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Fred died and he was a friendly, decent, and merciful man. He was anonymous, fearful, but plain andresponsible for his wife and children. Fred's wife Linda" was fifty-four years old that year. Their son Frank was twenty years old. Fred was buried in the Saint Denis cemetery located northeast of that city, and soon after his death, signs of fatigue and illness began to show in Fred's wife. Her son could not save her or prevent her illness, as the doctors told them, "There is no ailment or
disease, and we cannot determine what is wrong with her." Linda died three years after Fred and was buried in the same cemetery as her husband, leaving their
son abandoned. He was about twenty-three years old at that time. Frank was confused and did not know what to do, especially since they were not originally fromSaint
Denis, signs of poorness and vulnerability were obvious on him especially after the loss of his father. He lived with his mother Linda for three years. Those were difficult years for them, yes Fred was not
rich, nor was he poor, but he was a simple, average man who made himself, his wife, and his childrenhappy. Frank inherited nothing except values from his parents. But in that world, what he inherited fromthem was called nothingness. His father died about three years ago, and naturally, his mother could
not continue what her husband had done. Frank did not even know what his mother was doing to
feed them and what sacrifices she made for that. Frank could not recover from the shock of the situation surrounding him; he lost his parents in about
four years. There was no time for sorrow in this harsh world, and he was not aware of what he shouldor should not do, as his father was not very social with his peers; yes, they knew him, but only in a
good way. However,Frank, throughout those three years he lived with his mother did not remember a close
friend of his father, not even one! In contrast, he was very loved; Fred loved them too, but they were
elderly and frail. Frank did not understand the reason and could not ask them for help because he
knew their conditions and limitations. The state of Lemoyne was safe compared to other states, and the city of Saint Denis was at its
forefront, but it was also not a comfortable state for everyone, despite the apparent prosperity and
luxury of its people and the beautiful buildings and skyscrapers in Saint Denis for example. Frank wanted to work in that city; it was a gateway to all cities and a bearer of the banner of
civilization and sophistication at that time. He did not know where to start or whom to talk to. He now wanted to quench his thirst after days of losing his mother. He was not aware of his condition, but he finally realized, as days passed, that he had eaten only scraps from their home, and it was not
enough; he had not slept well in all his past days.
Frank entered the city from the northern side, determined, exhausted, and perhaps sick. He had no
ailment, but sadness affected him despite his patience. That Chinese shop, that butcher, that suspicious shop in the back, the beautiful weapons shop, the
luxurious carriages, and the clothing stores for men and women were all strange to him; most of them,
if not all, were new to him, perhaps they made him forget a little of what he was in. There were failed attempts and others that were embarrassing. Frank:"Sir, I want to work for you; I was..." The butcher: "Get out of my face, you fool." Frank: "Sir, I am looking for work; I don't mind driving the carriage and taking care of it and the horses
too." Wealthy man: "Do you know how to drive a carriage?" Frank: "No, sir." Wealthy man: "Did you have horses before?" Frank: "No, sir." Wealthy man: "Are you an idiot?!" Frank did not give up and continued searching with everyone, literally everyone!
They were either afraid of him because of his shabby appearance or looked down on himfor his
ignorance, youth, and innocence, or they disbelieved him, or they simply did not need himat all! The
sun set that day, and the sight of its sunset was painful and shocking; how could that huge city have
nothing in any way !
That long night passed, and the sun rose, and it became painful for Frank. He had not slept, nor eaten, and had not achieved what he wanted, and he remained in that state for two full days. He did not leave a path, a wealthy man a shop nor a person without asking him. At first, he aspired toany job that could provide him with a decent life like the one he lived with his parents. But nowhe
wanted anything and did not want to end up sick or hungry, unable to move. On the third day, after much hardship and before sunset, he decided to head to the outskirts of that
city and its southern vicinity, but he found only fishermen who had chased him away repeatedly in
those markets over the past two days. On the other side, a ship was unloading goods loaded with
many luxurious products coming from those distant lands. He decided to head west after his failed attempts, and the trains and their carriages were bustling inthe area for maintenance. He saw that wealthy man who had called him an idiot two days ago. Frank
was not interested in him because he did not want him, but he wanted that factory. However, he
heard everyone calling that person Sir. At that moment, Frank stepped out of the noise of the
railways and their maintenance, and within him was a louder and stronger noise. He wanted to get
away; he did not know where, but he just wanted to way himself from that place while trying to
suppress many questions that arose in his mind at that time: "Why? Wasn't I honest with him? Why
didn't he tell me about this place?! And he has many workers too! I wouldn't have minded working for
them, even as a cleaner !"
He walked for a long time until he noticed that foul smell and naturally moved away fromit, but he
heard a voice that caught his attention and focused him. The source of that voice was fromthat
building over there. He hesitated a little; I haven't found work in that vast city; could it be here?! But
he resolved to go, only to be surprised that the place was not organized, tidy, or clean at all! It was a
strange place that had nothing to do with that city in any way; it was just close to it, the foul smell
from that water, the suffocating air, and the dirty place.Frank resolved, and his heart said, "I must dothis; I have no other solution." Unknown man: "Frank? What brought you here? Is your mother okay? I haven't seen her for three
months; you must take care of her; you know this, right?" [laughs]
Frank did not recognize him at first; he was an old, pale, dirty man, but he stared for a long time, andall those feelings changed !
Frank: "Uncle." [He hugged "Frank" tightly.] It was a cry as if he had found his lost comfort, ignoring all
those difficult circumstances he had lived through. Tears streamed down his face, and in that long
embrace, he did not know why he shed all those tears; perhaps they came out because they were
prisoners of those eyes. Uncle Mardwaa: "How are you? Frank, why are you crying like a fool?" [laughs] "Don't think I will hidethis from Linda; I will tell her, you little fool, just stop..." [laughs]
Frank, with a broken voice, sobbing: "Mr. Mardwaa, my... my mother has passed away... Linda died a
few days ago." Silence reigned in that moment. Uncle Mardwaa was unaware, but he was shocked. He was an old
man who loved to joke. Mardwaa:"Frank, I'm sorry, I didn't know. I'm truly sorry. Are you okay?" He knew Frank's family, especially after his father, Fred, passed away. Frank: "I'm fine, sir, but I don't know what to say. I'm looking for work, and I haven't slept well or
eaten in days. I want to eat and… Mardwaa interrupts him and kisses his head. Then Mardwaa says: "Frank, know that you are my son, and I won't be to you as your father was, of
course, but... We owe your father, and he owes us a lot too. You must know that." [He laughs] Then
he continues: "Frank, get up and don't tell anyone your name as long as I'm alive. You have to
promise me that, Frank." Frank didn't understand what was going on, what he meant, or why he asked him that, but he knewhis mother knew that uncle.Frank was telling himself [There's nothing special about him. He's an oldman like all those who love my father and whom he loves as well]. Frank: "But sir, I'm sorry, I don't understand what you mean and why I shouldn't tell anyone my
name..." Mardwaa interrupts him. Mardwaa: "Frank, the signs of exhaustion are clear on you, even though
you're trying to hide them, you little man." [He laughs]
Frank: "Sir, I'm not little. I've reached..." Mardwaa interrupts him. Mardwaa: "Come on, let's go home. The sun has set, and my work is done for today too. I'll tell you
what you need to know in the morning. Come on." Frank told Mardwaa everything that happened to him and about his mother Linda's illness, where
Mardwaa showed signs of surprise at the latest news.
When they arrived at Mardwaa's house. Mardwaa: "Frank, eat whatever you want, then go to sleep. I
can't sit with you and stay up late. I have to wake up early." [He laughs] And tomorrow we have work
too. Frank: Sir, work?! But I don't have work. Mardwaa: "Don't worry, now we have to go to sleep, but first, eat whatever you want. I'll wait for youa little, and also, don't address me like that ever again. Just call me Mardwaa . [He laughs] "Frank": "I'm sorry, sir. I mean, I'm sorry. It's hard to just remember your name like that. I don't..." Mardwaa interrupts him: "Frank," thank you, you're really kind. Do whatever you want if we're alone, and don't tell anyone your name, no matter what. Do you understand?
Frank: "Okay." Frank didn't understand what the uncle meant, but he sensed his strong determination. Frank wasn't a child who didn't feel those around him, but he was innocent and ignorant too. Frank finished his food, but he didn't eat much because he was overcome with sleep, and Mardwaa
prepared a room for him to sleep in. Frank finally slept after days of hunger and little sleep. Mardwaa
didn't sleep that night. He was telling himself [How do I tell Frank! Where do I even start? Frank
doesn't know. [Mardwaa sighed] Linda instructed me not to tell anyone, and Frank specifically, but
they're both dead now. Yes, he's become a young man. I don't think it's wrong to tell him. [He laughs]
Is this what I should do, Linda?!]
Early in the morning. Mardwaa : "Frank, how are you? Did you sleep well?
Frank: "Yes, sir, thank you. Mardwaa: "Come outside, I've prepared some food too." Frank was engrossed in eating, even though he ate yesterday, he ate a little, but now after sleeping
for a long time and feeling comfortable, he was eating well to some extent!
Mardwaa : "Frank," do you know why you shouldn't tell anyone your name and who you are?
Frank: "No, sir. Mardwaa: "What do you know about your father, Frank? Where was he, and how did he end up near
here?
Frank: "I don't know, sir. I was young, but all I know is that my father moved here and doesn't want
to go back, and I don't know why. Mardwaa: "Go back to where, Frank?
Frank: "I don't know. I was young, and my father got angry when talking about the past. I didn't talk tohim about the past, and I never asked him. Mardwaa: "Frank," your father changed his life for you. He wasn't poor, and he wasn't weak, but
those were the days, Frank. But those were the days. [He laughs]
Mardwaa: "Anyway, Frank, do you know what your mother did after your father died?
Frank: "She told me she worked in trade, and I wanted to help her, but she refused and told me to
take care of the cabin and the firewood until she came back.
Mardwaa laughs loudly, and he also shed a tear, perhaps Frank didn't see that because Mardwaa
deliberately hid that tear. Mardwaa: "I understand trade, then. [He was silent for a long time, then said] Frank, Linda didn't
work in trade. She was just a maid. See those luxurious houses and palaces? Linda cleaned themandtook out the dirt from them, and she took a fee for that and the like. I saw her once, and I was angry
at what I saw. I wanted to scold you, even hit you. How could you let your mother do that? I thought
you were a spoiled fool. But Linda stopped me from doing that and told me everything. Frank, you
shouldn't continue with this weakness. You have to be strong, and you have to know how to use
weapons, and you should definitely know how to ride a horse, you fool. But I don't blame you. [He
laughs] Fred and Linda didn't want that from you. Of course, they didn't want it. Frank [to himself] My mother always came home exhausted and tired after my father died. She was
beautiful as she always was, but as days passed, she came back tired, not caring about her
appearance at all, neither in the morning nor in the evening. Is that the reason?! And those marks onher hands too. They were soft and beautiful, but they changed?!
Frank: [He cries bitterly] Why didn't my mother tell me? What stopped her, sir? Please tell me. Mardwaa: You fool! Do you want to make what Linda did useless?! I won't tell you now, of course. You're still weak, a fool. That's all you need to know now, and don't tell anyone your name, no matter
what. Listen, Frank, your name from today is Danny, and you have to forget Frank from nowon, maybe forever. Do you understand?
Frank: [He didn't understand, but he knew that Uncle Mardwaa's words weren't false. He said to himin a clear voice] Okay, sir. Mardwaa went to that dilapidated place to work as usual, and he took the new Frank ,Danny,! with
him to work and help. Danny wasn't officially an employee, but Mardwaa provided him with food and shelter. Danny in
return helped Mardwaa with his work. And the first month of the story of Fred, Linda, Frank, Mardwaa and Danny too, ended!
In the morning, in that beautiful area called Strawberry, where people are farmers, fishermen, and
those who want to live and relax, and that stable, yes, it's not close, but it's close to it, and that shop, and the sound of the water gushing through it, as water permeates it. The sheriff of that area was coming that day, with signs of exhaustion and fatigue on his face. Man from the area: What's wrong, Sheriff? Your face is tired, and it's early morning. Are you okay?
Sheriff: We were in a meeting all night and until morning. "We had been in a meeting all evening until
morning regarding our state in Blackwater." Man: Is everything alright?
Sheriff: Yes, well maybe not. I will let you know as soon as I rest a little. After a while, the Sheriff gathered the prominent men of the area and spoke to them, saying:
You all know that the unemployed and bandits pose a danger to the entire country. I’m sorry, I don’t
know what to say, but it seems that the gang that caused us a lot of damage fourteen years ago has
lost its leader.
