A short story by @fatijaoui //
On the day Lionel turned eighteen, his mother forced him to leave the only home he had ever known. Instead of waking up to a celebratory birthday breakfast, he was jolted awake by his mother's forceful knocking and vociferous command: "You better be outta here by the time I get back from the store!"
Lionel had known that this day would come eventually, but he had hoped for a bit of warning. He packed a single bag, grabbed a book, and set about tidying his room. He stripped the sheets and threw everything else into a trash bag. As he looked around the now-empty space, a wave of sadness washed over him. Nevertheless, he steeled himself for the final confrontation with his mother's drunk-at-all-time-boyfriend, Francis. Lionel hurriedly gathered his things and hastened out the door, desperate to avoid any interaction with Francis. Unfortunately, he still caught wind of the man's venomous insults as he made his hasty escape.
At the bus stop, Li sent a text to the only relative he had left, his uncle on his father's side, asking if he could stay with him for a few days. With nowhere else to go and his friends all off at university or starting jobs, Li was at a loss. After waiting for what felt like an eternity, he decided on a whim go to London, a city he had always dreamed of visiting with his dad. Although they had never had the chance to make the trip together before his father's passing, Li felt a sense of closeness to his father as he embarked on the journey alone. The long bus ride gave him a chance to rest, and he slept through most of it, delaying his inevitable plunge into homelessness by one more day.
As the journey wore on, Li found himself nervously biting his nails, only stopping when he drew blood and was forced to move on to a fresh, unmarred finger. But his thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the memory of his friend Harry, who had recently moved to London and inherited an apartment from a long-lost relative. Li quickly sent Harry a text, explaining his situation and asking if he could crash at his place for a few nights. Harry was thrilled to hear from his old friend and eagerly agreed to put him up for as long as he needed. Having struggled to make new friends in the city, Harry was grateful for the company, even if he was not in the best of shapes.
Li was always deeply nervous and ashamed at the thought of relying on others for help, even if it was just a small favor. Ever since his father passed away, his mother had become distant and unloving, and the once-welcoming house now felt like a cold and suffocating box. Filled with drugs, anger, and shady men, the home was no longer a safe haven for Li. Without his father's loving presence, he had become an unwelcome guest in his own home, struggling to fend for himself in an environment that was hostile and dangerous.
After his father's death, Li's mother had fallen on hard times, struggling to make ends meet without his father's income. She was unable to work, and without any support from her own family or her late husband's relatives, she had to fend for herself in a world she was not equipped to face. Li was forced to take on adult responsibilities at a young age, trying to keep the household afloat in the absence of any other support. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was a burden on those around him who he could never truly count on.
Carrie, Li's mom, had always had an allergy towards authority, which ultimately led to her losing every job she ever had. After years of attempting to live a conventional life, she gave up and turned to selling drugs for some unsavory characters. Li was so fearful of his own mother that he would barricade his door every night and sometimes even sleep in the storage area of their building just to get a few hours of quiet rest before school. For a long time, he longed for the mother he had before, the one who was a loving presence when his father was still alive but ultimately gave up hope. He didn't know what caused her to abandon him like a discarded bag on the side of the road, but he suspected that his father must have been aware of her addiction and mental struggles and that's why he treated her like a queen. Because she used to be the perfect, loving mother to Lionel. The family he once had was beyond perfection to him: it meant being alive. Not a day went by without him mourning his former life with no hope towards the future.
Li walked to Harry's place so he could finally explore the city. Everything looked both familiar and new, and every detail felt like a scene from a movie he had seen before. For the first time in a long time, Li was filled with wonder. What if he could build a life here? He caught himself daydreaming and relished the simple act of dreaming, something he hadn't done in a while. After a long walk, he arrived at the address Harry had texted him. The street seemed too fancy, so he double-checked before ringing Harry. It was indeed the right location, and Harry buzzed him in. The place was furnished so luxuriously that if someone told him Winston Churchill had lived there, he would have believed it without question. The wealth was palpable with books everywhere and antique decor. However you could clearly see Harry's touch in the profane mess and chaos; Churchill would have surely sentenced him for this hate crime. Harry's PS5 was on the floor, and clothes were tossed everywhere, and the place was dusty and sticky, but in a way that was almost artistic.
The two young men took the time to catch up at the pub down the street. Harry was so happy to talk to someone; he had felt alone since he moved and had developed severe social anxiety that prevented him from attending job interviews that his mom and dad had arranged for him. He basically just stayed at home and used his mom's credit card to buy whatever he needed. After a few beers for Harry and one orange juice for Li, Harry left the pub without paying. Embarrassed, Li went to the bar and paid their tab before following him outside. Harry was clearly drunk and screamed at Li that he shouldn't have paid because the beer tasted terrible. After a bit of negotiation, Harry calmed down, and they were able to go back to the apartment. Li put Harry to bed and was left alone to figure out where he would sleep. He found an empty room with a bed and lay down for a few minutes. He started to feel dizzy and remembered he hadn't eaten since he left his hometown. He went to check the kitchen and had some cereal from an open box. The kitchen was a mess, which made Li feel uncomfortable, so he started cleaning. He finished by putting a load of laundry in the washing machine and programmed it for the morning. The whole laundry room was dusty but still looked brand new and the washing detergent was sealed and untouched. Li was impressed that Harry survived the whole summer alone without any assistance.
After a good night's sleep in the guest room, Lionel continued cleaning what he had started earlier while hearing Harry snoring loudly from his room. The floor was no longer sticky and dusty, and the clothes that Harry probably never washed were now clean, dry, and folded. Harry woke up disoriented and asked Li what had happened the night before. After minimizing his childish tantrum from the night before, Li prepared him a hot chocolate and a bowl of cereal. After talking with Harry for a while, Li asked if he wanted to come with him to look for a job, but Harry shut him down, saying he had things to do. Li didn't insist and took the trash bags on his way out.
The first temp agency he went to turned him down because they only hired women for the hotel industry. So, he checked out another agency he had found online. The meeting with the recruiter went well; Li had a good energy that made people feel at ease with him. Additionally, companies that refused to hire permanent employees always requested and wanted cheap and young labor. Li signed a contract on the spot, making him available for job openings from Monday to Sunday, at all times of the day and night. Did he just sell his soul to Satan? he thought. Probably not, but it strongly felt like it.
Before leaving the agency, a woman grabbed him by the arm and asked if he could work for a moving company in just two hours. After a quick walk, Lionel arrived at the location of the moving company, which was a large garage with trucks. The boss scolded him for not bringing safety shoes, to which Lionel apologized profusely. The boss said it was fine for this time, but he needed to bring them the next day. Lionel finished work quite late and went to look for safety shoes, but he didn't have many options at that time of day and with his tight budget. As an old man was closing his bakery, he suggested that he'd check a second-hand warehouse that had a ton of stuff and closed at midnight.
The warehouse was so vast that Li couldn't see the end of it. The sight of the towering shelves and deep wooden boxes was overwhelming. The cashier at the entrance directed him to the shoes section at the back. Lionel started to stress because he couldn't find anything there. He began hyperventilating and eventually collapsed on the floor, clasping himself. A kind woman noticed his distress and offered him water and a granola bar when she saw how pale he was. Li felt ashamed to be the recipient of her selfless act of kindness. The woman started talking about how she frequented the warehouse almost every week but always discovered new things. Li just nodded to show he was listening. As he walked towards the exit defeated, the shape of a sole caught his eye in the women's section. He went to examine it and found a pair of pink Timberland boots that fitted his feet perfectly and were only 5 pounds. He breathed a long sigh of relief and headed to the cashier.
The living arrangement with Harry proved to be far from ideal. Li found himself playing the role of a caretaker, constantly tidying up after Harry to preserve his own mental sanity. Following a month of cohabitation, Harry approached Li with a request to chip in for rent if he wished to continue staying there. Li was devastated by this proposal, considering that Harry had not contributed anything to the household thus far. Moreover, Harry took full advantage of Li's groceries, shampoo, soap, toothpaste and even clothes. Li refused to believe it, as he found it unjustifiable that he should pay for something that Harry paid nothing for. Harry's parents were already covering the bills and gave him a generous allowance in the form of an unlimited Mastercard. This sentiment felt particularly painful to Li, especially since he struggled to even get a decent pay day. Harry's demand reached a breaking point when he sent a text message to Li after eating all of his leftovers for dinner, demanding "750 pounds per month starting tomorrow". Li was offended by this exorbitant amount. He had strived to be a model roommate by tending to tasks that Harry had neglected. Li felt that it was a good deal for Harry that he was acting like a parent by cleaning his place and feeding him. However, Harry failed to recognize Li's contribution and how he had made his daily life better and bearable. They both lost a friend that day.
The following day, Lionel woke up early and began packing all of his belongings into his bag. He worked out a budget based on his last paycheck and conducted several internet searches to find an affordable hostel. Eventually, he discovered a cheap communal bed in a hostel for only 12 pounds per night. The hostel was located near his workplace and run by Ukrainians who only accepted cash. Although he could only reserve the room for two weeks, he believed it was better than nothing and attempted to reassure himself. After withdrawing the necessary cash and paying for his accommodation, Li proceeded to the post office to set up a PO Box. However, the Royal Mail employee treated him with virulent animosity and hostility, refusing to answer his questions and asking a colleague to escort him out, all while being unjustly accused of being a drug dealer.
Li was boiling with anger and decided to go for a walk in the park to clear his head before work. After an invigorating walk, he collapsed onto a bench, out of breath and fidgeting with his hands. Just then, a text from his uncle diverted his attention. He opened the message to read, "Hey Li, sorry for the late reply. I assume things are not going well with your ma. I passed by the house yesterday but I was told you weren’t living there anymore. Look, you can come for dinner but Natasha won’t let you stay with us, even for a few days. I’m sorry mate." The message was so heavy that Li's phone became burdensome in his hands, and he pocketed it before staring at the grass by his feet for an endless minute.
Pink Tim became Li's nickname, given to him by his colleague Mohamed, and it stuck. Work was a welcomed distraction from the morning's events, and Li enjoyed Mohamed's company and humor. Mo, who is originally from Morocco, always looked after Li and that day, he invited him for dinner at his sister's place where he was staying. Despite feeling ashamed to receive a nice invitation and Mo insisting, reassuring Li that it was not charity but rather the "Moroccan Hospitality", he accepted. Mo expressed that Li was a good person who worked hard and always cleaned up after himself, and also reminded him of his younger brother back home. Li was touched by Mo's words and longed to express his gratitude but shyly smiled instead. For the first time in a long while, he felt appreciated and valued. While packing the truck, they both laughed when Mo joked that his family was thrilled to meet the famous Pink Tim.
After Mo’s multiple attempts to stop him, Li finally succeeded to get into a Lidl to get something for Mo’s family. Lila, Mo’s sister, opened the door and led them to the living room, where the rest of the family was gathered.
"Salam, Lila, this is my friend Li, aka Pink Tim." Li handed the box of Ferrero Rocher he just bought to Lila: "It’s nothing but my dad always bought chocolate when he was invited somewhere.
-Thank you so much Li, it’s very thoughtful. Your father taught you well!
-This lad is Moroccan, Wallah! I swear to God, moroccan blood in his veins! Polite, respectful, good manners and clean! » shouted Mo as he was hanging his coat and Li’s.
Li felt a bit nervous at first, but the warmth and kindness of Mo's family quickly put him at ease. They welcomed him with open arms, and Li was touched by their genuine hospitality. They chatted over a delicious meal and Li was grateful for the chance to experience a little bit of Moroccan culture. The food was a novel experience for him, and he relished every bite and happily ate in the same plate as everyone else. The couscous exploded with flavor in his mouth, a taste he had never before encountered. He admired how the family picked out whole fruits from the generous platter Mo had brought for dessert. Lila cut an apple and a pear for herself and her daughter, while Mo selected a pomegranate, filling a bowl and passing it around for all to partake. Satisfied and ready to leave, Li had no expectations for further refreshments. However, he was pleasantly surprised when the family served mint tea alongside mouth-watering homemade sweets, nuts, pistachios, candies, chocolate, and dates. The meal felt like a jubilant celebration of life and family, and Li savored each bite, feeling grateful for such a memorable experience. As he sipped his tea and nibbled on a piece of makrout, his new favorite sweet food, he felt a sense of belonging that he hadn't felt in a long time. Mo was right - it wasn't charity, it was hospitality, and Li realized that sometimes the most valuable experience in life couldn't be bought with money.
Li couldn’t remember the last time or if he ever felt so comfortable and so easily embraced by people he just met. Lila packed leftovers for him to take home. Li reddened and shamefully refused stating that he didn’t have a fridge so he wouldn’t want the food to go to waste. Mo stepped in and reassured him by saying that was absolutely not a problem and that he would bring it for their lunch break tomorrow.
The next day, during their lunch break, Mo offered to help Li find a fridge if he was interested. Li felt embarrassed to share his living situation, but Mo was such a good listener. 'My home situation is unstable at the moment,' Li admitted.
'Okay, what's the situation now? Please don't tell me you're sleeping on the streets!'
'No, nothing like that. I have a bed at a hostel for now.'
'You need to find something more stable, like a room. I can ask my friends.'
'Please, I don't want to bother you with my problems. I'll figure it out.'
'Who said you're bothering me? It costs nothing to ask. We all have problems, God knows it. If you want, I can ask my friends, who will ask their friends. If someone is renting out a room, I'll let you know.'
'If it's no trouble, I would really appreciate it.'
'No trouble at all, no bother! Brother.'
Li shed a tear because he suddenly realized how powerful it felt to have a caring friend. 'Is this what home feels like?' wondered Li, as he and Mo moved a pink fridge while wearing his flashy pink shoes."
AUTHOR : FATIMA MOUDJAOUI
FEBRUARY 2023
LAST EDITS: 02/16/2023
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