Episode 1 - Mr. Sasaki (1)

*In recent news, one homeless man was found dead inside his tent in the west Edsham area. The leading investigator on the case, Aiden Pierce, has stated that the murder weapon is assumed to be some kind of sword as the puncture wound is too large and deep to be a knife.*

-That's just horrible. I don't understand why someone would murder a homeless person.-

The voice of Theresa rang out through the lobby.

-Eh, to be fair, he's probably better off being dead than living in a tent on the side of the street trying to scrape together some coins to survive.-

Martin quickly shut her down with his unwavering rationality.

-Come on, he was still a person, maybe he was just about to get his life in order. You should at least pretend to have some empathy.-

Martin and Theresa always find a way to argue over something. It's one of the reasons why it's so lively in the lobby during breaks.

-You guys really can't agree on anything can you? Maybe just stop taking your breaks at the same time?-

I tried to chime into the conversation to get my mind off the news report. It was best to not think about it now.

-If you manage to get Steve to let me do evening classes I'll gladly take them.-

Mark had been trying to get evening classes for a whole year but Steve was insistent that he take the morning shift. Steve probably knows that he would complain more about having to do evening classes than he does now trying to get them.

-I'm sure Steve has his reasons for not giving them to you.-

-What reasons? I've been slaving away here for the past seven years and not once has he approved one of my requests. The guy's just playing favourites man, I tell you.-

Ah yes, the classic conspiracy of Steve just not liking him. He's been trying to convince everyone of this since the day he started working here.

-If you dislike the centre so much why are you still here?-

-Isn't it obvious? The kids need someone to help them get a proper grip on life and they're not gonna get that from you or Mother Theresa over there.-

I quickly glanced over to Theresa honestly expecting her to throw her coffee at Martin but instead found her staring at the TV screen.

-Sam... Take a look at the screen.-

Her voice was shaking and I quickly turned my head towards the screen.

*The man's identity is yet to be confirmed and police are asking for anyone who may have any information on the John Doe to contact them immediately.*

Everything in my field of view slowly became drowned out as my eyes began focusing on the image of the man on the screen. It was the face of an elderly Japanese man in a shabby kimono with a hole on the left shoulder.

To most people it would look like he was frowning, but I knew that was the expression he made when trying to keep a straight face. I couldn't really blame him, that photo was the only thing he could think about all day and he wanted to look as best he could.

-I'll let Steve know, you go man. Theresa can take care of your classes for today.-

There was a brief pause in Martin's words. I had rarely ever heard him talk in such a subdued tone.

-I'm sorry...I didn't mean what I said back there.-

Martin's words barely got through to me, but they were enough to snap me out of the trance I had fallen into. Theresa was already by my side handing me a napkin.

-Oh, I'm crying. I hadn't noticed.-

I took the napkin from Theresa and quickly packed up my things. I tried to avoid any of my students in the hall, but unfortunately, some of them saw me.

-Hey teach! Where ya goin'? The classroom is this way?-

As I hurried through the hallways the walls slowly started to melt around me, turning the halls into a gaping hole trying to swallow me whole. I managed to take a few more steps before I lost my balance.

-Hey teach! You doing okay? Let me help you up?-

Benjamin, one of my students, was standing in front of me with his arm stretched out.

-My car.-

Benjamin didn't hesitate. He quickly got me up and carried me through the hallways. The eyes of the students staring at us became piercing lights in this hole that my mind had created and I could feel each and every one on my skin.

***

-Thank you Benjamin.-

The words coming out of my mouth felt like a dense sludge.

-No problem teach, but you can call me Ben, we've been over this.-

I couldn't muster up a reply.

-You gonna be fine teach?-

I nodded and slowly got into my car. Benjamin quickly went back inside afterwards and I was left alone. The world around me was slowly going back to normal and my senses were coming back to me.

I quickly opened the glove compartment of my car and took out an old photograph. As I saw his face on the photograph I couldn't contain my emotions anymore and began banging my hands against the steering wheel.

It was the same photograph as that on the news report. The old man in the kimono, his head on the shoulder of a young man who couldn't stop grinning. We weren't the only ones in the photo, but he was the only one I could see right now.

Memories started flooding my mind of how hard everyone tried to look good for the photo. Mr. Sasaki spent all night washing his old kimono trying not to damage it any further. Maria untied her dreadlocks for the first time in years. Daniel was busy for three days cutting everyone's hair and shaving them with his dull razor. Even Shaun tried to look presentable for the photo.

The memory that dominated above all of them was the moment I told them about the photo.

-But shouldn't we take it somewhere nicer? The overpass is so dirty.-

-Are you sure you want to have a photo with us? It might look bad if someone sees you with a bunch of good-for-nothings like us.-

-Is the photographer gonna mind the smell?-

And I remember clear as day what I told them back then.

-Come on guys, I just graduated and I want to take a family photo.-

I guess it's a good thing we ended up taking that photo, otherwise, no one would have known it was you Mr. Sasaki.

CHAPTER END