Mr. Someone started his morning with a bad news text from his bank. Unable to handle any more stress or expenses, he nervously took an hour off work so he could call the bank teller regarding his home mortgage payments. As it turned out, due to the national increase in overall interest rates, his monthly mortgage payments were set to go up this year.
He had sold everything he owned back in Nowhere Town just to afford the down payment on a smaller house out in the middle of nowhere. Even though he was working nonstop all week long, he still had to miss a payment almost every month. The expenses just kept piling up—from the kids’ school fees to installment payments for the furniture and the car. On top of that, there was no sign of a promotion at work, especially with the new colleague who had practically taken over everything. And even if he did get promoted, how much of a difference would it really make?
Mr. Someone was completely out of ideas; he had done everything he possibly could. But the soaring mortgage payments and the growing needs of his older children were simply beyond his means. Moreover, unloading these worries onto Mrs. Someone would only add to her stress without fixing a thing.
When he got home, he muttered a quick hello and quietly slouched in his usual spot on the sofa in front of the TV. Sensing something was off, Mrs. Someone asked, “How was work today?”
“Nothing special, same as always.”
“Then what’s wrong? Why look so down?”
“We need to get rid of the car.”
“What? Why? We just bought it!”
“That’s the point. We should have held off for a while until we adapted to life in the new city before buying it. We rushed into this.”
“We didn’t rush that much. We actually needed something a bit bigger so the kids would fit. As it is, I barely make it on time from work every day to pick them up from daycare.”
“If we don’t sell it, the bank will come and repossess it for our debts any day now.”
“Why won’t you just tell me what happened?”
“The bank texted today. They said the mortgage payments are going up for the new year. And the car payment is already several months behind.”
“What are we supposed to do now?”
“I’m at my wit’s end.”
“Don’t argue in front of the kids. Let’s eat dinner first, and we’ll talk about it later.”
Having lost his appetite, Mr. Someone barely ate. After dinner, he lay down in bed and stared at his phone, but his mind was completely elsewhere. Mrs. Someone walked into the room and asked point-blank, “Why haven’t you called that man with the bracelet?”
“I’ve called him a few times, but he hasn’t answered. I figured he was just talking big at the time.”
“You should go see him at his company in person.”
“With all this pressure at work, I haven’t been able to take a single day off to go chasing after him.”
“What choice do we have? Take two or three hours off at most and go drop by. Be upfront with him about your salary and your situation.”
“He hasn’t even answered my calls—what am I supposed to say if I just show up?”
“He’s probably just busy. Go tell him, ‘You told me to come see you, so here I am.'”
“Fine. If my going there is the issue, I’ll go first thing tomorrow.”
Not wanting to end a terrible day with a fight, Mr. Someone pulled the blanket over himself to sleep, but his racing thoughts wouldn’t let him rest. He kept telling himself that if they had just stayed in Nowhere Town, they wouldn’t have to deal with car loans, mortgage stress, or school fees. Back then, no matter how much he worked, he never ran short—in fact, he had money left over. Now, tomorrow he’d have to go see a guy who had kept him waiting at a bus stop for an hour with his arrogant behavior, not even bothering to step out of his car. He’d have to go beg and say, “Sorry, I’m completely stuck in the mud and I need a job with better pay.”
The next morning, without informing his workplace, Mr. Someone went straight to “The Complete Package” company. He told the receptionist, “I’m a friend of the boss, and I don’t need an appointment. Just let him know that Mr. Someone is here to see him.”
Not quite convinced that the visitor was actually a close friend of her boss, the receptionist replied, “Please wait a moment. He arrives for work at this exact time every day and usually asks us about his incoming mail and letters.”
Not even sure if the owner of the bracelet—who happened to be the boss—would even remember him, Mr. Someone gave an anxious thank-you and waited for his arrival. By doing this, the receptionist could see if Mr. Someone actually recognized the boss and approached him when he arrived, while also saving herself from having to answer for letting in a stranger. Satisfied, both exchanged forced smiles and sat waiting for the boss to arrive.
With his official work hours already underway, Mr. Someone kept glancing nervously at his phone, expecting a call from his office and trying to invent a plausible lie.
Fortunately, the boss arrived right on schedule—half an hour after everyone else had started work. As soon as he stepped into the lobby, Mr. Someone, wanting to keep their conversation away from the receptionist’s ears, walked up to greet him with a smile: “Hello, I’m Mr. Someone—the one who found your bracelet. Do you remember me?”
“Oh, yes! Hello, how are you? I was expecting you sooner.”
“To be honest…”
Interrupting his subordinate as usual, the boss said, “Let’s save the rest of our talk for my office. I have a few important calls to make first thing.”
Mr. Someone was already missing work hours and would have to account for it later at his job, but knowing that the boss had recognized him made him feel a bit better.
After waiting for about an hour, seeing that no one from work had called him yet, Mr. Someone pulled out his phone and called his office from a quiet spot. Unaccustomed to lying or making excuses, he kept it brief: “An emergency came up, so I’ll be coming in a bit late.” It was clear no one was really waiting on him anyway. He quickly headed back to the receptionist and asked, “Any word from the boss?”
“Actually, he just called, and I reminded him that you’re waiting here.”
“And?”
“He said to head up to his office in about ten minutes.”
“Oh, perfect! Thank you.”
A few minutes later, the receptionist—who had now realized that Mr. Someone wasn’t particularly close with her boss—called out, “You may go up now.”
Mr. Someone walked up to the boss’s office and knocked. As he stood waiting for a response, the boss opened the door himself. He offered a warm smile, shook his hand, and gestured toward the chair in front of his desk before sitting behind it himself.
Feeling a bit nervous, Mr. Someone said, “You mentioned I should come see you about a job.”
“Yes, that’s right. My offer still stands, so no problem on that front.”
As if a giant weight had been lifted off his chest, Mr. Someone blurted out directly: “To be honest, my living expenses have gone way up, and my wife and I can’t keep up anymore.” He essentially wanted to make it clear right away that if the pay wasn’t good, he shouldn’t be counted on.
Unprepared for such a blunt conversation, the boss remarked, “The main thing about the job I have in mind for you isn’t really financial.”
“I don’t follow.”
“The salary for this position is equivalent to the combined income of several low-level employees. But because it’s a sensitive job, I need someone reliable like you.”
Both thrilled and confused, Mr. Someone said, “I’m sorry, but I still don’t quite understand.”
“Your job requires constant travel. You might only be able to visit your family a few days a month—or maybe not at all for long stretches. You need to be okay with that, and your wife and family need to be on board too.”
Not wanting to seem overly eager, Mr. Someone said, “I’ll need to discuss this with my wife.”
Knowing that someone in Mr. Someone’s position and financial state—clearly desperate for a bit more cash—wouldn’t turn down a job like this, the owner narrowed his eyes slightly and said, “Of course, that’s just the official side of it. All the paperwork is taken care of, but your actual job is something else entirely.”
Reluctant to say “I don’t understand” yet again in an interview, Mr. Someone just nodded in agreement and asked, “So, what is my main job then?”
Even though he didn’t really have the luxury to say no—and had basically accepted the job already for its great pay—he waited for an answer.
The boss responded vaguely once again: “You’ll need to carry certain goods for us to wherever we tell you to go.”
Having been thrilled just a moment ago and eager to rush home with the good news for his wife, Mr. Someone was suddenly taken aback. It was obvious that a job paying that kind of money had a catch. On the other hand, his life had reached a complete dead end; he needed this job so badly that he couldn’t even risk asking what he would be transporting or what they were talking about. It could be contraband, drugs, or perhaps just confidential company documents carrying no real risk.
Noticing Mr. Someone’s shock, the boss gave him no time to speak: “My friend, go home, give it some serious thought, and consult your family. Once you’re certain you’re in, let me know. Just know this: there’s no turning back. If you start, you have to stick with it until the end.”
That final sentence made Mr. Someone certain that whatever the boss meant, it definitely wasn’t company paperwork. Just then, the boss’s phone began to ring. He stood up, opened the office door for Mr. Someone, and said, “I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”
Mr. Someone didn’t go to work at all that day. Instead, he headed toward the company where Mrs. Someone worked until late afternoon, his mind racing about how she would react and what he should even say. He felt a simultaneous surge of joy and anxiety—much like chocolate ice cream with a subtle, spicy aftertaste.
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“The mammon-worshipping Korah realized not that health and peace of mind, the true treasures of life, actually reside in contentment.”
