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3.
O'Connell watched him, as he stared into the air thoughtfully. He knew alot of things were going on in the man's mind. Maybe he was contemplating on not hiring him.
Perhaps, if he didn't, he would leave. There were other places he could get a job.Mr Derrick lowered himself to his sit, then returned his eyes back to O'Connell.
"So, you're from here?"
O'Connell swallowed, then gave him a firm nod.
"My mom is from Nigeria, though. And I stayed with her dad for sometime."
Mr Armit nodded. Stared at him in a thoughtful manner, then proceeded to ask. "How long do you intend working here?"
It was something he always asked the people who wanted him to offer them jobs. So he could determine if they were getting hired or not."Uh.." O'Connell's voice trailed away, as he searched for an answer in his head. "For as long as possible." He finally provided, maintaining eye contact with Mr Armit.
And the man chuckled. Before joining his index fingers together, and propped his chin there. "Your clothes. You do know that reporters are likely to dress cooperate." He gestured over at his clothes.
O'Connell nodded. He knew he wasn't one to dress cooperate anymore. He wasn't under his mom's roof, with she telling him what and what not to do. He liked clothes that made him feel comfortable.
Except for what happened few days ago. There was robbery on the subway, and he was being punched hard in the stomach, with his phone, and wallet snatched away from him, and violently kicked on the ribs like a thief. Before he was pushed to the floor. It was unexpected something which left him unguarded, because he knew he could have fought back.
Meanwhile, the guy that was dressed in complete cooperate attire, had just his phone snatched from him. With him being untouched by the thieves. Because he was looking more of a gentleman, than O'Connell.
O'Connell had rain curses on the thieves, as they ran away. He was all alone, with no company. And it was the other guy people were running to attend to, while he was just there on the floor, in pains. Like a nobody.
He blinked the painful memory away, and looked up at Mr Armit. Apparently the man had been saying a lot of things, and he had zoned out. Letting his mind go down that shitty memory lane at the subway.
"-consider yourself hired, Mister Williamsburg." Mr Armit broke the news to O'Connell, making him fist pump the air victory.
O'Connell stood up from his chair, just to pull the man into a hug.
And this baffled Mr Armit to the extent that, his mouth flapped open, and the words died out in his throat.
None of his employee had the audacity to hug him. None of them. They wouldn't even dare.
Yet, this new employee of his, that just got hired a minute ago. Had summoned up the courage to hug him.
"I really do appreciate, sir." He was still smiling as he pulled away from the hug. And sat down.
And the man swallowed, before nodding. Clearly uncomfortable at what just happened.
O'Connell's phone began ringing that instant, and he told Mr Armit to excuse him, before pulling the phone out of his backpack, and slammed it against his ear.
After speaking few words into the phone, he kept it back inside his backpack, before looking up at Mr Armit.
"Sorry for the interruption. That was my roommate." He told Mr Armit, placing his hands on the chair.
Mr Armit nodded, resting back into his seat. Then he said. "You're to resume by 8:30AM every morning. And we close by 9PM, or sometimes 10. You would have your shifts as well."
O'Connell gave him a firm nod,
"Well, you're dismissed now, Mr Williamsburg. See you tomorrow morning."
"I promise not to let you down." He said.
"And lastly, Mister Williamsburg?" He called when O'Connell was at the door, reaching for the door handle.
"Yes?" The boy turned to him, with innocence and curiosity in his big eyes.
It was insane how this little boy, had made him feel uncomfortable in his own shell. The boy had hug him, the way a guy would hug his lover.
"I don't permit hugs from my employees. Ever." He commanded gruffly, in an authoritative tone.
O'Connell gave him firm a nod, with his lips thinned. "I'm sorry I did that. I just got carried away. You hiring me was the last thing I expected, after staring at me with mockery earlier on. And bombarding me with series of questions."
And he didn't wait for anymore words from Mr Armit, he made his way out, and slammed the door shut behind him.
"Good God! What have I just done?" O'Connell heard him exclaim, when he pressed his ear to the door.
Pushing his glasses up, a smirk formed on his lips as he began making his way towards the exit doors.
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O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 4.
O'Connell closed the exit doors shut, and was about heading towards the waiting area where he could hail a taxi, when he saw a man ogling at a teenage girl who was putting on very little clothing, as she walked on the road like one who had no care in the world. The man's wife noticed this, spat into his gaped mouth. And smacked him so hard on the face, that it pulled the attention of people towards them.Something which made O'Connell guffawed in laughter, because it was such an amusing sight to be seen."Well, well, well. If it isn't the rustic petty boy, trying to secure a job." The feminine voice of a female, suddenly pulled him out of his laughing state.Slowly, he turned around to see the owner of the voice.His face squeezed into a frown, when he saw that it was Penelope O'Sullivan.What is she doing out here? Where are her body guards? O'Connell wondered, then tucked his ha
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 5.
On getting home, O'Connell tried to get in, but the door was locked. He pounded his fist on the door several times. But there wasn't any response.He swore under his breath, wondering where the hell his roommate went.Eventually the said person jerked the door open. Wearing boxers, was bare chested, with a facial expression of impatience."Where the hell did you go?" The boy Bentley asked."Job haunting." O'Connell replied, then glanced over Bentley's shoulder, into the living room. There, he saw feminine clothes on the chair, panties and bra on the floor.A sick grin spread across his face, as he returned his eyes to Bentley. "You asshole." He said, then shoved the boy aside so he could make his way into the house."So did you get the job?" Bentley asked O'Connell, as he followed him into the kitchen."Yep." O'Connell replied him, popping the 'P'. Then he slammed the fridge door open to grab a bottle of beer.
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 6.
Flashback to how it all started. As a kid, O'Connell was one shy boy, who because of being overweight, chose to be antisocial. He knew he could never blend in because kids always laughed at him, and called him fat and ugly. To the extent of bullying him. He had pale skin, and was round and thick. With thighs like that of woman. He lived with his maternal Grandpa, Adesina Ayodeji, and Tosin Ayodeji who was his uncle, and seven years ahead of him. O'Connell lived with them in Nigeria because his mom, who had given birth to him at a very tender age, was studying medicine, a seven years course at the University. And his dad, well his mom's fiance, was in Brazil, running his family business. O'Connell's mom had a one night stand, with some stranger in Ireland, when she went visiting , and had no idea she was pregnant until she came back to Nigeria. So, O'Connell lived with his Grandpa and uncle. With his mom coming from time to time
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 7.
O'Connell watched Jeremy through his window, as he rode on his bicycle with his acquaintances. Waiting for the perfect moment to throw down the letter he had wrote, and had crumpled into a paper ball.He had been fantasizing about doing this for a very long time. Ever since few days ago, when he almost slipped and fell into dirt, and Jeremy had caught hold of him and helped him up.O'Connell had finally summoned up the courage to write him about how he felt about him. To him, Jeremy was the most good looking boy he had ever seen. He was so neat and calm in class. Something which had made him develope feelings for him even more. Plus he was nice, caring, had good manners with good grades at school.O'Connell had asked Marguerite once, when she had come visiting, if it was normal to like his own fellow boy. And she replied, saying it was very normal. It was until the boy told her he was inlove with a boy in his class, that she went haywire. Then began yellin
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 8.
The third time Jeremy had helped O'Connell again, was when they were both six years old. And O'Connell was trying to sing in front of the whole class, because students were to sing during music class.Other kids had sang when it was their turn, and were rewarded with a round of applause by the rest of the kids. And O'Connell was waiting impatiently for his turn. With anticipation kicking right through him, that he was going to sing in front of the whole class. And maybe when they listen to him as he sing with his voice, which he thought was amazing, then they would bully him less.O'Connell was feeling so giddy on the inside. Almost bouncing on his seat, from excitement. Finally feeling that, that day would be a good day to him. And maybe he could talk finally talk to Jeremy. And play with him on the play ground as well. Because he could still remember Jeremy's act of kindness towards him. How Jeremy had offered him his own milk, when he, O'Connell was crying over his
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 9.
O'Connell recalled all that just happened. It was music class, and it was his turn to sing. He had even worn his best outfit to school on that day, and had tried to aww the class, because his uncle and grandpa had pointed out that he had a very nice voice for singing. They had really complimented his outfit that morning, telling him how handsome he was. And he had believed them. Only to arrive at school, at get laughed at by his classmates. Worse, his voice was being mocked, and he was being thrown food, by these classmates. Something his teacher couldn't put to stop. Rather she let it all happened to him. Despite it was really wrong. And he wasn't supposed to be treated like that.The world was cruel. O'Connell thought.Because he had wanted to fit in, wanted to be liked by all. But he had made a big fool of himself, by assuming he was going to get praised for singing perfectly. Because he got laughed at. Insulted, pointed fingers and moc
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 10.
There was a continuous sound on O'Connell's window, as if someone was throwing a gravel to hit it. He wondered if it was a dream, or it was just that he was hearing things. But then, the sound was non-stop.He flicked his eyes opened lazily, and then stared at the clock hung on the wall. It wasn't even evening yet, and he had closed his eyes to nap after contemplating if he had done the wrong thing by writing a love letter to his own gender. When he was only nine. He wondered how his parents would feel if they could by any means, find out that he wrote a letter to a boy. Their neighbor's first son.Worst, him developing feelings for a the boy.O'Connell would get scold, he knew. And told that he was too young. And not supposed to like someone from his own gender, but a girl. His mom would caution him, because he was the only child, spank him, and then pray over the situation. Marguerite could be very religious most times.
O'Connell (Mending His Heart) 11.
Age 15O'Connell merged into the crowd of students who were heading to their supposed classes, his backpack slung over his shoulder, as he offered smiles to anyone who was looking at him and began advancing towards his locker. Feeling good to be at school again, after the long vacation of three months. He had a feeling that school was going to be great.It was the first day of his senior year. And his last year of school. O'Connell could feel his smile huge on his face. Because he would move out of Lagos, so he could start his dream tertiary institute. He couldn't wait to get over with senior year already. But Maths was giving him a hard time. He hoped he could get a C in the West African Examination Council, so he could get to go to his dream institution. Despite being taught countless of times, and having his dad get him a private Maths tutor, O'Connell was still so bad at it. It was just like, he was born to suck at Maths. And he
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