Character
This story is dedicated to my parents! I finally finished one.
“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin” (Romans 3:20).
What if Pastors who failed their congregation in life received a chance as walking spirits of poverty…
Let’s start with the story of Chris: Chris was a B.U.M: BROKE UNEMPLOYED MALE, just being broke and unemployed doesn’t make a man a B.U.M; it’s his character. Does he behave as a parasite or try to create a symbiotic relationship? Parasites are B.U.Ms.
It was a mercilessly hot summer day, and Chris was struggling to find work and hungry. He knew of a helpful woman he’d once considered a friend, even after falling out she naïve enough to forgive and forget, for the sake of being nice. Chris did not care that Nara barely fared any better than him financially, “she has a support system,” he thought. One of their arguments was over the fact that he would take from her until his needs were met and disappear until he lost his job. “You didn’t even try to pay me back!” Whined Nara the doormat, “You have family, you don’t have a record like I do! You will be okay.” Chris replied self-righteously. “You’re right, but if I let you continue to take from me, it will take from my family. I WON’T HAVE THAT.” THE Doormat became a guard-dog.
The two hadn’t spoken for over 6 months because in his mind it didn’t matter if Nara wasn’t rich, she had more than him…
How serendipitous it was that in all this time, on such a hot day, he would run into Nara on his way to the bus stop. Chris struck up a conversation feigning interest in her life; in reality he was creating an opening to ask for money for food and the bus ride. When he’d felt she was softened up enough Chris started in asking for bus money, Nara obliged without hesitation. “Which way are you headed?” She asked intending to give Chris a ride, “I’m staying with a friend on Parker and West Street!” Chris replied with anticipation of stepping back into his old routine.
“I need to be on that side of town this evening if you don’t mind running a few errands with me, I can give you a ride to your friend’s place. You’ll get there no later than 4pm.”Chris was excited this meant he didn’t have to take two buses to get across town and still wander around for until his friend got home at 5:30. “Thank you Nara, I don’t mind running errands with you. Which car is yours anyway?” Chris was excited to sit in some A/C and recline, until Nara pointed at a circa 1980s Nissan Datsun. The colors were faded, the rear seat windows were taped to keep them shut and he could see what looked like old leather and fiberglass crumbling from the front seats through the front passenger side window.
As Nara unlocked the passenger side door, Chris got in, nervous that he was inhaling pieces of the car. There was a sickening smell of vanilla mixed with old car smell in the heat causing Chris to want to get out of the car immediately, but his brain stopped him. “It’s better than walking” he thought.While of these feelings and thoughts processed through Chris’s mind, Nara struggled with the driver’s side lock. Once he’d decided not to walk, Chris popped the lock for Nara. “This is iffy as far as being better than walking, but at least she’s not a killer, with this filthy ass car. She could at least vacuum” Chris thought.
“Thanks for the help Chris,” Nara said, “I need to go to the grocery store first.” Nara offered Chris to either sit in the car or go inside the store to help her shop. Chris’s fear of breathing in more debris is the only thing that urged him to be a gentleman and help Nara with her groceries. Chris walked through the store and watched how Nara shopped in an almost calculating manner, he was judging her. It was only when Nara offered to buy Chris groceries to bring to his friend’s house that he began to offer to push her cart and retrieve items for her as well.
Once the shopping was done Nara took Chris to her place, it was a small one bedroom rented house, shockingly kept much cleaner than her car. Nara went in washed her hands and began to prep her dinner. “Chris would you mind helping me prep the dinner, it’ll be enough for both of us. I was raised to never send a guest away hungry, and I don’t want you leaving here hungry.” Nara said to Chris’s surprise. “Wait a minute, I don’t know if you are doing this to try to help me out but seriously all I need is a ride and I’m good.” Chris said worried this odd woman was trying to flirt with him: Nara’s response would leave no doubt in Chris’s mind that she was only helping him out of kindness. “No Chris, you may only need a ride, but I actually have to be over on that side of town this evening I had plans to shower and change clothes before leaving, but with you here I have extra help which makes cooking faster. I am not going to make food for myself and not offer any, but by way of common courtesy I would have expected you to offer a hand. That way I have more time to get ready while the food cooks.” Chris smiled sheepishly, he hadn’t thought of offering help to someone who had more than him, he hadn’t even thought of the fact that she went out of her way to help him and bought extra food so he could eat; in the end those were her choices to make he didn’t ask for charity he only accepted a ride. Nara was a challenge to Chris, she didn’t so much request payment for help but, in a round about way made him work for his food. “I’m going to get as much as I can out of this new ‘friendship’ for as little effort possible” Chris thought. GAME ON
Once Nara was out of the shower and all changed into fresh clothes she made a plate for herself and Chris, they both sat down and ate. Nara didn’t ask any questions or try to give advice, but Chris had plenty of questions for Nara. “Where do you work to afford a place like this on your own?” Nara replied “If I worked at a bank or McDonald’s I could afford this place depending on the position, so is where I work as important as what I do or how much I make for you to be concerned with how I can afford this house?” Chris was surprised that “meely mouth” Nara spoke so plainly. Nara continued “I guess you don’t consider it rude to ask me but you know I would become suspicious and consider it rude… is this a gauge to see how naïve I am? A woman to take a man into her home offer him food, and a drive him across town?” Chris was more impressed with Nara’s boldness than offended, “I can respect that; I’ll leave the questions alone for now” Chris said.
When they were done eating a very early evening dinner Nara began to wash the dishes, and Chris without being asked helped. Nara dropped Chris off at his friend’s place and said “I’ll be seeing you around, you already know where I live if you need a favor. Be warned, I see you now Christofer Gaines, and I am never taken advantage of; I give only what I desire to give only when I want. You cannot take advantage of me, it would do you a disservice to ever try.” Chris was confused as to when he told Nara his last name and just wanted out of her musty car, “Oh, you don’t have to be weird cause I asked a question. But thank you for the ride today. Although I guess you can consider the favor returned considering I helped you out too!” Chris tried to make his reply seem more friendly than defensive, he had no plans on accepting help from this weirdo again.
Chris walked around for about 30 minutes until his friend got home and told him about the experience with Nara, even where she lived, how her car was in such sharp contrast to her house and when he went to check for the $3 she gave him for the bus, it was a $20 in his pocket. Chris’s friend David said,” that’s kind of weird but hey man, you can’t expect something for nothing and to get a ride without her asking for her money back, and a meal that you know wasn’t drugged because you helped cook…pretty good deal.” Chris agreed but he wasn’t hearing David on the gentleman bullshit of opening a lady’s door for her; he did however see the point of being considerate. It would be 3 weeks later when Chris encountered Nara again.
“Hello Chris, what are you doing here?” Nara greeted Chris while walking into the gas station, he replied “Nothing, still looking for work.”
“Chris”, Nara called “come over here, how are you getting by, do you need any help?” He saw more compassion in her eyes this time, and he was more frustrated and worse off than during their last encounter.
“Actually I could use any change you could spare today.” Chris wasn’t going to divulge any more information than that.
“Do me the favor today Chris and pump the gas for me, and I’ll pay you for it! My hands really hurt and it’ll be doing me a huge favor. I’ll pay you the same dollar amount of gas my vehicle takes.”
Chris new it wouldn’t be much remembering her little car but he agreed. When she told him which pump to go to Chris was confused to see an SUV sitting there. “You must’ve got you a man” Chris laughed.
Nara giggled in reply, “No I’m still single, but I walked into some good fortune just last week and I am able to afford a new car. Do you have a driver’s license Chris?”
“Yeah I do, I just can’t afford a car with no job, and it’s damn near impossible to get work without one.”
Nara interrupted, “Oh look at that, the pump finally stopped at $70, I really let that go too long. I only have $100 bill on me, and knowing your situation I’d be an ass to demand change. Lets make a deal, I will give you my old car, I was looking to sell it, but I want to bless you. You need a break. Take my old car and anytime you find money collect it until it reaches $30 or give me back the $30 from your first paycheck. Whichever happens first is fine by me.”
Chris remembered that damned car and how it was barely better than walking but also thought about what an easy deal it was and took it. “I know folks who can help me detail and fix that car up nice!” Chris thought.
“Oh yeah I forgot to mention the car is actually parked in the lot behind the gas station the owner said I could park it there.” When they drove over to her little Datsun, Chris was in amazement, she had painted it and put new front seats in. Nara definitely put in enough work to make some money off of this car why is she giving it away? What kind of a blessing did she get? Chris wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth when he was this low, usually he’d be the damn dentist but he needed this car.
Nara gave Chris the keys and title for the car, it had been smogged and had a tune up.
Chris gave weirdo Nara a hug and thanked her for the money and the car, this time he asked for her number to pay back the $30, and Nara obliged.
The next day Chris went out searching for jobs, it was still difficult because he had some drug and theft charges on his record due to mistakes in his past and not enough money for a lawyer to make them disappear.
After spending 6 hours looking for work Chris headed to his Cousin’s house for the night. He noticed something sticking out of the driver side visor, so Chris tugged at it, what did he find but a $50 bill, this is great because I need gas and I’m hungry Chris said. “That’s weird I thought the gas tank would’ve taken $30 and my meal didn’t cost much either. That’s crazy I’m left with exactly $30 let me call Nara when I get some place with a phone so I can keep that weirdo happy and out of my head.” When he got to his cousin’s place Chris called Nara and told her about the $30, her response, “Thanks Chris, I just ran into another blessing so I’d like to bless you with that $30. The fact that you kept your word means a lot, consider your debt paid. If you still need a job, contact a mom and pop drug store about 10 minutes from the gas station we were at. They’ll need your help and hire you!Also use that to get yourself a Tracphone phone jobs will need to contact you. Good bye.” Chris wanted no ties or debts owed to this woman so he decided to try applying for other jobs.
People were turning Chris away until he got to a mom and pop shop looking for a bookkeeper. Chris was good with numbers and would have gotten into banking or accounting of some sort had he not gotten in trouble. He inquired about the position but the couple was not sure about hiring Chris once he mentioned his record. Mr. & Mrs. Harris looked at Chris and said “we can’t hire you with theft and drug convictions son. So you’re going to have to work under the table. Our son in law can help you if you’d like, he is an attorney, then we can officially put you on payroll.”
Chris was excited and felt like he earned this on his own.Everything went great for a month from the day he was hired until the Harris’s told him he had one more month to work under the table before they had to replace him. Chris preferred working this way it was less stress and red tape why did everyone like making things so complicated.
Chris set up an early Monday appointment to speak Mr. Taylor, the Son in law to his employers,on the way into the lawyer’s shabby strip mall office, he saw Nara. Chris tried to hide from her in his car, until he realized she gave him the car, and his windows were cracked to allow the breeze to flow. “Hey Chris!,” Nara was giggling again, she was cute in a way when she laughed. “Hey Nara, how’s it going?”
“Are you here to see Mr. Taylor? He ’s a really good lawyer.” Nara said, still being straightforward with Chris. “How do you know my business Nara?” She replied with more laughter…then calmly stated “I guess you forgot I referred you to the mom and pop drug store in the first place. Anyway I’m not going to waste your time, I am just here to give advice today. You need to remember although nothing is free, it doesn’t always cost money.”
Chris gave a blank stare as Nara walked away, then yelled at her in frustration “Fuckin' Weirdo!”
