death of hope

Chapter 18 "Flying Windfall" (18) Buddies

Leaning on the worn-out seat in the back of the taxi, watching the buildings passing by outside the window, he was playing with the exquisite black gold membership card in his hand.

His parents passed away, his relatives were estranged, and his once close friend, Old John, also died. The colleagues in the factory were all friends. Brother Bart was a good man, but it was not worth entrusting his life to him.

But who else is trustworthy, my childhood sweetheart Anna... I can't explain to her the windfall in the bag, so I still have to ask my brothers for help.

The old song "Lovers in the Sunset" from a hundred years ago came from the second-hand tape player in the center console of the taxi:
"The sun shines on the sand,
The sea breeze blows your long hair,

Ah, my dear Miss Hedeline,
Don't miss this wonderful time,
Why not go to the bar and have a drink? "

Halfway through the guitar melody, Roy sat up suddenly, startling the driver;
"how?"

"It's nothing."

"Don't be surprised. I have a heart attack. Just now I thought... I met a gangster and wanted to strangle me..."

"If I really wanted to do that, I'd wait for the car to go through a back street before doing it."

"That's true."

"Turn left at the intersection ahead, I remembered something urgent."

After arriving at the place, Roy handed the driver a banknote and asked him to stop at the spot and wait for him. Then he went down the stairs alone with the bag and entered the deep alley.

There are some homeless people in the alley, gathering in twos and threes, and giving the outsiders a hostile look;
"Have some change, buddy?"

"No money."

Roy tightened his collar, reached into his clothes with one hand, touched the handle of the gun, and then touched the transmitter of the security company, feeling much more at ease.

After turning around, he finally arrived at his destination. Apart from home, the place Roy is most familiar with is the Old Lame Bar.
Looking at the dilapidated neon signboard, I felt warm, and even the smell of the garbage dump outside the door seemed refreshing. This is the harbor where his soul can escape the storm and dock in peace, and accompany him through countless difficult nights.

The store was empty, the bartender Ferguson was cleaning the bar counter, and the tavern clerk Donny was sweeping the floor. When he heard the wind chime on the door, the bartender looked up and was a little surprised:

"Roy? You boy... why are you here in broad daylight?"

"Why, I'm not welcome?" Roy and two old friends bumped their fists and said hello: "The old man has gone home?"

"No, the old man is resting in the store. You should know that he is always sleepy when he is old."

Roy picked out his favorite bar stool and sat down:
"I'll talk to the old man about something, please both of you avoid it."

"Hey, what's the matter, why don't we brothers listen to it?"

"Just leave it alone."

"What is so mysterious? You were fired from the factory?"

"No."

"Oh, don't be...Miss Anna dumped you?"

"Fuck you! Ferguson, can't you fucking wish me well?"

"Hahaha, what a pity, if I really dump you kid, I will be able to chase her."

"Believe it or not, I'll beat you!"

Roy made a gesture and punched the bartender, "Come on!" The other party rolled up his sleeves to meet him, so scared that Downey hurried over to try to persuade him: "They are all good buddies, don't make trouble!"

"Haha, we were just joking, look, it scared you."

"Well, there are no outsiders here, call the old man out, I will pay, and the four of us will drink and chat."

"That's about the same. There are no secrets between buddies."

The three young men clenched their fists again, appearing extremely intimate,

After all, they are not just old neighbors and old acquaintances, but a lifelong friendship;
During a brawl in a tavern, a drunken gangster insulted Old Jon loudly, saying that he was a lackey of the Federation of Terra. The guys and regular customers wanted to teach this bastard a lesson, but they didn't expect this stupid young boy to bring a gun .

That day, Roy risked his life to block bullets for his brothers, and rode on that bastard with pain until he passed out due to blood loss.
The two were sent to the hospital together, the little gangster was beaten out half of his mouth and teeth, Roy underwent surgery, the doctor said he was lucky, the bullet was only two centimeters away from his liver.

Ferguson and Donnie pulled down the shutters, lowered the blinds, turned on the ambient lights in the tavern, and went to the lounge to wake up Old Jon.

Five minutes later, Roy was sitting on the edge of the bar with a glass of ice alcohol vodka in front of him.

The boss here—old Jon, a veteran, was leaning on crutches, wearing that worn-out military uniform with a medal on his chest, and his body was straight. He listened patiently to Roy telling a lie. The old man stroked his beard, said:
"Boy, there's no fucking truth in your mouth."

"Ah, this..."

"You really make money by selling paintings?"

"Really...really."

"Fucking shit! Your lying skills are abysmal."

"The collector appreciates me."

"Come on, Roy, when you were five or six years old, when you were still scratching the ground with chalk, I said that this kid doesn't have the talent to be an artist, and it's better to learn some other crafts to support yourself early.

You still don't believe it, but later you often bring your works to show adults, I still retain this point of view, and you are still angry with me for it. "

"Old man, what you said is really hurtful." Ferguson said.

"Come on, I'm just telling the truth, Roy, just your two brushes...is it worthy of being called a work of art? At most, it's just street graffiti."

"Nice graffiti." Downey smiled, "At least it's much better than mine."

Old Jon poked the money shopping bag with his cane:
"In short, I don't believe that any blind collector would pay such a large amount of money to buy your paintings. Your childish lies will be used to deceive Anna. She is too naive to believe you."

Roy looked a little embarrassed: "Hey, old man, don't go too far."

"I don't care if you like it or not, I just want to say it!

Yes, I know you heard me, the last time I told Ana that you were not good enough for her, I said the same to your face. "

Roy was silent, and began to pour wine into his stomach. Old Jon was not polite, and directly opened the zipper of the shopping bag.

"Ouch! So many!" Ferguson and Downey were stunned,
Old Jon is a man who has seen the world. When he was young, he drove military equipment worth hundreds of millions. He was not surprised to see a bag full of money:

"Boy, since you have come to ask me for help, you have to tell the truth, or get out early!"

Roy didn't speak, and continued to drink dull wine.

"Tell me, how did this money come from? Your family and I have been neighbors for decades. Watching you little brats grow up, no matter what is right or wrong, I will definitely stand by your side."

(End of this chapter)