Six O'Clock

“Sixoclockbook.” Hugging the Coast: A Celebration of Coastal Food and Travel, huggingthecoast.com/2009/04/09/read-a-cookbook-for-free-the-six-oclock-breakfasts-cookbook/. 

   Another day, another hour, another minute. I’m desperately watching the clock, waiting for it to strike six. I’ve had enough days filled with this boredom; they’re endless. No one even pays attention to me. I just sit in the corner by myself, watching people walk past me back and forth. Sometimes, they forget my existence, which gets into my head and stays there for days. I feel isolated, like I don’t belong. Why am I even here? Is this my life long prison?

    At times however, I hear a “tap tap tap.” I like to believe they do this to make sure I’m still alive, and somehow, I’m still breathing. I get so frustrated I sink to the bottom swaddled in my depressed thoughts. On some days they move me into a temporary holding pen while they wash my other place. It never gets too dirty though; there’s really nothing in here except for me; not even a friend or a plant, it’s just me. After every one of my tears is scrubbed off of my regular cell they put me back to my natural environment. Since everything becomes so clear I get to stare at my reflection. It’s the only kind of entertainment I find around here. Finally the time came; I watch the boy slowly get out of his seat, and with his eyes still on the computer screen, he reaches for a little round box sitting on a shelf above his bed. He shakes it, then twists it and finally opens it. While starting to walk towards me I get up and start moving, pacing, taking up all the tiny area I have as fast as I can. Afterall I can’t help it; it’s happy time! I get this rush of happiness that makes me so energetic I have to let it out. It’s exactly 6 o'clock, and the boy puts the box above and tilts it towards me. Little pieces of heaven start falling. As soon as one lands I swim for it and eat it with a big gulp, another one flakes the water, another one, another one, and another one. The boy closes the box and puts it back on the shelf. Well, I guess that is that for today. Happy time is over.

    I live in a crystal clear tank with only my reflection there as a source of entertainment. Depressing I know, yet I stay alive. I turn the littlest things around to create moments of sheer happiness that keep me going. Moments like when the clock strikes six and I get fed. I might live a gloomy life but inside I stay bright.

No Money

She wept, staring into the emptiness of her polka dot green and blue wallet. She quietly walked over to the information desk to report the stolen items. The culprit had taken everything. He had taken everything, her phone, her money, her credit cards, and even her identity. Money was all she could think about. She was already struggling to pay for her kid’s education, their housing, and food. She felt so upset, so angry. She lost her job. She lost her money. She was losing control of her life. Depressing thoughts raced through her mind. Would she have to give up her home and beg for money on the street? Money, money, money. Why did it have so much power over her life? She began to near the information desk placing one foot in front of the other. Only five steps left. She reigned in her emotions and began to spill the details of her stolen possessions. The front desk personnel informed her they were unable to help. She began to speak faster as she explained her life story and her problems, not able to repress the feelings anymore. The front desk personnel once again informed her that they were unable to help. She picked up her bag, determined to find the culprit and have the money returned. She didn’t care about the phone. She cared about her children and how she would provide for them. She started at the stores. What if the money had accidentally fallen out? She asked the store clerks for help and video footage. After a few solid hours of searching, everything was still missing. She sat on a bench in the food court, contemplating her options but she was frustrated and out of energy. She walked back to the information desk to give one last effort at finding the money. Yet again they informed her they could not help. She considered not returning home because without the money she was unable to care for her children. She didn’t even have enough money to feed them. She began to bawl in the middle of the shopping mall. She reached for her purse one last time to verify the money was missing, but her entire purse was now gone. Everything was gone and she no longer cared.