Read Online The Way It Works by William Kowalski - Free Book Online
Authors: William Kowalski
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called the Barrio Kings. I did some things Iâm not proud of now. Like I said, I had to survive. I used to be the best street fighter around. I didnât like fighting. But I had no choice. I pretended to like it though. I used to smile. That scared people even more. And when youâre scared, you lose. Most fights are won before they start. You win them in your head, before you even throw a single punch.
I was just lucky that I was good at fighting, the way some people are just good at music or art. Sometimes I wonder if I should have been a boxer. But I always used to get this sick feeling in my stomach after I hit someone. It stayed with me. I donât miss that feeling. Itâs been a long time since I was in a fight. I hope Iâm never in another one.
Things are different now. Iâve had this job for three years. Iâve stayed out of trouble. I donât go back to the old barrio anymore. I donât even miss it. Now I work from nine to five. After work, three days a week, I take the crosstown bus to the community college. Thatâs where I take my night courses. Iâm almost done with them. In just three weeks, Iâm going to finish my high-school studies. Then Iâll be the first person in my family to have a diploma too.
After class, I take another bus home. I live with my girlfriend, Connie. Sheâs twenty. Weâve been together for two years. Weâre going to have a baby in a month. We already know itâs a boy. Weâre going to name him Emilio. We have a crib all set up for him. We have a bunch of toys and clothes too. Connieâs Aunt Carlita gave them to us. She has eight kids, so she has a lot of extra stuff.
By the time I get home after class, Iâm wiped. But Connie has not been feeling too good lately, so usually I make dinner. I canât believe how big she is. Her feet hurt all the time. So do her hips and knees. I feel bad for her, but thereâs nothing I can do. And Emilio is almost here. I canât believe Iâm going to be a dad.
Mr. Enwright told me that when I get that promotion, I will have to work longer hours, but Iâll make more money. I canât wait. I have a plan. Iâm going to save up money, and Iâm going back to school. College this time. Iâll take some business courses. I figure by the time Emilio is five, I can be a manager, and I will make even more money. That would put me on the same level as Mr. Enwright. I think Emilio will be proud to know his dad is a boss.
But Iâm not stopping there. I want a business of my own. I donât know what kind yet. All I know is, I can see it in my head. Just like I used to see myself winning street fights. I can see myself in a three-piece suit. Iâm not sitting in an office though. Who wants to sit still all day? Not me. I like to move around, talk to people, shake hands, make deals. I see myself in an airplane. Iâm speaking different languages with people in other countries. Maybe Iâll be selling things. Maybe Iâll be setting up deals. Whatever it is, Iâll be good at it. And I will make a lot of money.
But right now I need to come back down to earth. Mr. Enwright doesnât like it when people slack off. Not that I ever do. I just donât want to give him a reason to get mad at me. Not when everything is going so well.
Today is Thursday. That means I have class tonight. I hate riding that bus, but I canât afford a car right now. Cars are really expensive. You have your monthly payments, your insurance, your gas and repair costs. All that stuff adds up quick. And every penny I spend on a car means one penny less in the bank.
It doesnât matter about the bus. I donât mind. I do dream about a car though. I know just what kind I want. Not a low-rider, like Iâm some kind of punk. I want a serious car. I want a black Lexus suv with a leather interior and tinted windows. I want people to look at that car and
I was just lucky that I was good at fighting, the way some people are just good at music or art. Sometimes I wonder if I should have been a boxer. But I always used to get this sick feeling in my stomach after I hit someone. It stayed with me. I donât miss that feeling. Itâs been a long time since I was in a fight. I hope Iâm never in another one.
Things are different now. Iâve had this job for three years. Iâve stayed out of trouble. I donât go back to the old barrio anymore. I donât even miss it. Now I work from nine to five. After work, three days a week, I take the crosstown bus to the community college. Thatâs where I take my night courses. Iâm almost done with them. In just three weeks, Iâm going to finish my high-school studies. Then Iâll be the first person in my family to have a diploma too.
After class, I take another bus home. I live with my girlfriend, Connie. Sheâs twenty. Weâve been together for two years. Weâre going to have a baby in a month. We already know itâs a boy. Weâre going to name him Emilio. We have a crib all set up for him. We have a bunch of toys and clothes too. Connieâs Aunt Carlita gave them to us. She has eight kids, so she has a lot of extra stuff.
By the time I get home after class, Iâm wiped. But Connie has not been feeling too good lately, so usually I make dinner. I canât believe how big she is. Her feet hurt all the time. So do her hips and knees. I feel bad for her, but thereâs nothing I can do. And Emilio is almost here. I canât believe Iâm going to be a dad.
Mr. Enwright told me that when I get that promotion, I will have to work longer hours, but Iâll make more money. I canât wait. I have a plan. Iâm going to save up money, and Iâm going back to school. College this time. Iâll take some business courses. I figure by the time Emilio is five, I can be a manager, and I will make even more money. That would put me on the same level as Mr. Enwright. I think Emilio will be proud to know his dad is a boss.
But Iâm not stopping there. I want a business of my own. I donât know what kind yet. All I know is, I can see it in my head. Just like I used to see myself winning street fights. I can see myself in a three-piece suit. Iâm not sitting in an office though. Who wants to sit still all day? Not me. I like to move around, talk to people, shake hands, make deals. I see myself in an airplane. Iâm speaking different languages with people in other countries. Maybe Iâll be selling things. Maybe Iâll be setting up deals. Whatever it is, Iâll be good at it. And I will make a lot of money.
But right now I need to come back down to earth. Mr. Enwright doesnât like it when people slack off. Not that I ever do. I just donât want to give him a reason to get mad at me. Not when everything is going so well.
Today is Thursday. That means I have class tonight. I hate riding that bus, but I canât afford a car right now. Cars are really expensive. You have your monthly payments, your insurance, your gas and repair costs. All that stuff adds up quick. And every penny I spend on a car means one penny less in the bank.
It doesnât matter about the bus. I donât mind. I do dream about a car though. I know just what kind I want. Not a low-rider, like Iâm some kind of punk. I want a serious car. I want a black Lexus suv with a leather interior and tinted windows. I want people to look at that car and
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