Rich

            Richard Davis, Rich for short, was a white, mild, middle-aged man. He lived in his childhood neighborhood, Rogers Park. Rich’s favorite place to eat was Patio Beef, where he got the same, two hotdogs and a drink for four dollars every Tuesday and Thursday at approximately 12:45 PM. He jogged the same route every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, going from his house on Arthur and Greenview to Senn Park, where he used to love playing on the stationary red train cars as a child.

            It was 12:30 on a Thursday and Rich was in line at Patio Beef. “Ah Rich! Good to see ya. The usual?” asked Jerry, Patio Beef’s owner who Rich had become close with.

            “That’d be great Jerry,” said Rich flatly.

            Rich walked over to the corner of the restaurant to his usual spot.

            “Two teenagers shot! A wave of violence spreading across the city!” screamed the television. 

            “How terrible,” said the man across from Rich, “There must be at least three stories just like this every week.”

            The man was old. His eyes were soft and surrounded by wrinkles stretching across his whole face. He wore a gray jacket with three buttons in the front. He wore relaxed khakis that covered the tops of his large brown boots. He had an expressionless face except for the light in his eyes that made it always seem like he was smiling.

            “Everything seems darker these days,” replied Rich grimly.

            “Rich!” shouted Jerry, calling him to get his food.

            Rich grabbed his hotdogs from Jerry and got out his four dollars. Rich handed him the four dollars but before Jerry grabbed it, he noticed the slim tan line on Rich’s fourth finger on his left hand. 

            “This one’s on me, Rich,” said Jerry.

            “Thanks, Jer.”

            Rich walked back to his table and the TV was still blaring.

            “13 year old boy saves 4 people from burning building! Teenager proclaimed a hero!” roared the television.

            “The news needs to cover more stories like this. Ones that don’t ruin my day when I hear them,” said the old man.

            “There just aren’t as many happy stories as there are sad ones,” Rich said grimly.

            “That’s not true, just today people focus more on the ugliness in this world than the beautiful. All it takes is a change of perspective.”
            Rich thought about what he had just said while eating his first hot dog. He took the last bite, took a drink of his Pepsi, and asked, “How do you know? How are things beautiful? Life is just made up of 10-minute happy moments with hours of dullness and despair to fill in the rest of the time. The question is if the happy moments are worth it.”

            The old man’s eyes wrinkled even more as smiled at Rich. He thought for a minute then responded, “I’ve had my fair share of both of the good feelings and the bad feelings. I’ve been anxious, scared, confused, and annoyed but I have also been joyful, fascinated, amazed and invigorated.  Every single one of those emotions is part of the human experience that you and I are so lucky to be a part of. You were lucky enough to be given the gift of life, so you might as well experience it all, the lows and the highs. Take it from me because I’ve been through it all, there will always something better to come.”

            Rich finished his second hotdog, went to take a drink of his Pepsi, but it was all gone. “Thank you,” said Rich, ”What’s your name?”

“I’m Richard, Rich for short.”
            Rich laughed, “Nice to meet you Rich, I’m Rich as well.” Rich got up and threw away his trash. He walked towards the door to leave, but looked back before stepping out. The old man’s eyes wrinkled again as he gave him a charming smile. Rich turned and stepped outside. The air entering his lungs invigorated him instead of it feeling like a burden as usual. Colors seemed more vibrant, noises were less annoying and Rich felt the corners of his lips rise into a smile and he felt the corners of his eyes wrinkle.  He had gained a change in perspective.