Chapter 1 : Dream Job.

Thompson's alarm alerted him to wake up and get ready for the adventures ahead. He wasn't a coffee drinker, but he couldn't sleep last night as he was thinking about the struggles he was plagued with.

He recently lost his job as a waiter in an exquisite restaurant after he got into a fight with his Boss. Since then, life has been difficult for them. Living in the slums of Lake Mississippi was very challenging for him and his daughter, Sophia.

"Finally!  It's time let's do this,” sighing heavily, Thompson said to himself and hoped he would get a job.  Glancing at his wall clock and could confirm it was 8:30 a.m.

They lived in a faded bungalow with cracked walls and worn-out creamed colored paint with his daughter, Sophia, after he lost his beloved wife.

He already embraced his fate and was ready for whatever life had for him. The penny earned from his previous job wasn't enough to pay his wife's medical bills. Sadly, she died of Cancer.

"I know you are in a better location right now. I'm going to make you proud, I guarantee. I'll be vigorous for Sophia, our daughter,” tossing off the bed, he smooched his late wife's photograph and guaranteed. He wasn't convinced of his goal but was hoping to step out and get a job to sustain his home.

Despite graduating with good grades, he found it a bit difficult to get a better job, and now his daughter is about to suffer the same fate. No company was willing to employ her. While some grumbled about Sophie's good grades, other employees just want to shift her panties in exchange for an employment letter.

After bathing, he got dressed in his rumpled suit and over-starched pair of trousers. Constricting his gaze at the dusty and over-patched faded pair of shoes, he shook his head in self-pity and darted to the living room to find Sophia awake, setting the dining table for breakfast.

"Breakfast is served already? You are so filled with surprises,” Surprised to see his daughter setting the dining table, he gaped at her.

“Good morning, Dad. Where are you off to dress like this? Proceeding for another job interview? How many more interviews do you have left? Let me guess, this Is the 7th one for the month. Gosh! ” Placing her hands below her jaw, She wailed in anguish. She can't tolerate the constant pain of seeing her aged father going for interviews that would never yield positivity.

"It hurts me to see you doing this. I should be the one job hunting, not you. I feel so disgruntled with myself. I have erred you and Mom,” she broke down in tears and quietly motioned to the couch to nurse her wounded soul.

"I take the blame for the adversity. If I were prosperous, none of this would be transpiring. Perhaps your mom would still be alive. You know how problematic it has been for you to get a job. Remind me what occurred at your previous job,” he asked.

"My boss dismissed me because I denied having a relationship with him,” she replied, wondering why her father reminded her of the past.

"That's what I am talking about,” Thompson replied, wrapping his hands around her shoulder.

“I stand a better chance of getting a job. Hopefully, I'll get a job today and fix our mess. Remember, we've got less than 4 weeks to renew the rent. Do we fold our arms while we get kicked out?” ensuring his daughter, he advised.

“Okay, Dad. Just be cautious out there. I don't want you to get hurt,” Hugging her father passionately, She smooched his forehead. She fought back tears as he strolled majestically to the exit door.

Shortly after her father's departure, she heard a loud knock on the door. Immediately, she came out of her room to check who it was.

" I guess you forgot something…" She stopped after glimpsing her boyfriend, Johnson, standing at the door entrance looking so excited.

  “What the heck are you doing here? What if my father sees you here?” she whispered silently and blocked the entrance.

"Your Dad? I just saw him get in a cab heading to some destination.,” Johnson teased her and gestured inside.  

"You're such a jerk. Wait right here while I go get you something to eat,” she conceded and departed for the kitchen.

*******************

   “Where are we going? I can't recognize this route.” Panicking like a toddler, he questioned the cab driver after he discerned foul play.

“Say something, would you? Please stop this cab immediately, or I'll be forced to call the cops and have you arrested for alleged kidnap,” he screamed his lungs out, yet the cab driver was muted and unmoved. He kept driving at speed and pretended as though Thompson never existed.

He was frightened. Tension has surrounded his mind. Without being told, he already knew his life was in great danger.

"I plead for your compassion. I'm a poor man trying to make it through. My daughter is still young. She can't handle the trauma of losing both parents in a year.” he begged. His voice had depleted, comprehending it might just be a possibility of attempted kidnap or assassination.

"I dare you to give me everything you've got and get out of my cab,” authoritatively, the cab driver stopped the cab and requested.

"I should wh..at?” he stuttered at the command.

"You heard me, don't you? Just pass the damn phone and cash. I see you want to get killed. Don't mess with me. I'm going to blow your brain off if you keep asking silly questions. I just got out of jail. I'm not afraid of going back there,” Pointing a gun at Thompson, the cab driver threatened. With immediate effect, he obeyed and handed the cab driver everything he had, including his documents.

Emptying his wallet, the cab driver smiled. “Just $900? You are so damn poor. I should kill you for wasting my time. But I won't, for your daughter's sake. Now leave while you still can,”

Stepping out of the cab, Thompson was dumbfounded and peed in his panties. He watched helplessly as the cab driver zoomed off with his phones and valuables.

"Where do I go from here?” Bewildered, he questioned rhetorically as his voice echoed back to him.