Lee stepped out of the dimly lit and smoke filled pub into the cold misty night. Though it was Saturday he had had to work all day at the diner down the street due to staff shortages. He had arrived a month earlier from China to study medicine and worked part time to cover tuition fees. It was working out well but there were days he had double shifts though he didn’t mind it as it meant more cash in hand with which he could also help his young sister and parents back home. He was finishing his shift when he heard his co-workers yell out to him “Just pack it in Lee and meet us at the pub.” Earlier that evening there had been an incident at the diner where some raucous bikers had barged in. One of the bikers had been abusive towards Lee as he had tried to make himself understood. “Why do people like you even come here; you can’t speak our language, you take our jobs” ranted Danny Boy, leader of Road Runners biker gang. It had concluded or so Lee thought with threats and racial slurs but he took it on the chin as he had been warned about the gang and their antics.
Lee locked up the diner and walked towards the pub. The gang members hung out both at the bar and around the pool table. He overheard a conversation about Asians taking over local businesses and buying land causing prices to soar. Lee’s friends urged him to ignore them and enjoy his evening. He decided to leave early anyway and had had only one drink as he was concerned that he might be stopped by the usual Saturday night booze bus parked down the street.
Danny Boy sipped his beer still mumbling to a fellow gang member when he saw Lee leaving. Lee headed towards the carpark. Being a multifaceted young lad who did odd jobs fixing plumbing and electrical faults on weekends, he had purchased a second hand utility truck from the local car dealer a week earlier. Danny Boy pushed his beer aside “there goes that little China man” he yelled out as he stood up, his large frame and tattooed arms looking imposing. By the sound of heavy boots behind him Lee could sense who it was and prepared himself for the inevitable. He had reached his truck and knew what was coming next; he had to act swiftly. Danny Boy sneaked up from behind and was about to wrap his belt around Lee’s neck when Lee pulled out a large spanner from the back of his truck and swung it across Danny’s forehead. The burly man slumped to the ground with a sickening thud, a steady stream of blood trickled down his face through his greying beard and onto the cold gravel. Lee checked his pulse, there was nothing!
By now the rest of the party were making their way to the carpark and would soon witness the horror of what had taken place. Lee panicked; he knew he had to escape. He sprinted towards the dog park nearby and disappeared into the night. The cold was unforgiving as Lee made his way toward the darkened gazebo where a homeless man and his dog were laying huddled on a tattered blanket. “You can share some of this blanket if you like” said a voice from the shadows. “Thanks I’m Lee”. “Oh I’m Sammy by the way and this is Fifi my only companion. Since my ex- wife didn’t want her when we divorced, we left our home and took to the road about six months ago. I’m a travelling salesman, but things have been a bit rough since I was robbed of all my robot vacuums by a gang of bikers. But I hope to get back up one day and make something of my life”. “What’s your story ?” In that moment Lee realized that his dreams had been shattered. His family would be devastated. He had reacted in a moment of temporary insanity borne out of that innate human instinct for one’s survival; he had taken the life of another human and ironically had chosen to study medicine and dedicate himself to saving lives. “Well, Lee responded, “I’ve run into a bit of trouble and need to sort myself out”. “Let’s get some sleep and see what tomorrow brings”. said Sammy.
The carpark where Danny Boy’s lifeless body lay , was filled with people including his mates who were huddled together incredulous about how this heinous crime had taken place. The police were carrying out inquiries questioning the members of the Road Runners who were visibly upset. The night’s low temperature had produced a thin layer of fresh snow and footprints caught the eye of one of the detectives. He knew in an instant that he was onto something and decided to follow the trail which reached the gazebo. He shone his flashlight and yelled out “can anyone tell me what happened in that carpark, a man is dead and there seems to be a trail leading to this place”. Lee jumped up from his slumber, “I can tell you what happened officer” he nervously replied. He was handcuffed and bundled into the police car.
Lee was now incarcerated. His body shook uncontrollably as he knew he had to face punishment for his crime. He was afforded legal aid by the state and the date of his trial was set. As he entered the courtroom handcuffed and in prison attire, he heard a familiar voice cry out, “My son, what have you done, what have you done”. It was his mother, her head buried in her worn out hands, sitting beside his father looking utterly broken and bemused. Lee’s lawyer gave his opening statement to the jury. He then proceeded “I’d like to call in my first witness your Honor”. Lee looked towards the witness box and saw Sammy walk in. Lee was taken aback and confused. “Mr. Walker, could you please tell us what you witnessed on that fateful night“ asked Lee’s lawyer. Sammy replied “Well, I was in the carpark that night, there was very little light so I could not recognize anyone. All I saw was a heavily built man pull out his belt to strangle a man much smaller than him, in fact, I would describe it as a David and Goliath situation” he quipped. ” It all happened so quickly and I saw the smaller man strike the victim . I didn’t hang around and took off immediately”. “Thank you, that is all” said his lawyer. The jury deliberated and found that Lee had acted in self-defence and the judge ruled that it was a case of justifiable homicide to the relief of his family and Lee was free to go.
Today, Lee has opened his own successful medical practice and has sponsored his parents and sister who help him at the clinic. Oh! and he has found Sammy a lucrative job as a medical device sales representative. They catch up on weekends to go fishing with Fifi in tow and have forged an unbreakable bond.
As for Danny Boy, he lies peacefully on a hilltop somewhere. If only he had known how to love his neighbor no matter which race or color, he would be with his mates, riding into the sunset.
The immigrant dream is to leave one’s country to move to greener pastures and make a decent life for one’s self. The journey to get to that point is never an easy road. Danny Boy’s misguided notions to kill Lee and those dreams ultimately led to his own demise instead. But from tragedy can immerge triumph. Sammy, without hesitation, rescued Lee from a life lost in confinement, and the favour returned by rewarding Sammy with his own second chance at life. A complete stranger helping another.
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