Thirty minutes later, Theron and Alicia had already crossed the stone and metal bridge and were now walking along the side of the main road.
Even at night the vehicles zoomed past them as the lighting poles at the sides were lit. They were illuminating the road, providing the drivers with enough light to see around them as if it was daytime instead. Theron was supposed to take this chance when he would be walking next to the poles to examine them better, but plans change; he had other things in his mind, and not just him.
Passing or circumventing through the sea of people walking on the sidewalk with them, the duo of mother and son were deep in their thoughts, both thinking about the same topic but by different views.
In the case of Theron, when thinking about earlier when he involuntarily agreed to become the shop assistant, he still couldn't believe it! And it wasn't as if he didn't want the opportunity to be in the blacksmith workshop and eventually learn the trade. Far from it - he really wanted it!
It was just that he was too immersed in the blacksmith's precise movements when he was forging and awed with the hammer striking from above at the hot metal giving it form with each of its strikes, to have the state of mind and time to consider the offer for the job.
The resonating melody produced from the impact of metal against metal, which was still fresh in his mind, had also resonated with his soul and felt it penetrate his skin, flesh and bloodstream, making his blood boil and his very cells shaking.
It could be said that his instinct and engineer's genes were the ones that made the decision for him and not him directly.
Either way, as for who or what has truly made the decision didn't really matter in the end, as long as something made it! And Theron was grateful for it.
Starting tomorrow, he would be working in a blacksmith workshop, where the ancient and extinct - in his past world - profession of blacksmithing and forging was alive and performed by an expert.
He would analyze every move, every stance and every striking method he would witness. When the appropriate time comes, he could request lessons from the bearded blacksmith, or better, for permission to use the forging room himself, in order to learn the profession.
Even as it came as a surprise to have such an opportunity fall to his lap, he welcomed it with open arms.
The only thing he was worried about was Alicia changing her mind when she had already given her approval for him to work, or for Frank to forbid him to go after he hears about it.... but if Alicia will still be ok with it, Frank's opinion doesn't really matter as it won't last long.
On the other hand - or mind - next to him, Alicia was holding his hand as they walked home, her thoughts a swirling vortex with their twists and turns.
Thirty minutes earlier, she was about to "crack" that salesperson open and get the real prices of the things she wanted to buy for Theron out of his mouth, for she thought he was deceiving her. But she was interrupted!
A topless and sweaty middle-aged man with a messy beard walked out of the opened door behind the counter, surprising her. The short interruption was all that was needed for the salesperson to escape her clutches and recover his calm.
Alicia knew right then that all the effort she had put into "cracking" him went down the grain. But for the benefit of her son, she was willing to try again.
She was about to greet the newcomer and gain control over the upcoming conversation's flow, but the unkempt man spoke first, taking the chance for creating the following conversation right under her nose and shocking her at the same time with what he uttered next.
Her four-year-old son was offered a job! How was that possible?!
Her son was a genius of course and she knew it better than anyone. That heaven-sent gift of supreme intelligence also made him, along with his mannerisms and behavior, seem more mature than what his actual age would suggest, and that made her proud having that capable looking and responsible son.
But to seem so mature, an adult offered him a job?! What kind of world did she live in?
But then again, her son was a genius and a young man on the rise! With that fact she reminded herself, it made absolute sense to for her son to be offered a job.
And as a shop assistant? Her son would have that job mastered in no time if he accepted it, not that he would, right?
And then, he accepted it! WHAT?! How can her little Teri accept a job, just like that?!
He seemed confident, that's why. The gleam in his eyes spoke volumes on how much he was interested in and needed that job.
But why would he need a job, as a four-year-old kid? What could he possibly want actually?
Thinking back fifteen minutes from that baffling situation, when they were in front of that general goods store.... When she couldn't afford that leather tool case and her emotions for letting her son down got the better of her, he had calmed her down and specifically said he didn't need it, and she and Frank didn't have to buy it for him.
But his interest in it at the time was genuine, a mother knows those things, she couldn't be wrong. So, did that meant that he in fact had truly wanted it, but not in need of them to buy it, and that instead he was planning to buy it himself?
W-WHAT?! What a thoughtful and independent son she has!
Such filial piety! Such strength of will and mind!
She was moved beyond belief. Her son was willing to earn the money himself so as to not burden them; that's why he accepted the job offer.
In her emotional maelstrom, her son and the bearded man had quickly spoken and agreed on the working hours, days and pay. Before she knew it and processed it completely, her son had guided her out of the workshop and on the way back home.
By the time they arrived and got inside, Alicia was fully supportive of her son accepting the job. That was what he wanted to do and was interested in. Of course she wouldn't become an obstacle to that!
She would also not get into her son's way of thinking of and showing care for them.
As an added bonus too, her little Teri will learn many things in that job, being those finances, shop management or people skills. All were important to hone him as the future success she envisioned him to be.
The only obstacle her son would possibly have in attending his new job, she will take care of with extreme prejudice and a stare full of threats and warnings for eminent pain.