Fun fact 3: Raheem gave the worker 15 dollars to fix the ice cream machine.
HeroDude Kage: Chapter 22
The engine runs softly, fluorescent lights flicker above the drive-thru window. Somewhere inside, the fryer beeps. Workers rush to make orders, and also —thanks to Raheem— rush to fix the ice cream machine. Cars move up behind them.
Raheem looks at Kage once again
"You remember the five things I taught you about life?"
Kage looks back.
"Why you ask?"
Raheem turns his head forward, staring through a window
"EhhYou know, just wanted to make sure you remember. They're some of my best lessons afterall."
Kage shrugs
"Yeah…lesson you didn't tell me in years."
Raheem quickly turns his head to him with a warm smirk.
"Oh? What? You don't remember?"
"Oh naw naw I do!"
Raheem points at his temple
"Alright then…tell me. Cause you know unlike the youth, I have a very poo-poo memory."
Kage smirks
"Sure you do….but alright umm.."
Kage looks up to the ceiling, thinking
"Number one…uhh. Never rely on other people's money?"
Raheem nods, Kage awkwardly nods back. After a few nods, Raheem glances at Kage
"That's it?"
Kage hesitates
"…Is there more to it?"
Raheem sighs
"Why… did I tell you that lesson?"
Kage scratches his head
"Uhhh. Cause relying on someone else to pay your bills are… stupid?"
He pauses to glance at Raheem to make sure he's right and then he continues.
"Actually now that I'm thinking about it, so dang pops, you don't want me to run a business?"
Raheem gestures his hand infront of Kage.
"Ack—you know that's not what I meant. Business relies on people loving what you produce. Money just so happens to come with that love."
Raheem sits up
"But when you build a lifestyle based on what other people owe you? That's no good. What happens when they can't pay? You go broke."
Raheem looks outside the side window.
"That's why I never liked landlords and that type of stuff. Cause you're not making money. You're being handed money by other people who are making money."
Raheem looks back at Kage
"Am I making sense?"
Kage looks back
"Yeah I can understand that."
Raheem nods
"Good. But alright. What's the second lesson. It flows right with the first one."
"Yeah I remember. It was…Uhh. Actually you know what? Let's see if you remember! How about that?"
Raheem instantly sees through Kage.
"You don't remember."
"Yeah no I don't"
Raheem sighs…again
"Be happy with how you earn your money."
"Isn't that…kinda the same thing? As the first one?"
Raheem shakes his head
"Noo, pitit mwen. Anyone can earn money. But what matters is if you're happy with how you're getting it."
"uh huh."
Raheem continues.
"There's many people out there that are making millions but are not living the dream. You know why?"
"Why?"
"Cause they never found their dream. You see son people say money can't pay happiness. That's…too broad these days. A better way to say it is. Money can't afford what is meant to last forever."
Kage tilts his head
"A little wordy but go on."
Raheem continues.
"The ultimate goal in everyone's life is to be happy. You can buy cars. Buy video games. Buy a house. But all of that will only give you a temporary joy. You know what will? Marriage…after like 5 years. Your passion job. Being around people you love."
While he's listening, Kage looks outside the window to see if they finished up their food yet.
Raheem continues on speaking
"These are things that make happiness eternal. Something that is a requirement to live life like money and da vroom vroom won't give you that."
Kage slowly looks back
"Yeah I get that…it's pretty much telling me to get a wife."
Raheem was quick to respond.
"And that leads right into the third lesson! Let's see if you remember this one."
Kage scratches his chin.
"Uhhhhh. Provide and care for your women? was that it?"
Raheem shakes his head in approval
"Yes son. I knew you'd fluently remember something."
"Yeah. It's a pretty straight forward message. And it's a message that I remember cause you said something about me being tall and handsome cause of you blah blah blah and basically saying that my personality should look as good as me or whatever. Right?"
Raheem tilts his head
"Mmm. That's probably the best imma get outta you so I'll take it. But alright. Next one."
Kage responds almost instantly.
"Never live for approval. It was one of the last things you taught me. You said that as I get older, I gotta start doing things for myself and not for the approval of you or mom. Because there will be a time where I gotta make my own choices and choose what's best for me and my life.
Raheem nods proudly
"Couldn't have said it better myself! You know why that was the last lesson I taught you?
Kage raises a brow
"Mm?"
"It was because if I had told you when you was young and when I was still holding your hand. It wouldn't matter much. Cause with elementary school, middle school and early high school, it's all about how you can avoid a whooping. Not how does it benefit you."
Kage cuts in.
"Then you must have been teaching me that lesson without saying it cause we never whooped me."
Raheem raises his hands up.
"Never had a reason to"
Kage smirks
"Yeah…you know a lot of kids in my old school called me spoiled cause of that"
"Well maybe that means being a good kid makes you spoiled these days. It's not your fault you weren't jumping on the bed…. Expect for maybe two or three times. But you was what? Seven? What do I look like whooping a seven year old?
They both share a laugh…and then it was quiet. Raheem looks up.
"There is… one more lesson I taught you. Respect. And understand others. Now don't get me wrong. When you gotta beat someone up, you beat them up but… Try to be understanding first… You never know what the person is going through at the end of the day."
"So you gotta try to understand how people are feeling. No matter if it's a harsh driver honking, someone who accidentally shoved you out the way. Someone who's yelling. Or even if….it's a group of people booing you.
Kage eyes widen, but then go back to normal.
"I figured you knew, pops…"
A fast food worker opens up their window with the food in their hand. Kage looks and rolls his window down.
"Food's ready"
Kage grabs the food
"Thanks have a good one!"
The worker nods
"My pleasure"
Kage rolls up the window. Raheem looks at Kage.
"I think you're supposed to just say thank you"
"Pops you know I'm too nice for that"
End of chapter
Bonus Scene 4:
The cashier is adding up the total for the order
"Alright. Total is 23.41. Cash or card?"
Kage looks at Raheem. Raheem looks back as his eyes rolls side to side.
"Ack-what happened to saving your money?"
Kage scratches his head.
"Uhhh inflation?"
"Mhm. When did you ever had to worry about inflation?"