It’s now the 4th day into my farming adventure. I did not get out of bed to go up another tree. I couldn’t help but notice there was a lot of commotion round about the place. I decided to get up if for nothing else then to see what was happening.
To summarize; an older man, a Punjabi gentleman also did not get out of bed to go to the trees this morning. It would seem it wasn’t by choice though. The coroner had just arrived in the community to collect him; not an all together unfamiliar scene here apparently, at least according to the talk I was catching.
His personal belongings were soon collected by some authoritative figure at the camp. This man had lived in a different ‘residence’ than I, so I didn’t actually see everything but of course word travelled fast and I was amazed when I heard about this man’s stash.
A wooden box had been retrieved from under his bed. Apparently the elder man was indeed old fashioned and having no use for modern ways, never used a bank. There must’ve been years of cash, his pay I guess, stuffed neatly away in that box.
I remember hoping the right thing would be done and the money sent off to his next of kin, if indeed they could be found. I was 22 years of age and I knew full-well that I didn’t want to leave this farm like that so …
Escape from the farm! I found the guys I’d came in with and thanked them for helping me get this job. I confessed I was not cut out for this and it was my time to leave; must return to my original path, the one in the city.
They offered to drive me to the Greyhound bus station and gratefully I accepted the lift. It was nice to have a few dollars in my pocket: I bought a ticket and was on my way.
Lalit offered a cheerful smile when I walked into his front door of the hotel. It also felt good to pay my rent 2 weeks (total of $14) in advance.
A nice hot shower was in order and that night I slept very well in my own space.
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