The plan
Chapter 2: the plan
“We are going to steal it,” said Mike
“What! What do you mean by we!” said Manson,
“Yes! We!” Mike replied
“I can't do that, what if we got caught?” Manson asked
“We are not getting caught, nobody is getting caught, not me or you, okay!” said Mike
“But they said that the security will be tight, how are we going to steal it?” Manson asked
“Shush… listen I have a plan trust me,” Mike said
Manson gasped and said “Yeah Mike always has a plan, alright! I am in but I hope we are not using guns?”
“No! Why would you say such a thing? Come on! We work smart, not hard! Right from college fam!” said Mike
“Yeah, so what is the plan?” Manson asked
“Now listen,” said Mike, Mike came closer to Manson and narrated his plan in a Sotto voce manner
After the long day, Mike went home. Mike opened the door and shouted, “I'm home!”
Roy, Mike’s son came running to him, Mike opened his arm and embraced him, and they both walked to the sitting room.
Mike and his son, Roy, sat down on the couch, Mike was about to ask Roy, his son, a question when Pearl cut in.
“Roy! Who are you with? Pearl asked, as she pearl came out of the kitchen Pearl was shocked to see Mike
“Wow! You are back! Early! It's about 3 pm,(looking at her wristwatch) I thought you would be back at your usual time, 10 pm!” said Pearl
“I changed!” Mike replied politely,
“So what's up with you? How is work?” Mike asked
“Yeah, stressful as usual but it is fine” Pearl replied
“I guess your secret work went well,” Pearl asked sarcastically
“Yeah, it went well, thank you for asking,” Mike answered while watching television with Roy.
Pearl chuckled and said “I don't understand you! At all! But look, the only thing I am going to tell you is that one day, I am not going to take or accept anything you give to me or my son, because I don't know what you do”
Mike tries to indicate that Pearl should not start a quarrel and that their son, Roy, is here and not supposed to witness both of them quarreling but Pearl ignores him and keeps nagging.
Mike said nothing to Pearl. After Pearl finished her nagging, she went back to the kitchen. Mike kept smiling but he was hurt inside by the harmful things Pearl said.
“Dad!” Roy called Mike, Mike turned to him with a smile
and Roy said “You don't need to worry or mask your emotions or how you feel, okay? Mom does not mean what she said, I know, she does that a lot, listen… Even though you do bad things, you are still my father and I love you very much”
after Roy’s speech, he gave his Father, Mike, a hug and whispered “I love you”
Tears rode down Mike’s cheek, not because of the color speech his son made or the hug or the fact that Roy understood and loved him genuinely. But this is not the main reason tears rode down Mike's eyes
Tears rode down Mike’s cheek because Mike remembered the moment that his father, Jack, and he shared, taking Mike back to the old days when he was showered with love and compassion by his father, Even when he was not accepted by others.
Mike wiped his tears and said “Thank you! I love you too” and Roy set him free and continued watching television.
Mike touched his satchel and said “I almost forgot! I know you are a reader, you love reading (referring to Roy) and I admire that, so… I hereby pass down this incredible book to you” presenting a book to Roy, as if it was a royal in heritage.
Roy accepted the book with pure joy and gladness. Immediately Roy read the book title out loud “THE JOURNEY OF JOHN TOM”.
“Oh! My gosh!” Roy exclaimed
“Do you like it?” Mike asked.
“Are you kidding me? I love it! I heard a lot about this book, where did you get it from? Roy asked.
“My dad gave it to me before he passed away” Mike answered
“Cool! My grandfather was a good guy right?” Roy asked
“Yeah, he was” replied Mike
Roy immediately opened the book and read the title of the first chapter loudly “The PLAN!” said Roy
“Dinner is ready!” Pearl announced
“Alright, keep the book, and later on you can come back to read it,” Mike said, taking the book off Roy's hands and sending him off to have dinner.
After they all had dinner, Mike and Pearl cleaned up and Pearl and Roy Went to bed but Mike didn't sleep that night, he was thinking about the plan he discussed with Manson.
Mike lay on the bed beside Pearl facing the ceiling picturing his plan and how smooth it was because there would be zero interference from anybody.
The following day, Mike got up early, gave Pearl and Roy a peck on the check, left the house, and went straight to his friend, Manson, clock store.
When Mike got there, Manson on the other hand was opening the business for the day and was surprised to see Mike so early.
“Oh! You are early” Manson said in a friendly tone
“Yeah, I am surprised that I kept to time than the clock seller,” Mike said
They both laughed
“Here is the tuxedo I told you that the butlers are going to wear,” Manson said, giving Mike a customized tuxedo with a name engraved on it.
“Wow! How did you get it without them knowing” Mike asked
“Surprised? You are not the only one with sticky fingers” Manson replied
“Now you are learning,” Mike said and they both laughed and Mike left the store and went home to draft out his plan.
Days went by, and the auction day was drawn close, that is, a day to go and Mike and Manson were prepared. Mike told Pearl that he was going to be a butler on the occasion.
That evening, before the main day, Pearl got home excited, and Mike asked why, pearl showed him an invitation letter to an auction ceremony hosted by billionaire Andrew that she was given from the hospital where she worked by her colleagues to be a plus one to the event and pearl insisted to go with Mike and be with him throughout the event.
Hearing this Mike excused himself and went outside of the house and called Manson via cell phone.
Mike told Manson about the new development and Manson said “Oh! No, the plan is ruined totally”
Mike thought and said “Okay let her come with us, it is fine”
“Are you crazy? She will ruin the entire plan” said Manson
“No isn't, pearl is even going to help us out,” Mike said
“How?” Manson asked
“I have a plan,” Mike said.