Someone deadly beneath (part 7)

ACT 111

SAND AND STONES

And five, six...five, six, seven eight...

Lauren: hi bro. hope all is well
Dad:: hey Lauren. whats up
Lauren: am here. not feeling so good
Dad:: what's wrong
Lauren: my head hurts. tired. miserable. stressed depress. worried anxious. nervous. worried

Dad:: why you feeling those ways? You have things on your mind?

Lauren: should I go on?(laughed)
Dad:: yea
Lauren: give me a break, why you want such depressing conversations. So how are you

Dad:: woke up late... and with a headache. still feelin like....then I was sent home from work....
Lauren: know what you mean. I woke up with one too
Dad:: because i got only one sale
Lauren: new job on the horizon for you?
Dad:: I hope so. nothin on the horizon
Lauren: am looking too. I need atleast 20 hours
Dad:: that's what I have. 20 hours during regular academic year. good luck

Lauren: thanks, i need it
Dad:: we both do
Dad:: maybe thats why the headaches are comin on - too much things on the minds

Lauren:: definitely
Dad:: how are the kid
Lauren: Annabel just fell asleep hungry, and Alice making eggs
Dad:: (in disbelief) fell asleep hungry?
Lauren: yep. she ask for peanut butter bread and lazy Alice let her wait how long till she fell asleep
Dad:: she willl wake soon though. she must have been tired
Lauren:: hungry
Dad:: does her Dad see her
Lauren: nope
Dad:: really
Lauren: well he on the internet often, even right now as we speak. he might have seen the picture online with her in my messenger

Dad:: he knows your situation and that you are not able to do as much for her as you would like, so he should be man enough to be there for her.

"You wont be back here next monday if you continue to be like you are now", said Promita, da's manager, as he waved her goodbye at the end of the shift.

"But I,m working hard"

"But you're not listening to me when I speak to you."

"Billy, you have just gotten me in trouble with Carter".

Carter was the general manager for the office.

"What for?" he asked, feigning lack of knowledge.

"He saw you on the internet".

"But I"m on my break"

"When I told him that and made other excuse for you, he started to shout at me."

Silence.

"He said that whatever you do on the internet is being monitored."

"Everyone uses the internet, so he should be tellin everyone that."

Promita, had warned him not to go on the internet before he started his shift. The day before his favourite supervisor, Bahira, had told him off about the same thing and warned not to let her catch him usin it again.

Afraid that he would be late, he impulsively decided to take a different route to work that sunday. He got lost.

Exactly an hour late, he dashed up the stairs as soon as he was buzzed in. The door to the second floor was suddenly flung opened as he passed it. "Why are you late?" asked Carter, as Da turned around and looked down on him.

"I got lost, I'm sorry."

"Next time, if you are late and you do not call", he warned, I'm gonna cancel you."

"Ok."

"Billy", the Promita called out to Da, as he neared the completion of an interview. He thought she merely wanted to know how many he had done, so he indicated by showing her two fingers.

"Carter said you are on the internet", she said to him after he had finished.

"Oh my gosh!", he exclaimed, realizing that he had underestimated Carter. Apparently, Carter was monitoring Da from his office. Da closed the windows immediately. But the damage was already done.

"Can I make a call?" he asked the Promita during the break.

"I would rather you did'nt", she replied anxiously, with "Carter around."

The shift ended early. As Da was logged off, he noticed some of his colleagues were asking the supervisor whether there was work for them on monday. She replied in the affirmative to all of them.

That was good news for da because he just could not afford to be sitting on his laurels when he should be making money.

He felt the needed for the confirmation for himself so on his way out, he stopped at her desk. "should I come to work tommorow?"

"I dont know", she said, "I dont want to be told off."

"Okay."

"Just call in the morning and ask."

That meant NO.

Lauren: hi bro. its been ages since we talk. guess you been really busy. hope all has been well.
Dad:: hey. hello
Lauren: I keep getting interruption on the phone line. It's okay now though.

Dad:: same thing has been happening to me
Lauren(laughed)
Dad:: sometime I have no reception
Lauren: when last you speak with Kaylee. how is she
Dad:: I speak with her for 3 minutes last week
Lauren: yea, me too. she ok?
Dad:: am gonna call her this weekend
Lauren: when last you talk to your mom
Dad:: same time. strained
Lauren: she must be mad with me too for she aint call, since she called and give you the phone. whatever
Dad:: blame me
Lauren: who is me me?
Dad: blame me for that
Lauren: please, not at all
Dad: well, I spoke about mine, yours, David and Adrian
Lauren: well, her actions, not yours are mine. so it's her faults, her blame. ain't got nothing to blame on you. how's the job?

Dad:: bad, and I have been gettin in trouble, make it worse for me

Lauren: what trouble you been getting into this time
Dad:: internet, lateness..the usual
Lauren: sorry. shape up. you need the money
Dad:: my bad, I got 5 hours today, not sure about tommorrow or the rest of the week. How are the girls?

how r you?
Dad:: who is this
Alice: 14 here. mom will be back soon
Dad:: hi 13, long time
Alice: 14
Dad:: 13
Alice: 14
Dad:: 13
Alice: 14
Dad:: 13
Alice: how are you . 14
Dad:: great thanks. 13
Alice: you mean 14
Dad:: 13
Alice: 14
Dad:: 13
Alice: how are you so sure I am not 14
Dad:: am very sure (Lied, just teasing her)
Alice: what if I am
Dad:: but your not
Dad:: 13 is cool
Alice: why would it be
Dad:: it's just cool
Alice: I am not officially a teenager until I am 14. I am still considered as a pre-teen

Dad:: I agree. pre teen
Alice: so how was your day. did you work today
Dad:: it was good thanks, got four hours work. how was your day
Alice: I slept for most of it
Dad:: well rested then, nice
Alice: nice and relaxing i guess. yep

Alice: what you doing now
Dad:: lyin down chattin to you
Alice: I am bored now. I went to the library today
Dad: great. so you took my suggestion. how was it
Alice: ok....I used the computer, borrowed a book, cds and dvds

Dad:: TERRIFIC. did you ask about easter activities for pre teens

Alice: there was not many people there because I went when it was almost closing time. no. there was'nt any time for that

Dad:: you should go early and ask. and am sure you will see loads of pre-teen there

Alice: nope. the times I did go early there was'nt any. they all went to some other state or country

Dad:: try again

Alice lauhged ghoulishly.

Dad:: very funny
Alice: thank you. thank you very much
Dad:: your welcome, did your friend email you
Alice: nice laugh right.....hello
Dad:: Hello
Alice:lets play KNOCK
Dad:: okay
Alice: knock knock
Dad:: whose there
Alice: boo (laughed)
Dad:: pre-teen
Alice: you suppose to say boo WHO
Dad:: boo

Dad:: bruv
David:: hiya. whats up
Dad:: am here just chillin man
David: cool. so how was Ireland
Dad:: GREAT. when you flying there
David: on thursday
Dad:: so you have your suits ready(burst into laughter)

David: which suit? I don't have none of those to wear

Dad:: I was worried you were gonna wear all your suits and take away all the girls that I like

David: Who did you find that you like
Dad:: there were about two
David: who

Silence.

David: from church?
Dad:: don't worry. I dont think they are any of yours. (Lied, one of the girls who Da thought liked him, was liked by David) I remember the name of one. ...its weeks now

David: oh please.....not worried at all
Dad: oh, that means you already know, it's not any of yours

David: so tell me her name then
Dad: one was Riley, I forget the other one's name, but she likes me alot.

Da gave Uncle David a wrong name. Because the girl he knew that uncle liked the girl he was referring to.

David: Riley? don't know that name at all. so you get digits or anything?

Dad:: No MATE, I have to leave with a little attitude, they will not be runnin away mate
David: ok then
Dad:: so you know that girl I mentioned
David: no i dont
David: where is she from?
Dad: so maybe she is one of the ones you like(trying to wind up Uncle David)

Silence

Da: David

David: hey I soon return. gonna drop a girl somewhere and return

Dad: cool am sendin you Kaylee's graduation pictures
David: yeah
Dad: I hope I did'nt get you in trouble(He was concerned Uncle David's girl friend might have overheard their conversation)

Dad: oi
John: yes mate
Dad: whats up
John: am here
Dad: thanks for doing the thing for me man

John had transferred $3500 from his bank account to da's, so that da would not need a sponsor when he applied for his extension. When the visa is approved, da would simply transfer back to money to John's account.

John: don't mention it mate
Dad: I went in for four hours, they send us home at the end of three hours, and nothing today it seem or the rest of the week

John: (cackling) will they still pay you?
Dad: for three hours, yes, hopefully
John: ok
Dad: there is no WORD package on my laptop, you know if i can download a free one

John: hmm. am not sure. but there are options or substitutes. check the internet when we you hang up

Dad: cool

Dad: Salut. good morning....
Belicia: sorry who's this?
Dad: oh my gosh, I'm embarrassed. You do not recognise my voice Belicia

Belicia: yes I do now Ignacio, sorry. SORRY
Dad: dont know if you will remember the name
Belicia: try...

Silence

Belicia: come on
Dad: What's my name?
Belicia: how can I forget you when we were together last night

Dad: great, you save me further embarrasment
Belicia: what time did you leave yesterday

Silence.

Dad: about 3am
Belicia: cool. did you work today

Silence
Dad: no, I woke up not too long ago, am not at Belding anymore

Belicia: ok. what do you do now
Dad: well, I was in my final year of study so i needed the time, am just finishin up and lookin for a job at the same time

Belding: cool. what were you studying?
Dad: producción de la televisión

Belicia laughed

Dad: are you impressed.....with my spanish.
Belicia: YEAH. good. that's some long studies though

Dad: thanks, it was, but I am there now
Belicia: so what branch your looking for, what kinda job?

Dad: now am looking for retail and customer service, but when I get the results from my school, I will be looking for a graduate job

Belicia: ok
Dad: so whats been going on in your life
Belicia: not much you know. still dancing...I dislocated my thumb not long ago at an audition!!

Dad: well you have to keep your passion going. unfortunate for your thumb, sorry. it's a part of the sport. is it getting better

Belicia: not really actually.....mi médico me dio algo para ella, pero sigue siendo doloroso .....now I need to see an orthopedic

Dad: that spanish was'nt meant for me, was it?
Belicia: sorry. it was about the same conversation though

Dad: you forget, thats fine, I know, I recognised BUT, Medico and painful.....so I got the meaning.

Lauren: hiya bro, hope all is well, cant get any reception in my room so I just come downstairs. hope all has been good

Dad: hiya whats up, I was asleep, just got up
Lauren: just about to go back upstairs for some shut eye. The building had fire drill after 5 this mornin, and I did'nt go back to sleep. To make it worst, I was up until after 2 in the morning before going into my bed. 3 hours sleep. no work today?

Dad: yea, really need some sleep. no work this week it seems, I ran into a girl friend yesterday, and she say she going on holiday today for a month, so she invited me out last nite

Lauren: cool
Dad: cost me my grocery money, but I could not say no to her

Lauren: she invited you out, and you do the spending? no way. thats not how it go, is not you invite her out. spending

Dad: I'm the man, in it? she spendin arm and leg already for her holiday and, like me, she dont have it.

Lauren: so she should not be doing the inviting when she can't afford it. It's reverse and messed up, its like inviting you to dinner and expecting you to do the cooking, or bring or buy the food. Thats crooked. anyway, I have meeting for ten so gonna take a shut eye. love you(kiss sound)

Dad: cool. love you too. where is Alice?
Lauren: upstairs, i going up to my room now but no reception there. If it she gets better reception, she will call you

Dad: ok, then , tell her to come downstairs
Lauren: will try that, see if she does. few mins. ok

Alice: hiya uncle
Dad: hiya Alice
Dad: whats up
Alice: Nothing. heard you wanted to talk to me
Dad: not urgent or anything, just wanna know if your ok

Alice: yeah i am ok. you could have asked my mom that. I am not as bored
Dad: ohh, so you don't wanna talk to me. supposed I prefer to hear from you

Alice: I found this lady that has a couple of fun stuff. soon she says I will be going on trips like amusement parks and the pool

Dad: GREAT! when
Alice: I was trying to get a phone card for a really long time yester day so that i could talk to you. she said in about a week

Dad: I am happy to hear that, I dont like when you are bored
Alice: why? because I get grumpy
Dad: And thats not good for you
Alice: so how are you
Dad: well, I am good thanks
Alice: nice to know. I have to wait till 11 to go to the lady so for now I will just be ...waiting. Lets play Pow

Silence.

Alice: uncle I will be leaving soon
Silence.

Alice: Uncle
Dad: yea
Alice: where were you
Dad: pow
Alice: i have been talking the whole time. you were'nt answering me

Dad: I have not been gettin any good reception, sorry.my cellular was acting up

Alice: ohh
Dad: which lady you going to?
Alice: her name is miss Lane
Dad: who is she

Alice: I dont know just some lady in my building that is suppose to provide us with something fun i guess

Dad: ok, thats cool. hope it will be fun for you. ok, talk to you later ok

Alice: you leaving
Dad: I am getting ready to go on the road. I have to call to see if I have any work this evening
Alice: ok
Alice: I will start getting ready for 11
Dad: ok, have a nice day, we will talk later ok
Alice: bye. have a goood day too
Dad: thanks

Dad: hiya
Lauren: whatz up?
Dad: long time, you ok
Lauren: hungry
Dad: you gonna cook soon then
Lauren: what to cook
Dad: what are your choices

John: whats up
Dad: am practising to write some sample formats
John: listen...
Dad: am listening, to my music(wind up)
John: I need you to design a creative feature in a monthly issue for me, just for a month

John: four part, one part each month
Dad: about what
John: sorry..one part each week....something the English public would love. nice story line...some love and sex but not too sordid

Dad: yea I could do that. how many words
John: not sure. about the size of a typical article
Dad: where is it being published
John: England. It would be a part of the ad paper as a teaser for people to read
Dad: is it being published
John: yea
Dad: where
John: England
Dad: in what publication man
John: I told you about the ad paper i need to publish in England

Dad: ok, I am on it man
john: I need something juicy in it
Dad: I will send you samples of my formats soon, so you get an idea of how I design

John: Okay.
Dad: next hour or so when I finsih this one
John: I also want someone to create a Hello Counsellor format

Dad: wait, can't I just be a guest creator
John: like what?
Dad: guest?
John: Yea. but I want to know for sure that I have 2 months worth of creativity...like two serials

Dad: If it's creating and designing , I'm commited, I am needing to get some ideas out there

John: okay
Dad: give me an hour or so yea

Dad: whats up bruv
David: nothing much

Dad: how are things in the Emerald Isle?

David: not too bad so far. today's my first day out
Dad: oh, see any girl yet?
David: everywhere
Dad: special ones?
David: not yet
David: hopefully tomorrow at church
Dad: In your suit(uproarious laughter)
David: them girls here are giving me drama about you(Me and Alice)

Dad: is it. what are they saying
David: Hold on a minute
Dad: cool
David: (On his return) about you and your eating habits and your dress....your dressing
Dad: tell me, let me have a laugh
David: about big sunday morning you put on jeans trousers that hung under your bottom and a short blouse to go to church

Dad: blouse? not blouse. just a nice top. that's when they were tellin me about your three piece suit that you wear to church

Silence

David: hello
Dad: hiya
David: what you doing?
Dad: am just doing some creating.
David: okay
Dad: did you go to the internet cafe
David: yeah
Dad: did you bring Kaylee
David: Kaylee was at work
Dad: ok, next time go when she is free. did you get the gospel cd for her
David: that should be on a sunday
Dad: you can get it in Dublin today
David: no, when I get my money first
Dad: when will that be
David: next week
Dad: ok, dont forget please
David: just remind me. she wants that?
Dad: yes. remember please
David: I will mate
Dad: so Kaylee and Alice alrite
David: yeah
Dad: tell Alice I called her many tmes but her phone not working so it just goes to voicemail or dont ring
David: ok
David: reception getting bad
Dad: I wondered what happened.....give Alice the message please
David: I dunno know. I will
Dad: and say hi to stacey

David: Alice phone is'nt working. mom has it
Dad: why she took it
David: because Alice giving trouble
Dad: what's happening
David: thats all I came and hear
Dad: oh no
Dad: I talked to her before I left, you know
David: well, it seem it didnt work
Dad: well, you have to continue it , we can't have everbody pointing fingers at her
David: I'll see what I can do
Dad: please
Dad: did you see Kaylees graduation pictures
David: yeah I saw them...some were wavy
Dad: I don't know why, she has'nt seen them yet, thats why you need to take her with you next time. does she work everyday?

David: I am not sure if it's everyday
David: but she's worked eveyday I am here
Dad: I hope not, tell her I dont want her overworking herself. what is samantha doing for the easter

David: I heard she was working then lost the job. I dont know why yet

Dad: oh my. you left her at the house
David: yeah
Dad: with her mom
David: no
David: mom at work
Dad: alone?. she's alone
Dad: is she lookin for another job
Dad: whats her plans
David: dont see any signs of any
Dad: bruv, u have to talk to her
David: I am not sure what she's up to so far.
David: my card is finishing
Dad: thats why you have to talk to her and find out, remember she dont have any father,
Dad: at least let she have brothers....that care
David: Alice fiery like pepper, init
Dad: I know, calm her
Dad: am gonna call you lot tommorow
David: ok then

Dad: after you lot come home from church in the evening. you going church
David: yeah i guess. i dont have much choice
Dad: good for you, you will get some girls
Dad: in your suit
David: you're having a laugh. I'll see who Riley is.

Dad|: make the suit work for you mate
David: whats the name of the other girl
Dad: oh my gosh you remember Riley?
David: (laughing) of course
Dad: you might take her away with your suit(laughed)
David: you know the girl I had always liked is pregnant. no i wont
Dad: if the suit work, it work bruv
Dad: yes i saw the girl. pregnant
David: she likes the Canadian accent
Dad: she told you that
David: hey I couldnt believe it
David: no, she didnt, havent met her yet
Dad: where did she hear Canadian accent
David: from you, init?
Dad: I did'nt meet her, only her sister and mom
David: ok
Dad: maybe she heard it on television
David: yeah right, whatever
Dad: I swear I did not meet her, I saw her once and she left before church finished
David: Riley?
Dad: who like the Canadian accent?
David: I was saying Riley. The pregnant girl name Cathleen

Dad: oh Riley
Dad: sorry I thought you meant the girl who is pregnant. who Deidre told that?

Deidre was the girl fancied the most.

David: I was just winding you up mate(laughing)
Dad: you joker. did Kaylee told you about her
David: a bit
Dad: what she said
David:that she's pretty
Dad: oh! thats why you remember her, Kaylee and Alice told you about her
David: exactly. hence, I am curious
Dad: are you?

David: yeah
Dad: so you gonna spend extra time on your suit then
David: dont fret now
Dad: no sir, if she prefer the suited man.....
David: yea mate, I have it locked already
Dad: ....than the one with the nice top and jeans sliding down his backside....
David (laughing)
Dad: ....so be it
David: lets see. I wont take her away
Dad: sound like you gonna try
David:.....hhmmmm
Dad: with your suit, you dont have to try man...the suit do the talking.
David: when I see her I'll let you know
Dad: trust me, I go for the best of the best
David: I hear you
Dad: she is ultra hot
David: I dont like girls who are too pretty...hard to maintain....
Dad: why
David: ....and please
Dad: she's alrite then...
David: and worst, I am skint. so you say
Dad: ..compare to the others, I was skint than you, plus you have your suit. you're presenting yourself mate...not your wallet. I presented my self. that's all...
David: you're still on this suit thing, it's just a shirt tie and pants
Dad: ....otherwise you will lack confidence, and feel inadequate
David: card finish
Dad: cool. call you tommorrow
David: yeah. say hi to Kaylee, Alice and stacey

"Whats the problem?" Da asked the supervisor?", standing up and projecting his voice across couple other pods towards her desk. While he was on the phone, she had come over to his desk, presumably to talk to him. After waiting for awhile, Dad overheard her telling one of his colleagues to keep an eye on him and see to it that he did not go on the internet.

"We are running out of Numbers", she said, apparently totally oblivious to what he was on about.

"Not that", Da replied impatiently, "I hear you telling Anna to see to it that I do not go on the internet."

"Yes I did."

"Well, I am not a child, so please don't keep an eye on me", Da retorted, without any attempt to disguise the anger he was feeling, "besides, e eryone uses the internet, including Anna."

"I have warned you many times", she shouted, "but you still do it". Da was surprised at himself. The others had not seen angry before. But her outburst and prolonged shouting, shocked him.

He could easily match her performance, but decided that it would not be in his best interest. He was already notorious among the other supervisors and the head manager, so he sat down, shut up and allowed her to rant until she finished.

An hour or so later he went to the foyer to fetch some water and was accosted by one of his friends.

"Did you hear what she said about work? he asked, referring to the supervisor.

"Not really", Da replied, "I was on the phone."

"There will be no work for the next few weeks".

Da thought he had heard something to that effect, but he was uncertain. He got the confirmation he needed but did not welcome it.

"Thats not good news."

While completing his timesheet at the end of the shift, he noticed the supervisor loitering about him. He reckoned she was just closing the windows. It was customary to do so at that time of the day.

They had not spoken to each other all day since their little spat. Normally, he would ask her for a call during his break. He was too furious to appraoch her, especially for asking her a favour, so he did'nt.

"I am sorry for shouting at you today." she said to him.

"Its alright."

"I don't want there to be any animosity between me and you."

"Its ok."

"Are you sure."

"Very."