~Los Angeles,

•06/13 {Saturday, 7:00 A.M}

~*~ Dorian ~*~

I sighed heavily as Mr.Collins sat on his chair while shaking his head. I rolled my eyes wondering why I was here instead of being in Pizza Hut to start the job like I was supposed to. This morning when I was getting ready to go, I suddenly received a message from my PO telling me that I absolutely had to meet with him and I couldn't not come or else it was back to prison to me. I thought this guy was cool when I first met him, but I noticed how he was recently using that ''you're gonna go back in prison if you don't do the fuck I want'' way too often. Well, I knew he was only doing his job, but damn ! Cut me some got damn slack ! I just got out of prison, I need to enjoy my freedom more than I was allowed to.

It really didn't feel like I was free,to be honest.

So, I called the manager of Pizza Hut and told him what was going on and he told me to forget their number and that it was unnecessary to come, because I lost the job. And with that said, this bastard hung up on my face. And now, I was here already too annoyed for my liking.

He opened my file and glanced at me real quick before to write something on a piece of paper. He cleared his throat and looked at me placing the file on his desk. He crossed his hands and shook his head a bit more, "It's not going to work if you don't make some effort, Mr.Willkingston."

I shrugged and sighed, "What ? What I did for you to be...mad ? " I asked folding my arms on my chest.

"Why were you not at the park on Monday for your community service ? " He answered with another question, that made me gasp and wipe my face in frustration. I had completely forgotten about this. It really slid off my mind.

"I'm so sorry, I forgot."

"How ? Are you taking this seriously, Mr.Willkingston ? "

"Of course I am ! What you mean ?! I actually really forgot ! It can happen sometimes ! Damn, I'm a criminal, but also a fucking human being and sometimes a human forgets things, even the most important ! " I started raising my voice at him. I wanted to leave the room so bad, but since I was already in some trouble, I stayed my ass on this damn chair, that was hurting my back by the way. But I was two seconds away to slap him for real. My right leg even began to shake uncontrollably as the anger inside me was boiling.

"Okay, okay. Calm down. I was just asking a question." He scratched his head, "I thought you didn't really need the anger management classes, but actually...you do."

"Well, then I won't go."

He raised his brow looking at me like I was crazy, "What ? But..." He started laughing, "It's not like you can make that decision. You don't have a choice, but to go. If you don't, yo-"

"I'll be back in prison. I got it, bro ! Change the fucking music, damn ! "

"You better change the tone of your voice, Mr.Willkingston, or you and I gon' have an issue."

"We already have one, man ! "

"Oh...since it's like that, let me call the juge an-"

I rolled my eyes, "No ! Don't do this. Okay, I'll behave." I sighed and looked at the wall, "I want to have anger management classes with Dr.Khimona. She can do this along with the therapy sessions, right ? " I didn't want to deal with someone else. It was already difficult with her, so then add another person to try to help me will be too much for me.

He let out a long sigh of despair, "Okay...I'm going to see what we can do about this. And for the community service, you're starting today, but it's not in the park anymore."

I frowned, "Where then ? "

"At the children's hospital. You'll help the cleaning service. And I'm sorry, but I have to add hours since you didn't go on Monday and the other days."

"Fair enough, I guess."

"Yeah and the good thing is that if you put a good work in it during your community service, they agreed to definitely give you the job after that. Be there at six a.m every morning. For today, it's okay they know you're here. And your hours went from 350 to 960 hours."

My eyes almost popped out, "What the fuck ?! When I'll be done then ? "

"Well, you're going to work there 9 hours for five days, so it's forty-five hours in a week. We divided 960 by forty-five and it gives us twenty-five point three and so it'll be twenty-one days and a half -what means twenty-two actually- from today, so you'll be done with your community service on July 5. It's not that long, it could've been worst. Plus, we found you a stable job. Smile." He said like he was the one who was gonna do this shit. And plus he was grinning like it was really a good day.

"Alright. Can I go now ? "

"Yeah and uh...Officer Doughman will accompany you...just to make sure, you know."

"What ? That I really go there ? "

"Yeah."

I chuckled dryly, "Of course. Bye, Mr.Collins. Have a nice day, Mr.Collins. See you soon, Mr.Collins. Nice to have talked with you today." I said with sarcasm clearly in all my words. I even put a fake smile on my face. One that you could tell that was a fake one, of course.

"Mr.Willkingston, I'm simply doing my job."

"Whatever man, bye." I stood up from that uncomfortable chair and made my way out his office. When I walked out the building, there was this fat white man leaning against a police car and eating a donut, with a coffee in his other hand.

Isn't it so cliché ?

When he saw me, he smiled and finished his food in less than one minute, then drank his coffee like there was no tomorrow. He almost choked as he began to cough violently, trying to make everything pass through his throat.

"Hey...are you okay, man ? " I asked trying to see if I could do something to help him.

He shook his head bending over and holding his chest, "No...No...It's fine." He hit his chest with his fist and he could breath again. He wiped his mouth and took a deep breath, "Good morning, I'm Officer Doughman. Please, don't make jokes. You're Mr.Willkingston, right ? " He held his hand out and I shook it. Fortunately for him, he held out the one that didn't wipe his mouth or else I would've curved his fat ass. But then again, I didn't know where this one have been through.

Ew !

"Good morning. Yes, it's me, but call me Dorian."

"Oh well, you can call me Martin." He beamed, "Well, let's go. Do you want to sit in the back or front seat ? "

I furrowed my eyebrows taken by surprise, "Uh..."

"I don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I'm escorting you to the destination and not arresting you. Plus, it'll be simpler to share a conversation."

It was strange to be treated this way by a police officer since I had always had bad altercation with the police until now. I wasn't a big fan of the PoPo and was trying to avoid them the most I was able to, so I didn't know how to react to the kindness of this one. But maybe, it was all an act. You're never too sure...

I cleared my throat, "Uh...Well...Uh...The front seat it is then."

He smiled, "Cool." He unlocked my door and then went to his. I narrowed my eyes and slowly opened the passenger door, then got in. It was really strange, "Buckle your belt, please. We wouldn't want to be arrested for that, huh ? " He laughed and started the engine.

I stared at him and did as he said.

For the next thirty minutes, Martin tired my ears with his constant need to speak. I answered to him and said a few words here and there, but for the most part it was him talking. In this ride I learned some things about him. He was forty-four years old, liked to cook as a hobby -and I wasn't surprised to hear this; he had two twins boys -whose names I forgot as fast as I got the info; he was married to his wife since ten years, both of his parents were still alive and he played football when he was in high school for two years. When I mentioned RJ's name, he went from a big man to a little groupie real quick. Since he was going to escort me every day to make sure that I was taking this community service seriously, I promised to get him and his sons an autograph. I didn't promise it, but maybe they'll even be able to meet my dear little cousin .

Martin was really a genuine nice guy. You could see it with the way he behaved and how he was talking. He was so positive about life and so happy with the blessings he had. His wife and children were everything to him. Every time he mentioned them, there were these sparkles in his eyes and it seemed like nothing could get him sad at this moment.

I didn't plan to make him one of my best friends, but I wasn't against having his presence in my life for an indefinite period.

"Here we are ! For the next mornings we'll have to get on the road very early to be sure to not be caught in traffic though."

"Yeah." I unbuckled my seatbelt, "Are you supposed to come in with me too ? " I asked curiously.

"No. But I have to stay out here for a couple of minutes to make sure that you really went in."

"I can act like it and wait for you to go and then I leave." I said shaking my head. If they wanted to supervise me like a little baby so bad, they had to do better than this.

"Yeah...But..." He playfully and slightly hit my arm with his elbow, "...I know you won't do it. You seem to be a reasonable young man. Plus, the woman that is supposed to supervise you inside will call us if you don't show up."

Yeah, but I could still corrupt her. I nodded and held my hand out to him, "You're right."

He grinned and shook my hand, "Have fun in there. The kids are really sweet and the team you'll be working with is too. My niece was hospitalized here three years ago because of her cancer, so I know what I'm talking about."

"Oh...Is she...? "

"Yes. But she had a great life for having lived only nine years. She left with a huge smile on her face and she wasn't scared because she knew she was going to meet God and that her mother will take care of her up there."

"Her mother had cancer too ? "

"Yes."

"And she was your sibling ? "

"Yeah." A single tear ran on his chubby cheek.

I felt a pinch in my heart for this man, "I'm sorry for your losses. But...they're feeling better now and they're protecting you and the rest of your family."

He chuckled, "Yeah and they finally have the chance to meet their idol, Michael Jackson. They're surely moonwalking and singing with him now." He wiped his face and sniffed.

I chuckled as well, "Yeah. Well, I have to go. See you later."

"Oh ! Before I forget, here my phone number. Call me when you're done."

I frowned a bit, "You have to pick me up too ? "

"No...But...Uh...It's to check up on you...as a friend." He smiled as I only stared at him. A friend ? I had never became friend with someone that fast. But there is a start to everything, right ?

"Okay...Do you want my number ? In case I forget."

"I already have it." I frowned more, "Since I'm going to supervise you...you know. Your PO gave me your number and your address." He added with worry in his eyes, "I'm sorry, it's the procedure."

"No, it's okay. I understand. Tomorrow at five in front of my building ? "

He gave me thumbs up, "Fine with me. Bye and good luck."

"Thanks, you too." And with that said, I got out the car and then closed the door. I bent down to be to the window level, "You can go. I don't want to be in more trouble, so I'm seriously going in there and will get through these 960 hours alive ." I told him making a grimace.

He laughed, "Alright ! " He started back the engine and left.

I sighed as I observed my new environment. I hate hospitals more than anything else. For me, it was the worst place to be. I didn't like the smell, food, the people and just everything that was linked to this. I lost more than one person in there, so for me hospital rhymed with death. I felt chills down my spine just by looking at the huge building before me.

I took a deep breath and decided to finally enter in. What I noticed at first was that everything was renovated. The wall, the furniture, seemed like the workers' uniforms were too and even the patients' gowns. Thanks God, these kids didn't have their butts revealed to the whole world. I couldn't do this if it was the case. No, the back was closed thanks to velcro. Shout out the individual who created that shit !

I walked to the reception desk and the receptionist immediately gave me her attention. I was happy that she wasn't rude -like I expected her to be. And I think you damn know why I expected it, since the hospital receptionists have a reputation to always be rude women. Like, in movies and books; and real life also. It was nice to have a change for once.

"Excuse me, uh, good morning." I greeted politely, what I wasn't too used to.

"Good morning, sir. What can I do for you ? "

"Uh, I'm here for community service." I simply answered.

"Oh, right." She tapped something on her keyboard, then grabbed the phone, "One minute please." She composed a number and a few seconds later she was talking with someone. After two minutes, she hung up and gave me her attention again, "Mrs.Pedroza is coming, she'll be here in five minutes. You can wait for her here if you want or go in the waiting room."

"I'll wait here, thanks."

"You're welcome." She smiled and took care of the people behind me.

Five minutes passed by and a Spanish woman that looked to be in her late forties was coming towards me with her hand extended, "Good morning, I'm Mrs.Pedroza and the head of this cleaning service. You must be Mr.Willkingston."

We shook hands, "Yes."

"Nice to meet you. C'mon, let's go." I followed her as we took the elevator until the fifth floor, walked through the hall and then entered in what looked like to be a staff room where there were a couch, mini kitchen, a TV and a table to eat. She opened a door that was situated next to the kitchen, "Here is the changing room. If you want a locker, the key costs $10 and if you lose it it's $50 to pay to have another one. Every morning at six, you're supposed to be here and at six-thirty that's when you start to work. If you're late, call this number here." She pointed a note on the fridge, "The schedule is: six-thirty to eight-thirty, then you have a thirty minutes break, after that it's nine to twelve, then two hours lunch break, after it's two p.m to five, another thirty minutes break, and one more hour to go and you're done for the day. Any questions ? "

I shook my head no.

"Okay. Your uniform is in the changing room, with your name on it. Your work consisted of one, making the beds, so changing the sheets, pillowcases, blankets and vacuum the mattress. Second, vacuuming the rooms and mopping the floor. Third, filling the sanitizer. Four, cleaning the bathroom. Don't forget to change the towels and put new soaps and rolls of toilet papers. Five, dusting off the TV. Well, do that before to vacuum the room actually. Oh ! Don't forget to clean the windows also. That's your part of the job and you're doing this for the first three floors. You're actually three to do it since there are a lot of rooms."

"And what I do if I finish my part of the job before the end of the day ? "

"Then, that means you didn't do your job correctly." She answered looking at me with that warning stare, "Be polite with the patient and their family. If they ask you something, try to help them the best you can. If you don't know what to do, then call a coworker at the rescue. Do NOT approach a kid without sanitizing your hands or gloves on and a mask on your face. Also never walk with your own shoes in a room, but those from the hospital. And never go out with the hospital shoes. You have to wash your uniform every three days. If you don't want to do it yourself, give it to the team that takes care of it at the end of the day and they'll have it fresh for you the next morning."

I nodded my head, taking all in. There were a lot to remember, but with the time I knew I was going to get used to all of this fast enough.

After Mrs.Pedroza gave me a bit more information and showed me the surroundings, I was able to start the job. I met some of the coworkers when they were in their first break and they seemed...normal. I didn't really care about these people, to be honest. As long as nobody was bothering me, we were cool.

"What are you doing here ?! "

It was going on ten a.m and I was about to clean my third room. Everything went perfectly fine with the two last ones and I wasn't expecting to have a problem with someone until the end of the day. But guess what ? I thought wrong.

I looked up and instantly thought that it was a dream and nothing else. It couldn't be possible. How many years already ? Seven ? Last time I saw this person was at the high school graduation ceremony and then I went to RJ's house to celebrate and after that I was on my way to Tortuga.

I couldn't believe it.

"Herica ? "

______________________

Feel free to comment and/or to vote =)

•A/N: Do you remember big booty Herica ? Yes ? No ? And what are your thoughts on Mr. Martin Doughman ? Will he be a good friend ? Or no ?

THANKS FOR READING ! 💗

CissyItsMe 💋✌🏾❤️