Forgiving Who We Are, Andrew McCallister [books for new readers TXT] 📗

"Most people remember him as Alexander – a name that would be revered throughout humanity through the ages. A man so strong and so devout, that he would be known forever as the one who overturned the government and brought peace to the people. He was a man who freed the slaves and brought justice to those who have hurt the innocent. Alexander was thought to be so mighty that he even rebuilt the entire economy with the few dollars that he had in his pocket. Or so the legend says…"

"What do you think of this Alexander guy?" Jonathan asked, putting down the paper he was just reading. Jonathan and mark were sitting at a small bar located in town. Jonathan had already started on his second drink when he asked the question.

"I think he was really a great guy," Mark responded. Mark was Jonathan's friend from high school and roommate. Mark had the business section of the paper and was using a red pencil to circle quotes. "I mean, he did save the entire world, you know."

"Yeah, but where is he now?" Jonathan responded, not believing Mark's response.

"No one knows. They think he's up north somewhere, sick or something."

"It just seems like we believe in him way too much." Jonathan took another sip. "He promised his return, and people have been saying he's coming back soon to save us."

"Yeah, and we could really use his help right now more than ever." Mark set some money on the counter and folded up his paper. "I've got to go. I have to finish up some stuff for work. I'll see you later."

Jonathan didn't say goodbye. He just stared at the article he had just read. He knew that they really did need Alexander more now than ever. Things were getting really bad with the economy, and now there was no government to help out. The government had been shut down about ten years ago, and economics was left up to the businesses. This meant that the standard of living was up to the businesses, and that workers were barely paid enough. In fact, most people had to work anywhere from sixty to eighty hours a week just to earn enough for a few meals. Only the top managers and executives of the companies were getting the big bucks. This led to a huge imbalance of the economic system because the top managers would spend their money at the expensive, giant companies. Trying to start a business in this day and age was nearly impossible. And even trying to get a new job was nearly impossible, so everyone did everything they could to stay employed.

Jonathan paid for his drinks and left the bar headed home. He saw a couple of beggars on the street, which was not uncommon. He gave the rest of his change out and quickly ran up the flight of stairs to his second-story apartment.

* * *

"Jonathan!"

Jonathan was startled to the calling, and quickly got up from the chair in his cubical to find that Mr. Z was standing at the entrance. "Yes, Mr. Z?" Mr. Z was Jonathan's boss at Phillip & Sons Inc where he worked. Jonathan didn't know exactly what the company did, only that they dealt with overseas trading.

"I need you to rewrite this report, Jonathan," Mr. Z responded, throwing some stapled papers at Jonathan. "It's horrible. Re-write it by the end of today or you're fired."

Mr. Z quickly left the cubical and Jonathan slowly sat back down. He stared at the floor for a while, and then picked the paper up.

"Are you alright?" a woman's voice came from the door way. Jonathan looked to see that it was Kari, Jonathan's co-worker and good friend. Kari was one of the few people who defied the current economic structure. Her uncle was a high executive at Phillip & Sons, so Kari's position here was practically guaranteed. She constantly skipped work, never turned in her work on time, and was constantly under performing her standards. In fact, Jonathan was surprised to see that she was at work today.

"Yeah I'm fine," Jonathan responded. "He hates me."

"He doesn't hate you," Kari said walking further into the cubical. "He just hates everyone and everything that isn't him."

"You're probably right," Jonathan said going back to the computer. "Well, I guess I know what I'm doing for the rest of today.

"Would you like to go get some coffee with me before you start your work?" Kari invited him.

"I'd love to." Jonathan turned his screen off and they walked out of the office. He knew that he would have to stay late tonight to get his report done.

* * *

"Jonathan, you're fired." Jonathan was standing in Mr. Z's office. He had been staring at the fish arrangement on Mr. Z's desk and didn't hear him.

"Did you hear me? You're fired."

"Why?" Jonathan asked, breaking concentration with the fish.

"Because you're incompetent," Mr. Z said as if he had said it a thousand times. "You're work is constantly undermined and irrelevant. I want you out of here in two hours. I have someone coming in to fill your place."

"You're a monster," Jonathan said, heading for the door. "It's people like you that make it hard for people like me to get food and maintain an apartment. Everyone else around here think I'm the best worker you have. You've always been on my back since the day I started, and you've always hated my work." Jonathan opened the door.

"If you are my best worker, then why am I firing you?" Mr. Z said, thumbing through a stack of papers.

Jonathan stared at him for a few seconds, and then walked out and slammed the door. He picked up some boxes on the way back to his cubical to start packing. He kept thinking how unfair it was that he was fired, but Kari got to keep her job. It was so ridiculous that he worked like mad seventy hours a week just to get enough food to eat two meals a day, and Kari skipped every other day of work and still had a job. He despised Kari for that, and thought about how the next time he saw her, he would yell at her for it.

"I'll try to get my uncle to do something," Kari said from the doorway. Jonathan looked up, and immediately all his hatred for her dropped. She was so compassionate and kind despite her non-promptness. He decided right then that he would ask her out on a date.

"I appreciate your help," Jonathan said. He was afraid to ask her out. He decided right then that he wouldn't ask her out. Why should he be the one to ruin her life? Why should he have good things in his life when all long it has been filled with bad things? But then maybe he deserved a little good after so much bad. He often thought about having someone in his life he could trust and could hold close. Could it be her? Could be she someone he could trust? He decided right then that he would ask her out.

"Have you seen the headlines today?" Kari said, after the long silence.

"No," Jonathan responded, continuing to put his things in his boxes. "I haven't had a chance to see a paper today yet."

"You should probably read this." Kari handed him the paper and Jonathan read the headline. 'Man shot today while trying to catch a bus.' Jonathan read further… '34 year old Mark Staton was killed today when he was shot by muggers at a bus stop.' Jonathan couldn't read any further. He slowly sat down in his chair and slumped over the article.

"That was your roommate, right?" Kari said, putting her hand on Jonathan's shoulder.

"He was my childhood friend," Jonathan started. "He's been my closest friend all my life."

"I'm so sorry," Kari said.

Jonathan cried. "How could this have happened? What else is going to happen to me today?"

"None," Kari tried to re-assure him. After a moment she said "If you ever need anything, here's my home number." She put a piece of paper in front of him and walked out of the cubical. Jonathan crumbled the piece of paper up and threw it in one of his boxes.

* * *

Jonathan tightly held the gun. It was a 50 Action Express, a gun that had been handed down to him from his father, and he had gotten it from his father before him. He wanted to put it in his coat pocket, but kept thinking about what it would make him. He wanted to kill Mr. Z. He wanted to kill the person who had killed Mark.

Jonathan stood in the middle of his room. Mark's stuff was still there, perfectly preserved from when he left that morning. Jonathan looked back down the newspaper that contained the article about Mark. There were twenty six articles in that paper, and twenty four of them were about murders. He thought about all those deaths, how they had all been in vein. They were all because someone needed money because his or her job didn't provide enough for them. He thought about all the victim's families, how they would all go to sleep that night without their loved one. He thought about society and how it was so corrupt that it made him want to kill. He thought about how he was the same as the murderers in the newspaper he was holding. He thought about the gun he was holding; how it would perform swift justice but would not satisfy. He thought about the person he would kill, how their life would be swiftly lifted from them. They wouldn't have to deal with the corrupt society any more. They wouldn't have to work seventy hours at work any more just to feed their little child. He thought about Mr. Z and how he might be at home right now enjoying a hot, delicious meal in front of his television. He thought about the bullet entering Mr. Z's heart and the quick and sudden pain it would cause him. He thought about Alexander. Alexander had rescued society before. What did Alexander have that Jonathan didn't? What made Alexander so strong that He could turn every thing around in the people's favor? What did Alexander have that now made Him a legend among mankind? Surely he was only a man. Surely He once had a job and a manager who howled over Him.

Jonathan put the gun in his jacket pocket and walked out the door.

* * *

Music was playing in the background at the bar. There were several people playing pool and a couple was sitting at a table in the corner. Jonathan sat alone at the bar, sipping his drink. He was slumped over in thought.

"You looked distressed," a man's voice broke though Jonathan's thought. He looked up. He saw an old man sit down next to him and order a drink.

"I am," Jonathan said, not wanting to trust this stranger. The man was old and had a black leather jacket on. Jonathan decided to trust him. "I lost my job today."

"That's horrible," the man responded, turning towards Jonathan.

"And I lost my friend today too." Jonathan put his head back down.

"I'm sorry