No Caller ID

      Dinner was dismal once again; consisting of thin, reconstituted noodles bathing in a pool of monosodium glutamate. I twirled the yellow noodles around my fork, thoughtlessly, having eaten this same, exact meal for the past 365 days in a row. Although I was disgusted by my current lifestyle, it was a reality that had to be accepted. This was the best I could do to provide for myself given the circumstances.

A sudden and unfamiliar ring coming from my cellphone awakened me from my thoughts. The chances of me receiving a phone call were unusual and occurred once in a blue moon. However, I honestly preferred it that way as I was on a pay-by-the-minute phone plan. Glancing down at my phone screen, “Private” was the only word that showed up regarding the caller. I debated whether picking up the call would be worth the 60 cents it would cost, but my curiosity had already been peaked. I pressed the talk button and was greeted by a deep, but monotone voice.

“Listen up as I’ll only repeat this once. I have a one-time job for you that pays $1000. Yes or no? Spoke the voice from my phone.

I was convinced that this must be a scam or involved a perilous activity. My mind told me to hang up immediately. However, I was in a financial predicament where $1000 would benefit me greatly.

With a shaky voice, I whispered out a brief “Yes.”

After my response, the voice spoke once more, before ending the call abruptly.

“7am tomorrow on the dot. Be at Rob’s corner store, that lil’ place in the central plaza. You’re there to pick up some legumes. After you fulfill the delivery, I’ll e-transfer you the money using your phone number.”

It was a strange request and the task seemed too simple for the absurd amount of money in exchange. Was I a fool for picking up the call? I pushed the nagging feeling towards the back of my head and decided to focus on the positives.

The $1000 would be a chance for me to take a break and enjoy life for once. Balancing two jobs while attending university was difficult, but it had become a part of my lifestyle after turning 18 and leaving the foster-care system. The world wasn’t fair, if it was, I would’ve been born in a loving family with supportive parents. Instead, I had been an orphan since birth with no recollection of my parents except for a single, black and white photo which I kept in my wallet. I often pondered at the thought of why my parents would leave me, but the possibilities always left me with feelings of resentment.

I decided to sleep early to prepare myself for the long day ahead of me tomorrow. Whether it was out of luck, coincidence or merely a scam that the mysterious phone call came, there was nothing for me to lose in accepting the job. I desperately needed money, and the chance to be able to afford a proper meal gave me an incentive. Laying down on my make-shift bed of a pile of blankets overtop of the floor, I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

After I woke up, I left the house at 6:30am, determined to successfully complete my task. The 25-minute walk to the plaza was refreshing and leisurely, knowing that I wouldn’t need to worry about finances for awhile after this. Once I arrived, it took me a couple of minutes to spot Rob’s corner store, a small and dodgy looking place from the outside. The interior wasn’t much better either, with dirty floors, and the scent of tobacco lingering in the air. At the register, there was an old, German man with a bald head and large beer-belly, whom I presumed to be Rob.

“Hi, I’m here to pick up the legumes.” I stated; trying my best to sound confident, though I couldn’t have been more nervous on the inside.

“Young girl with brown hair. Fits description.” He muttered in a slight accent, approvingly.

He disappeared into the back of the store and came out several minutes later, with a small, brown box.

“Address here.” He said while pointing to a line of words on the box. Rob shoved the parcel in my direction then started shooing me away to leave the store.

I felt relieved, as the encounter had gone smoother than I hoped. The final step was to deliver the box and then I would be richer than I had ever been in my lifetime.

I arrived on the porch of a modern-looking home and set the package down. Let’s just ding-dong and ditch it, I thought as I rang the doorbell. After pressing the button twice, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me to my classes.

Everything was now finished, and I was still alive, just waiting to receive my payment. Wishing to forget the ominous phone call and events from the morning, I put all my effort into focusing on my classes that day.

It was almost dinner time when my phone vibrated with a notification. It came from a text message telling me to deposit an e-transfer for $1000. Relieved it wasn’t a scan, I decided to celebrate by eating out at a restaurant for the first time in my life.

I walked into a ramen restaurant, wanting to try authentic ramen with freshly made noodles and toppings; a large difference from my usual plain, brick-shaped instant noodles. The atmosphere of the shop was cozy and warm, unlike the lonely confines of my room. It was well decorated with blooming plants, as well as a live television. While waiting for my meal to be prepared, I paid attention to the news playing on the TV.

“BREAKING NEWS – 40-year old man found dead inside his home today.” Flashed a banner on the screen.

“Due to a severe peanut allergy, a man has died from anaphylactic shock. He was found dead, laying next to a box full of chocolate-bar samples and a half-eaten morsel of peanut-butter infused chocolate. Legume allergies are one of the most-common food allergies in the world so please be aware when trying new products and sharing them with others…” The news reporter announced.

Triggered by the familiarity of the word legume, I was launched into a state of bewilderment and denial. I had unfathomably played a role in someone’s murder. A picture of the victim was then displayed on the television screen. He resembled the man in my wallet and had curly brown hair, the same shade as my own. Due to my actions, the man who left me had now left the world.