Blog #3 - Hail Storm

After checking the weather and seeing rain forecasted for the next few days, Joseph decided to head out for a walk through Yelsnag park and enjoy the outdoors before being cooped up inside for who knew how long. While strolling through the maze of old worn out trails that weave through the park, Joseph passed by Eliana, a woman a bit older than him that he had come to know just through small interactions around town.

“Hey Joseph,” Eliana called out cheerfully.”

“Hey Eliana, getting a last walk in before the storm hits too?” Joseph asked.

“Yeah, looks like it’s gonna be a big one, last time there was a storm this big a tree fell through a house not too far from my parents’, I sure hope nothing like that happens this time.” Eliana said. “By the way, don’t you think the town ought to fix up Yelsnag a little?”

“I mean sure, everyone’s always spending time here and the trails look like they haven’t been worked on in a century,” Joseph said. “Maybe I’ll come out here when I have a little time and try to fix it up a little.”

Before they could continue, hail started pouring down from above. Joseph and Eliana spotted Mr. Po sleeping on a nearby bench, grabbed him, and ran to safety.

“Mr. Po,” Joseph yelled, “what were you doing sleeping out there? It’s hailing!’

“Oh, I must have dozed off on my walk,” Po responded. “I didn’t see hail in the forecast.”

“Well at least you’re alright,” Joseph said. “I guess the storm came early.”

After a few minutes of waiting, the hail continued to pound on the roof of the abandoned night guard office, and the three were were realized they would have to wait it out together. Pondering his thoughts and eager to pass the time, Joseph decided to ask Mr. Po a few questions.

“When did you come to America again Mr. Po?” Joseph asked.

“Not too long ago,” Po responded, “I made the trip on my sixtieth birthday, I’m almost 83, so almost 23 years ago I guess.”

“That’s a long time Mr. Po.” Joseph said. “Do you ever miss your family?”

“Dearly.” Po said solemnly. “They’re what I miss most about home.”

“Don’t you ever write back?” Joseph asked.

“Well, it’s complicated you see, I wish I could explain, but you’ll understand one day.” Po responded.

Blog #2 - Mr. Po

The day started with Joseph yet again rolling out of bed and heading to work at Jumping Beans. On his way out, he stopped by Mr. Po's apartment to check in on him. Mr. Po always looked out for Joseph, so as he aged Joseph tried to return the favor and check up on the old man every once in a while. 

"Oh hello Joe, didn't expect to see you today" the Mr. Po said. "Care for some tea?"

"No thanks," Joe responded, "I don't want to be late for work. Anything you need me to pick up for you while I'm out?"

“Maybe just grab some milk on your way back.” The old man said.

“Alright then Mr. Po, catch you later.” Joseph said as he walked out of Mr. Po’s cluttered apartment. 

Joseph then walked out of the building and biked down to Jumping Bean. While he was at work, he thought about how lucky he was to have Mr. Po in his life. When he first moved to Pointe Place at 18 years old, Joseph was young and naive, but Mr. Po always came by his apartment to make sure he was doing ok, often coming with a bowl of noodles or a cup of tea for Joseph to enjoy. He never really thought much of Mr. Po’s kind gestures, but now that Mr. Po was getting older and Joseph had settled into his life at Pointe Place, he thought it was only right to check in on the old man every once in a while.

On his way back from work, Joseph stopped by Stevie’s to grab a carton of milk and some licorice, Mr. Po’s favorite candy, and headed back to Pointe Place. When he got home, Joseph brought the milk and licorice over to Mr. Po’s apartment. 

“Oh thank you Joseph, I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Mr. Po said as Joseph walked into the living room. 

“Don’t worry about it,” Joseph responded, “It’s the least I can do.”

“Well thank you.” Mr. Po said. 

“No problem Mr. Po, let me know if you need anything else, you have my phone number.” Joseph said, and headed back to his place for the night. 

Blog #1 - Coffee Shop

Today started as most days did for Joseph. He rolled out of his creaky twin bed at 6 AM and stretched his sore joints as he got ready for another day of work at Jumping Beans, the local coffee shop. After taking a quick shower and throwing on an old t-shirt and some tattered jeans, Joseph grabbed his bike and boarded the elevator to head to work. This morning there was, however, one exception to his usual routine. As Joseph exited the elevator on the ground floor, he overheard a hushed Coco telling George something about a dead man in the parking deck. Despite his curiosity about what had happened, Joseph usually tried to keep out of others’ business, and here would be no different, so he continued moving and opened the front door of the building to face the cool fall breeze.

After a short bike ride through the town, this time without any flat tires, Joseph arrived at Jumping Beans. Working there wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great, as were most things in life for Joseph. He enjoyed the smell of fresh ground coffee and the quiet jazz that played softly in the background while the usual customers flipped through newspapers and sipped their coffee each morning. While he found these parts of the coffee shop quite pleasant, working there was again part of a routine that just seemed a little too ordinary to Joseph. With every day spent serving hot drinks and pastries, Joseph felt as if he was missing out on something bigger and more meaningful. Regardless, he had a job and was getting by alright, something by this town’s standards that was nothing to complain about.

The coffee shop was never too busy so Joseph often found himself deep in thought pondering anything from his plans for the afternoon to deep philosophical questions, only to be interrupted by a customer eager for their daily caffeine fix. After overhearing Coco and George in the lobby this morning, Joseph couldn’t help but let his mind wonder about what happened in the parking deck last night. He hadn’t heard anything unusual. Or at least not that he could remember, and the mystery of the dead man nagged at his imagination throughout the entire shift.

After work, Joseph went for quick ride through Yelsnag park before returning to Pointe Place. When he finally arrived, he made a quick pass through the parking deck to see if he could find out anything about the dead man, but found only some yellow police tape and nothing else. He then rode the elevator back up to his apartment and told himself, “I’ll find out more tomorrow.”