The Joker

Smile

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WOBBLING LEGS still helped him to reach their dilapidated home after the scene he had encountered moments ago. Jack leaned on the nearby wall of the building and when he was about stepping onto the stairs, fat woman with her hair thrown on curls towered over him with her most twisted face in annoyance.

Jack's tired eyes widened as he gasped. "Mrs.-"

"What now, Jack?!" she yelled, placing her hands on her waist. "The payment of your rent?!"

All of a sudden he caught his forehead, squeezing shut his eyes. Yes, he forgot the deadline was supposed on that day.

"Can we- can I extend until the end of the month? Three guys blocked my way here and robbed me. . ." His voice trailed off, showing more distressful expressions.

Rising a brow, she eyed the poor one from head to toe and pulled out a deep air. "If it wasn't your pregnant wife, you're sleeping in the street."

After that, the owner left him standing who gawked at her. Jack plumped on the series of stairs and exhaled an air to at least calm himself. Looking at the dark firmament, he then realized that the cloudburst had already stopped. Now, his head began pounding. If only he was rich, they wouldn't suffer that much.

Jack reached their unit in third floor and when he pulled the door open, a simple woman who already offered him her smile made his chest compress in guilt. Lowering his head, he stepped toward her and left flicks on her forehead.

"You're soaking wet, Jack," she said with hands damping against his suit.

"I'm fine, Jeannie," he replied when he took his seat before her. On the wooden table, there was a small pot with hot liquid. Few vegetables and spices were mixed to form a stew.

The woman stood up. "I'll get you new clothes."

Jack's fallen face were propped on his hands as he gawked at the meal his wife had prepared. The spice swirled, making his nose crinkle. He had left her without almost nothing to cook, and the money he supposed to give her to budget was all gone and probably benefited those bastards. Poor Jeannie, he married a loser man- who couldn't support her and their unborn still child.

"What happened, honey?" he asked when she got back with towel and clothes; worries were marked in her face.

"I'm sorry, Jeannie," he replied, not even looking at her but to the stew. "I'm supposed to give you money. . . I'm failed of finding a job and the worst thing was, I was robbed by three men on my way-"

"Did they hurt you?!" Jeannie fled toward her husband and took captive of his face. She gazed upon him, a look in her eyes that always ceased his breath. It had pure care and love, the way she blinked, suddenly, all his nervosity faded away.