I went to the train station the next day to find work. There was a convenience store and I thought I would give it a try. I pushed the heavy glass door and entered the store, only to find that there were barely anyone. I checked the sign on the door, and it said “Opened”. I looked around the station. No one. I started to hesitate, thinking if the world had been infected by zombies or everyone disappeared. I remembered one movie when the protagonist was left alone in the world, and I trembled. Would the movie come true?

A creak behind the cashier scared me. A door suddenly opened, and I felt that something was going to come. It was now, I thought, that I should do something to protect me. As the door slowly opened, I held my fist, ready for anything to happen.

“Welcome. How may I help you?”

I was thinking too much.

Soon, the platform was crowded by people alighting the train. My consciousness left me for a second and immediately boomeranged. I recovered and asked the cashier.

“Are you hiring someone?”

“I’m sorry. We are not.”

Once more I opened the heavy glass door, towards the street I went. It was a Sunday with butterflies relaxing in the blue sky. I decided to go to the commercial district, Leftown, a concrete jungle with neon fireflies. There should be something for me.

And thus I arrived at Leftown. It was not as busy as it would be on a Monday, and the coast was full of walkers, enjoying the beautiful summer day. I stepped into a boutique, where a lady was standing as if she had no spine. I supposed she was not really into business, but I gave it a try.

“Are you hiring someone?”

“Hiring? I don’t even have clothes. How would I even hire? Go away, homeless.”

True. The skirts were off-season, and one of lights were flickering.

I found another shop round the corner. A retail store with flowers beside the door. The door was made of oak wood, and I could look through the glass panes on the door. Catalogues, the sign said. I looked into the window and saw nothing on the shelves. Nor did I see any shelves in the shop. I was curious and I pushed the door. It was soft and light, and it didn’t give me a feeling of resistance. The walls of the shop were divided into three portions, painted in three shades of blue. The top layer was nearly unidentifiable, a shade close to white. The second layer was more like cyan, but I thought it was a blend of sky blue and ultramarine. The bottom layer was as dark as a crystal of lapis lazuli, a sense of wealth and honour.



The shop was out of my expectation. There was only one table at the cashier with one manager. Another two long tables were glued into the wall, each holding three books. I was astonished, as the furniture in the shop was less than that in my house. I was confused. I approached the manager and asked him.

“What do you sell? I mean, there is nothing around here.”

“Oh, sir. I always get this question. Check out the books on the walls.”

I was thinking that the store sold six books and so I went and checked out how special they were. I read the title of the book, The Catalogue, from the book to your home, and flipped the pages. It turned out there were pictures and photos of goods in the book, each marked with a price. I had never seen such a kind of shop, as the physical existence of goods was considered a necessary criterion for a store.



I then realised my intentions, and I spoke to the manager.

“I know this is awkward, but do you need any additional staff?”

“Absolutely. We have a shortage of workers.”

I didn’t manage to close my jaws. A store of nothing lacks workers. At that moment I couldn’t think of any words to respond.

“I mean, of course you are not going to work here, but you’ll work in the storage behind the shop. Maybe you’ll get some deliveries to do as well.”

Yes, I thought. I could work in this store.

“Plus, you are off at weekends.”

I felt the existence of a leprechaun beside me, throwing out pots of gold into my hands.

“There’s only one thing. Do you have a driving license?”

“Oh yes, I do. When can I start?”

“Tomorrow, then. It’ll be great for you to work here. You’ll get your truck soon.”

This was impossible.

“By the way, I’m Andrew and yours?”

“I’m Pete.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“My pleasure.”

I stepped out of the store with a curvy moon on my face. I didn’t expect the clover to fall on my shoulders. I came across an ice-cream store and bought a sundae for myself. It was really a beautiful day.

When I was taking the subway, I thought, why would I treat Xander so well? I had just met him for less than one month, and I abandoned my carefree lifestyle just for the sake of paying his rent. But I could think of doing it for myself as well. Receiving must be paid with providing. I couldn’t rely on someone for my eternal life. Anyone. It would be a shame if I rely on someone for money or bread. And thus I started a quest of coins. An adventure through the papers of green.

I went back to my flat when it was sunset. The blazing orange dominated the sky, and the ice-cream melted like the river Nile as bits and bits of it crushed into the pond of milk. It was a sunny, hot day.

The window reflected a golden ray onto my face. It was warm. It was nice.

Pollux