HARD KNOCK LIFE

In the heart of a sprawling, modern city with bustling streets, amidst skyscrapers, Kevin Moore, a merman, found himself at odds in a human society dealing with life on his own like a haman beings.

Kevin, a shabby hobo without shoes on his feet, sprawled on the road side next to a busy junction exhaustedly. He had spent two days surviving on an empty stomach.

With his left arm relaxed on an old computer he moved with, Kevin fed his eyes well on the captivating beautiful things in the human city and got amazed by how the people dressed diversely with shoes on their feet.

As a neanderthal, with no relative or friends to ask help from in a foreign world, irresistibly, passers-bys dropped cents next to him. They recognised him as a pitiful beggar. However, Kevin had no idea what money was, hence he got up and left behind all coins and small notes on the ground.

"You don't belong here! You pitiful beggar!"

Absentmindedly, as he walked on loosen feet due to hunger, he accidentally collided with a vicious man who yelled and pushed him on the ground.

Kevin, as he maneuvered the human society he met unfriendly people with bad attitude. He always kept his calm even when it needed him to stand tall in his own defence. Kevin understood that Capricon city was not his world.

As Kevin continued to wander, desperately mentioning his father's name to citizens who had not time for a barefooted shabby hobo like him, nearly thought to be a mad person in modern streets, his hungry stomach began to complain, demanding him to eat.

But not a single idea on how he can get food.

On her mother's private plane in the skies, Babara Yen relaxed next to the window with a champagne glass beneath her eyes. In the same plane, on an opposite row still by the window, was secretary Jamila in spectacles. She was busy typing on a laptop placed on a table beneath her eyes.

"Delivered to Franklin Baron!" A small text displayed on the laptop screne. 

"Hopefully he sees the message on time", secretary jamila said as she exhaled in relief after sending the mail.

"I don't understand why mom should still do business with Franklin Baron, someone who does eighty percent of illegal businesses!" In a free and relaxed voice, Babara conversed.

"Your mom says Mr Franklin Baron has been her friend from second grade. He even paid for her wedding dress when she was getting married to your father... I think their friendship is thick," freely said secretary Jamila.

 "Uh... to me, Franklin Baron seems to have a leverage against mom; that's my mind", Said Babara Yen.

"I've heard mom complaining not once not twice when her shipment is ceased because of cocaine and guns smuggled hiddenly with the products by Franklin Baron", She added.

"As the new CEO, make sure the shipments are well inspected before delivered", secretary jamila advised Babara Yen in a friendly talk.

"It seems you're right!" Thoughtfully babara Yen replied.

"By the way, you've been to Capricon city for business with mother several times... how is it?" Eagerly excited, Babara Yen asked.

"Wow! It's such an attractive city as you're going to see! Capricon city has got such an ethereal modernity", secretary jamila hyped.

"Really! I can't wait" Excitedly Babara said as a splendid private plane ran in clouds.

Land of ice:

Two vampires bats, a male and a female were known for their special hunting skills in the realm. For that matter, both got a name 'hunter vampires' in honor of their skills.

Guided the Jelly Spatters, the hunter vampires were ready to fly on a journey to the human world, in Capricon city to hunt and kill Monica Yen together with her daughter Babara.

In front of a big crowd of hundreds of other vampire bats, which outfitted in black gowns as their natural dressing code, Jelly Spatters equipped the two hunter vampires with the 'Red Venom Potion', a colourless liquid well known for its ability to corrosively destroy the life of any vampire bat.

As snow rained continuously in their dim and frozen land, the two hunter vampires were escorted by the three mistresses upto a point were they had to transform from human form to enormous bats which spread wings and flew away.

Inside the castle, within the chembers of Jelly Spatters, his three mistresses walked in.

"Foreseer, our great hunters have dispatched to Capricon city", in one voice, all the three spoke.

Jelly Spatters, busy sipping on blood from a holly communion cup, turned and looked at them. His eyes were as dark as coal and his skin was ashy. Step by step, his black boots stomped the floor as he quietly walked upto where they were standing.

From a silver metallic jar Jelly Spatters held in hand, he poured more blood into a silver holly cup and began to serve them one after the other. Happily, the three mistresses freely drunk on the same cup as a symbol of solidarity and obedience to their master Jelly Spatters.

"Well done!" Jelly Spatters appreciated after serving them with a blood meal.

Capricon city:

"Was I wrong to leave my world? It's difficult here!" In a heap of thoughts Kevin walked.

With his old computer in hands, Kevin got helpless late at night on the lonely streets. Worst of challenges was hunger which kept him uncomfortable as his stomach made continuous unnecessary noise.

"Please hunger this isn't the right time. After finding my father, I'll go back home and sort you out... my type of food is at home!" Kevin consoled himself by a thought.

Without a clear direction, Kevin continued to wander in a foreign land, hungrily. As he was walking past a dimly lit alleyway, in a distance he saw a human who was busy  feeding from a garbage. Intrigued, Kevin killed two steps backward to take a more clear observation.

With a hesitant foot, Kevin turned to go and meet the man. As he took small steps slowly towards the man, accidentally a foot collided with an empty soda can, which alerted the absent minded man, who startledly turned his face quietly at Kevin.

When the man noticed a stranger walking his way, he stood up straight from a garbage can. Suddenly, Kevin stopped walking. In a few metres close to one another, they looked at each other.

"Don't delay your steps brother, my friend at the restaurant dumped quite enough today!" In a kind voice, the man called Kevin to share the food.

However, Kevin stayed standing. He moved his eyes from the man to the garbage can and then back to the man. Abruptly, Kevin's stomach reported his hunger case in such a silent late night environment.

"You don't have to wait any longer young man or else..."

Kevin, who had his eyes sunked with his skin pale due to hunger had no choice except to trust the man. Inside the can was a pizza in a box. The man picked a piece and stretched his arm to give to Kevin.

Hesitantly, in distrust Kevin took small steps and grabbed the pizza piece out of the man's hand. Sniffing it's aroma, it was pleasant.

"It's alright brother, you can take a bite!" Said the unknown homeless man.

Slowly to the dry lipped mouth, Kevin's took a tiny bite on the pizza to taste his first food in the human world. After the taste, in three qick bites the pizza piece was all in his mouth.

"Easy homie, or else you're going to choke!" the homeless man laughed at Kevin's big appetite.

Kevin placed his computer down right next to his feet and enjoyed the pizza. The homeless man noticed how hungry Kevin was and got the whole box out of the garbage. With a few more pieces left, the homeless man placed the pizza box down where Kevin hungrily sat and served himself quietly.

"It's obvious you enjoy eating pizzas..."

"You know the chef in that restaurant across, he is my good friend and whenever there's a chance, he fixes something in the garbage for me to eat", talkatively, the homeless man conversed.

"You can call me Suxes! Thats the name my late mother gave me", the homeless man said.

"My mother named me Kevin Moore!" As he chomped, he responded calmly.

"Kevin! that's nice Kevin... enjoy yourself!" Happily Suxes exclaimed.

"Human food is delicious," stated Kevin as he was enjoyed the pizza pieces from the box.

"You're talking like an alien or something! Of course besides fries and chicken, a pizza is one of the most delicious fast foods."

"I enjoy it more with extra cheese," Suxes proudly said.

Kevin began to feel free with Suxes, as he listened to his topics. In his talkative ways, Suxes saw an old computer Kevin kept next to himself.

"Anything special with that computer?" He asked inquisitively.

However, Kevin didn't know that the thing he calls an object is actually called a computer. As he finished the last quarter of the pizza, Suxes stretched his arm and tried to reach the computer.

"You mean all the hospitality was to take my object?!" Rudely Kevin bark at Suxes as he stood up with his old computer.

"It's not what you think Kevin... I just wanted to look at it that's all!" Suxes apologetically defended himself.

"I thought you were different from all other humans!" Disappointedly Kevin said and turned to leave.

"Alright, am sorry for not thinking properly. I didn't mean to take that step Kevin", humbly with sorry eyes, Suxes stood infront of Kevin to prove his good intentions.

"This thing belongs to my father, I can't let anyone take it away from me!" Kevin replied barbarically.

As a modern and intelligent human, Suxes knew Kevin was not as normal as an ordinary person. As he apologized frankly, Suxes took a close study on Kevin, looking at him with no shoes on his feet, the old computer he held on tight and the illiterate sentences he made.

"I can take you to where more of the objects are dumped. Trust me they're plenty and in a more better version than this one you have!" In a friendly approach Suxes stated.

Since Kevin needed a crew to take him to his father, he thought wisely about Suxes' offer.

"Are you sure you can take me their?" Kevin asked.

"Follow me!" Suxes convinced him.

As a merman from a water world, different in rules and behavior from the human world, Kevin had no trust issues. He decided to go with Suxes, hopping to find his father where more objects (computers) are found. 

Kevin: "Can you help me find my father?"

Suxes: "How do you mean?"

Kevin: "When we get to where they're many objects, can you help me find my father? His name is Sean Moore."

Suxes: "Hahaha! Am sorry to laugh but thats kunda funny. Your father can't be found in a scrapyard!"

Kevin: "A scrapyard! What is a scrapyar?"

Suxes: "Stop it man, hahaha... I know sometimes to much hunger drives people crazy!"

Kevin: "Am not crazy. I want to find my father and see if I can convince him to come with me back home to my mother."

Suxes: "One more thing; what you're holding is called a computer. However, it's not of this generation."

Kevin: "You're not like other humans."

Suxes: "Of course I know.... and that's why I've been on the streets homeless for three years and no one can employ me!"

Allover a sudden, Suxes became emotionally captured by sad memories which turned his eyes red. Kevin wondered what he had said that got Suxes into sorrow allover a suddenly.

Suxes: "You're blessed to have someone to care about."

Kevin: "You're also blessed to have a life, I think you have to be happy for that!"

Suxes, with a face of sorrow, turned his eyes to Kevin immediately after the statement he made. keenly Suxes gazed at Kevin who was looking free from worries.

Kevin: "My mother is in the sea waiting for me to return. This right here, is all she give me that my father left behind."

Suxes: "What is your mama doing in the sea? Is she a pirate or something?"

Kevin: "The sea is our home."

Suxes: "Anyway, if that's your divine inspiration, I have no problem with it. But make sure you don't tell it to anyone... or else, you'll end up in a psychiatric hospital."

Moore: "What's a psychiatric hospital?"

Suxes: "Do you smoke weed?! Uh.... anyway, ever mind."

Kevin: "And what is weed?"

Suxes, staring at Kevin Moore like; "What the hell is wrong with this guy to play like this!?"

A smile quirked corners of his mouth as he shook his head speechlessly.

In an area with many abandoned computers arrived.

"This is a scrapyard I told you about where worn-out objects are dumped", Suxes said.

"So, I think now you believe me that I can't take your imaginary father's computer!" Sill in doubt about Kevin's words, Suxes spoke.

"However, something tells me your words may be true... May I have look at it now?"

With no hesitation, Kevin handed over the old computer to Suxes after seeing a wide heap of various computers.

Carelessly, Suxes held and observed the computer. As an intelligent man, he pulled out a hard disk which was inside its pot.

"It's only this that is important, but the computer is too old for the hard disk to be functioning", Suxes told Kevin.

"What's that?" Kevin asked eagerly. 

"It's a hard disk... We need to find out if it still works and maybe we can get some money out of it for a good lunch box tomorrow!"

"That what I usually do to scraps! hahaha..." Suxes had a plan when he discovered a hard disk.

"Money! What's that?" As a neanderthal, Kevin had no idea what money was!

In his talkative ways, Suxes asked Kevin if he had a girlfriend.

Suxes: "Do you have a beautiful girlfriend out there who's eats your mind; that girl you can do anything for to please!?"

Kevin: "No, not at alI!"

Suxes: "Okay! Maybe that's why you don't know what money is! Now let me tell you this; money makes it easy for you to get a girl of your dreams."

Kevin: "I think I met girlfriend days ago." 

Suxes: "Really! Now that's what am talking about. If you wish to do anything for her, you are going to need money!"

Kevin: "Do you have money?"

Suxes: "Are you crazy? Seeing me dressed in rugs, eating in garbage and no roof over my head then you ask that kind of question!"

As they conversed in the scrapyard, Suxes took Kevin's question somehow personal. He dropped down Kevin's old computer into the scrap and walked on. Kevin picked it up and went after him.

"Welcome to my home," Suxes opened an abandoned motor home near the scrapyard and asked Kevin to come in.

"When I found this I found heaven. Don't mind the rust, its better off here than sleeping in the cold streets."

On the side was a jacket which Suxes picked and sympathetically gave to Kevin to put on since the weather was too cold. However, cold weather was not a problem to the cold blooded sea creature like Kevin Moore. But Kevin, excitedly, recieved the jacket and wore it comfortably to imitate humans behaviors.

Well fitted in a jacket, Kevin followed behind Suxes outside the rusty motor home.

"Where are we heading to?" Eagerly Kevin asked.

"We need a working computer were we can fix this hard disk and check whether it works or not", Suxes replied as they walked back to the dump area.

Not far from the motor home, Suxes and Kevin were already at the computer junkyard. Willingly, Kevin Moore put the old computer he was holding on tight down as he watched Suxes effortly searching for a compatible computer among hundreds of dumped ones.

"Now son of the sea, I think this one will work. All we need is a power supply," Immediately he fixed the hard disk and it fitted, Suxes gladly said.

Shortly, Suxes found a power supply where he connected the computer, to find out if the hard disk worked. With a plan to trade the hard disk for money, Suxes got so excited when the hard disk it immediately displayed files.

"Bingo!" Suxes shouted with excitement.

"Look, as soon as the day gets in, there's this place I know which will pay us some good money", Suxes mumbled with too much excitement.

But barbarous Kevin confoundedly fixed his gaze at Suxes. Hardly did he understand why Suxes was so joyful.

"I've come to believe it when they say 'old is gold'. A terabyte from old days and still works this perfect!" In sheer blissful words Suxes celebrated.

Meanwhile, however, Suxes goes further to open files on the hard disk mindlessly, to view the type of content which was stored on it many years ago. In one of the folders as he opened were pictures of different deep-water species.

With an excitement smile on the face, Suxes to enjoy the beautiful photos as he scrolled and zoomed one after the other. Kevin Moore stood behind Suxes and watched closely in silence the spices of his world.

"It seems the owner was a diver", Thoughtfully, Suxes said depending on the pictures.

THANK YOU READER.