

Tom's pain and tears didn't matter. The high school bullying culture wasn't even a thing in these esteemed guests' eyes. And here, Tom thought, those guests were supposed to be the people who could do something to stop school bullying. But shaming Edmont was the only thing on their menu.

Tom couldn't go into the room and correct what they were saying, as even his shameful existence burdened Edmont. He didn't want to aggravate his dad. All he could do was listen to his father's pathetic display of hubris and tirade.

Neither the guests nor Tom's dad took into consideration the psychological pain inflicted on the poor boy.

Mr. Baker, as usual, used his wife and Tom to deflect, "It's my fault for not finding a better and more successful wife. Even if you have the best seeds, the harvest depends on the land quality," he sighed to fake frustration in order to gain some sympathy at the cost of his wife and son, "a hopeless son from a hopeless mother," as if by shifting the blame on his wife, he would be able to retain his honor.

"Pathetic," Tom muttered. "You should've been the one to support me, but you blame everything on me and Mom."

Edmont's blasphemous tirade continued: "Even feeding them a morsel seems to be a disservice to society. I'd rather feed stray dogs. But I'm stuck with them for life." With this, a delusional Edmont rested his case as if he had gotten his dignity back.

"Even a loser like me wouldn't do what you did, sir!" Tom shook his head at his own helpless irritation at Edmont's display of shamelessness. Tom felt his insides churning. He literally smelled his heart burning from extreme agitation!

Every one of those hypocrites seemed sympathetic to Mr. Baker, but Tom knew the moment those bastards left this house, they would be more than happy to turn this pathetic display into delicious gossip.

Amid deep contemplation, Tom arrived at the park. He looked around for a place where he wouldn't be bothered. He noticed a half-empty bench and sat down to rest. He was now thinking about the torture he had to go through today. He heaved a heavy sigh and shook his head in disappointment.

Tom was so engrossed in thinking about his day at school and his overall life in this world that he failed to notice the presence of an interesting character sitting right on the other half of the bench. He put his bag beside him and reclined on the backrest. “Ah! Only if I had the courage and strength to change my life!”

The strange man, sitting only a few feet away from him, was eating a piece of dirty bread. Although Tom could not notice him, he was paying attention to everything Tom was saying. He smiled. After taking a small bite, the man spoke for the first time. “Hey boy! Do you want to change your life?”

The sudden remark jolted Tom back to reality. Now, he could see the owner of the voice. A man in his late forties with shabby garbs, grizzled hair, a short beard, and blue eyes. The man was not ugly, but his appearance felt dirty. Tom gazed at him for awhile and then opened his mouth.

“Sir! Are you a homeless person?”

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