The grumpy boss returned before Aaron arrived, clutching a big yellow envelope. "Here's your package. Stop by tomorrow to fill out employment papers."
I nodded. "Thank you, sir."
Aaron pulled into the garage on his truck, got out, and walked up. "Hey, boss, how did he do?"
Grumpy boss laughed. "This corn-fed boy is stronger than the bots and smart enough to learn quickly. He's hired."
Aaron beamed at me, "Thank Boss."
"Thank you for the new workhorse," the grumpy boss said as he nodded and walked away.
I didn't know how to feel about that description.
As the boss disappeared through the door to the offices, Aaron turned to me. "Good job, man. We need to celebrate. What do you want to do?"
I shrugged. "I'm still broke, so how about you tell me what you are willing to do to celebrate."
Aaron laughed, unlocking the car. As we sat down, he said, "Let's grab some food and go from there?"
My stomach growled on command, "Sure."
We drove over to the apartment, but instead of going in, Aaron led me across the street to a busy building. As we entered the bustling food court, I was immediately struck by its vibrancy. The large, open space was filled with a mix of tantalizing aromas that blended together, creating an enticing scent.
"Wow," I breathed, taking in the lively atmosphere around us. The court was divided into various sections, each featuring different types of cuisine, from traditional local dishes to exotic international flavors. Colorful stalls lined the walls, their bright signage beckoning customers to try their specialties.
Aaron nudged me, grinning. "Looks good huh? When I moved into the apartment I was broke for a few months eating here everyday I had money."
"Definitely! I can see that," I agreed, feeling a surge of excitement as we walked through the energetic crowd. Rows of communal tables occupied the center of the court, where people of all ages and backgrounds sat together, enjoying their meals amidst laughter and chatter. Above, hanging plants and soft, warm lights gave the area a cozy, welcoming feel. Looking at the hanging plants, I realized that there were floors above the food court since the building was much taller than the 20-foot ceiling.
The sounds of sizzling grills, clinking cutlery, and laughter filled the air, making it impossible not to get caught up in the dynamic energy of the place. Every now and then, a burst of laughter or a cheer from a group of friends added to the lively atmosphere. People moved about comfortably – some waiting in queues for their orders, others walking around with trays searching for a spot to sit. In one corner, a small stage hosted a musician I didn't recognize but sounded world-class. I was going to ask Aaron who they were at some point.
"Let's find something to eat," Aaron suggested, guiding me towards a row of stalls. "What are you in the mood for?"
"I'm not sure," I admitted, my eyes darting from one stall to another as I tried to take in all the options. "Everything looks so good."
"Alright," Aaron said, scanning the various stalls, "we're celebrating you getting a job, so don't worry about when you'll get paid. My treat. What looks good to you?" His enthusiasm was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile.
I glanced around, feeling out of place amidst the exotic food options. "I don't really know any of these... except that soup over there," I replied, pointing hesitantly at a stall serving steaming bowls of broth. It looked just like pot stew from my village.
Aaron made a face. "Not really in the mood for soup. How about some Mediterranean?"
"I... don't know what that is," I admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Trust me, it's great. You'll love it." Aaron chuckled, guiding me toward a Mediterranean stall with bright colors and enticing smells.
"Okay, let's try that," I agreed, my curiosity piqued.
We approached the stall, and Aaron confidently ordered for both of us. He got a variety of dishes – falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, and some grilled chicken. He asked me if I liked bread. After I nodded, he ordered a stack of pita.
I didn't recognize any of it, but chicken, but the aromas were intoxicating.
After a few minutes of the food getting plated, toasted and grilled, and me tryin to to drool, we grabbed our trays and found a table near a small stage. Aaron said it was a local band that was practicing being on stage. I was shocked that it was a local small-time band.
As we sat down, Aaron raised his drink. "To your success and future prosperity."
"Thank you," I replied, tapping my cup against his before taking a sip. "And thank you for the opportunity."
Aaron, with a knowing smile, handed me a fork and started to explain each dish before us. I watched, fascinated, as he skillfully scooped a bit of hummus with a piece of pita, demonstrating how to pair it with falafel. Tentatively, I mirrored his actions, taking my first bite. The blend of flavors was a revelation; each dish offered a unique taste that was entirely new to me. Surrounded by the buzz of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter from nearby tables, I found myself slowly relaxing into the experience, savoring each bite with growing enthusiasm. The music from the small stage added a rhythmic backdrop to our meal, enhancing the sense of discovery and camaraderie.
"Man, this is incredible," I said through a mouthful of food. "I've never tried anything like it."
"See?" Aaron grinned. "There's a whole world of tastes out there just waiting for you to explore. There are places with even more stuff than in this food court. Later on, I'll give you a list of places to check out."
I nodded with a full mouth. "I will for sure take you up on that."
We listened to a song from the stage, eating more food.
Feeling full, I decided to share my day's experiences with Aaron. "You wouldn't believe it, but I managed to keep up with Rocket all day. I even lifted some heavy crates without breaking a sweat. Then got the heavy machinery licenses for metal muscle and forklift."
"Wow, really?" Aaron said, clearly impressed. "Sounds like you're a natural. I wasn't sure you would fit in here, but looks like you were absolutely perfectly built for this."
"Thanks," I replied, feeling a sense of pride. "But I do need some help with things like registering my address and setting up a bank account."
"Of course, man," Aaron agreed readily. "We'll sort that out tomorrow after work. I'll even show you how to navigate the city using public transit."
Hearing Aaron's words, my mind drifted to how different life had become since leaving my village. My father's warnings about the outside world didn't really come true. Not really. I saw plenty of strange people but... So far, none of those grim tales had come true. Yes, the city could be overwhelming, but it was also full of opportunities and new experiences I never could have imagined back home.
"Thanks, Aaron," I said sincerely. "I really appreciate all you've done for me."
"Hey, what are friends for?" he replied with a warm smile.
Pausing for a moment, I glanced around the bustling food court, absorbing the vibrant energy and diverse crowd. I turned my attention back to the small music stage, where the band was gearing up for their next song, their enthusiasm infectious in the lively atmosphere.
"Mind if I join you guys?" Mason appeared out of nowhere, asking as he looked at Aaron and me.
Aaron welcomed him with a nod, and I echoed the gesture. Mason took a seat, his eyes briefly meeting mine with a mix of curiosity and caution. "What are you doing here?" Aaron asked.
"I've been thinking about our next project and didn't feel like cooking," Mason began, sipping on his drink. His voice carried a hint of excitement under the stoic exterior. "I have a rough idea brewing. It's a bit out there, but I think it could work out."
"Oh, nice. I've actually had an idea as well, but you go first." Aaron revealed, making Mason raise an eyebrow skeptically.
Just then, Amelia arrived with a confident air, pulling up a chair at our table without asking. Her presence immediately shifted the dynamic. Aaron, blushing slightly, stammered, "I thought you had a date tonight?"
Amelia shrugged nonchalantly, her disappointment barely noticeable. "Didn't it didn't work out, so I decided to grab something to eat. Saw you three sitting here and decided to walk over before getting my food. What were you discussing?"
Aaron, regaining his composure, recapped and added, "Masson and I have ideas for our next project. Mason, mind if I go first?" Masson shook his head no while chewing his burger. "How about incorporating a storyline into our art? Not just visuals, but a narrative too."
Amelia's eyes lit up. "I love that idea!"
Mason interjected, "None of us are writers, though."
Aaron pointed a finger at me and said, "Eli is."
The moment Aaron's finger pointed in my direction, I felt like a deer caught in headlights. The sudden shift of attention made my hands clammy and my heart race. Amelia's excitement was palpable, but Mason's skepticism was equally so.
"Really?" Amelia asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What kind of stuff do you write?"
"Uh, mostly short stories," I replied, feeling my cheeks heat up. "But I've always wanted to work on something bigger, like a novel or a movie."
"Interesting," Mason mused through a full mouth, his gaze narrowing. "How do we know your writing is any good? We don't want this project to fall flat."
"Hey, give him a chance," Aaron interjected. "I believe in him, and that should count for something."
"Fine," Mason swallowed and relented, still eyeing me warily. "But I want to see some samples of your work before I commit."
"Fair enough," I agreed, trying to steady my nerves. This was my chance to prove myself, and I wasn't going to let it slip away.
"Great!" Amelia chimed in. Her enthusiasm was contagious. "So, Aaron, do you have any ideas on how to incorporate a narrative into our art?"
Aaron took a deep breath and started expelling. "Well, what if Eli created a story that tied all our individual pieces together? Each artwork could represent a different scene or moment in the story, and viewers could experience both the visual and written aspects simultaneously. After, we can stitch the scenes together into an actual scenario. That might open a second selling point to the art it self."
"Interesting," Mason admitted, his skepticism softening ever so slightly. "And how do you plan to display the text alongside the art?"
"Maybe we could use interactive screens," Aaron suggested. "That way, people can read the story while looking at the artwork or have triggered scenes."
"Or even better," Amelia added, her eyes lighting up with inspiration, "we could use augmented reality. People could use their phones or AR glasses to scan the paintings and see the text overlaying the image."
"Wow, that's a great idea," I said, impressed by Amelia's creativity.
"Alright, Eli," Mason said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. "You've got our interest. Now let's see if Eli's writing can live up to it."
"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath. "I'll do my best and give you something to look at in a few weeks or so."
Aaron leaned forward, gesturing to Mason with his cup. "So, what's your idea, Mason?" he inquired.
With a contemplative sigh, Mason pulled out a tablet, swiping through its contents. "I've been considering exploring Indo-Arabic mythology for our next project. It's a theme that's not been much explored recently. And when it was, it wasn't particularly good." He showed us a short list of myths and legends, with images and whatnot.
"Here are some ideas," Mason continued, listing off tales like Bahamut, Jinn, Garuda and Naga, Rama, and Annapurna. The names were foreign to me.
Amelia perked up at the list, her eyes sparkling. "This looks intriguing. I'll dig into it. But I need to head out now. I'm going to go grab some food and head home. I'm starting early tomorrow."
"Same here. I'll draft some spaces and environments. But we got to go as well," Aaron chimed in, grinning at me. "Eli here just landed a job, and tomorrow's his first full day."
"Really? That's fantastic!" Amelia beamed, and even Mason offered a nod of approval. "Congrats, Eli."
"Thank you," I replied, feeling both proud and nervous about the attention.
We exited the bustling food court, watching as Mason and Amelia disappeared into the crowd. Aaron and I headed back to our apartment building, the city lights shimmering above us like a constellation of electric stars.
In the elevator, I broke the silence, reflecting on the evening's unexpected meeting with Aaron's friends. "I didn't think it would be so easy to run into people. My dad always said people in cities were separate and lonely."
Aaron chuckled as the elevator doors slid shut. "Yeah, that's definitely true if you want it to be. It's different here. We all live in this small cluster of buildings. It's a fairly tight-knit community, just like the one you grew up in. They live in another apartment towers in this cluster. We moved here after graduating high school at the same time. And there are tons of social clubs that people participate in at the community building where the food court is." His words forced me to reevaluate my preconceived notions about city life.
As we stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hallway, I felt a newfound sense of belonging. The city wasn't as cold and isolated as I had been led to believe. Instead, it was a place where people came together, connected by their passions, ideas, and shared experiences. My father's foreboding narratives were beginning to crumble, replaced by the vibrant reality around me.
"Thanks for everything, Aaron," I said as we reached our apartment door.
"Anytime, Eli," he replied with a smile, clapping me on the back. "Now get some rest. Tomorrow's a big day."