It wasn't the best job in the nation, but it was still a good job. Cliff would seldom expect to lift heavy boxes and drive forklifts for the rest of his life, but seeing as how discomfort never found a place in this particular environment, he never complained about his limited opportunities in the job market. The robust thirty-four-year-old man had spent the past several years working in the industrial district of Los Angeles. Everything seemed to work in his favor: good benefits, flexible schedule, and competent employees including himself.
The lack of air conditioning in the entire warehouse would have to be the only thing that bothered him. When early August kicked in, high temperatures would demonstrate its abundance all around Southern California, resulting in humidity more excessive than before. Cliff would have to work inside the building with nothing but the heat being content with its fierce determination. In spite of the drawbacks of Mediterranean weather, Cliff never surrendered to nature. He was never the kind of man who would be defeated that easily. He had become a man with well-built arms and sturdy abs ever since he was a senior in high school. There would be no way for him to act as a weakling even if he had to pretend. He fought back the heat as he continued his job with no further interruptions.
On a Friday afternoon, as the heat showed no signs of disappearing, Cliff arranged large boxes and other miscellaneous items on the middle shelves with a forklift. The manager picked this certain period to give Cliff his well-deserved ten-minute break. Now would be the time for Cliff to exit the building and drink his water. He stepped outside with nothing but a cool bottle of water in his hand. He looked up to see the blue sky partially obscured by the city's smog. Clouds however big or small were nowhere to be seen at this time. Summer just wouldn't end. But Cliff didn't mind the high temperatures as much as the other employees. He had lived in Southern California since birth, and the familiarity of the environment helped him ease his frustration.
He stood in the middle of a small parking lot situated at the back of the warehouse. Another warehouse next door had walls high and long enough to surround such a compact space, resulting in an almost claustrophobic manifestation of medal and asphalt. Cliff leaned against the concrete wall and took a long sip from his water bottle. He took off his white t-shirt and set it aside for the entirety of his break. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath to calm himself down.
When he opened his eyes again, he noticed someone from the corner of his eye. He looked to see a familiar face in the midst of an industrial backdrop. He had not seen this man since college, though the two of them did acknowledge their existence on social media at one time.
Cliff stood up straight, but left his shirt lying on the concrete. "I never expected to see you again. It's good to see you, Alex."
Alex gave him a little smile and said, "I hope life is treating you well."
His introductory line had become such a common trait during their college years. The thirty-three-year-old Taiwanese-American man took a few steps closer. Cliff could see that very little had changed about him. Alex, who was only a year younger and two inches shorter than Cliff, wore a white polo shirt and a pair of brown pants. The skinny man wore eyeglasses and had short black hair fixed in a typical East Asian style. As a handsome man overall, whoever accepted his marriage proposal several years ago must have been one lucky woman.
Cliff asked, "How have you been lately?"
"There are bumpy roads ahead, but I think I'm still fit for survival."
"What happened?"
Alex frowned. "I'll explain later. Is your manager here?"
"He's in the building. Why do you ask?"
"I'd like to see if there are any jobs available here."
That almost surprised Cliff just a little bit. "Now why would you want to work in a place like this? You're the one who got the master's degree, not me."
"To tell you the truth, I'm willing to work anywhere that allows me to live with a steady income."
"This isn't like you, Alex. Shouldn't you be looking for a job downtown?"
"It's getting harder and harder for a man to seek approval from executive markets."
"Hey, you're the smart one. I'm sure you can do better than this. I don't mean to look down on myself, but I remember a time when you were destined to become a millionaire."
"And that's why there will be bumpy roads ahead."
Cliff grew more attentive. "Now you really have to tell me what's been happening lately."
Alex put his hands in his pockets as he stepped a little closer. "My wife left me because she didn't love me anymore. She filed for divorce just a few months ago. I never intended to hurt anyone, and yet I am the one who is kicked out of the house. She gets to take half of my annual income. I try to have a say in this matter, but my voice is meaningless. I now have to live the rest of my life in a one-bedroom apartment, eating nothing but canned goods and frozen dinners. I used to have a good life, but it crashed and burned when my wife started the affair."
"I'm really sorry to hear that."
Alex shrugged his shoulders. "The damage has been done, and I have to do something about it."
"I thought you were working in an office somewhere. Did you get laid off?"
"You are correct. The company had to downsize because of bad business decisions. It's a tragedy that has come out of its hiding place, and I'm its primary victim."
Cliff had to make an important announcement. "I've got some bad news for you, Alex. Our warehouse has enough workers already. And besides that, you would have to lift a lot of heavy boxes, and no offense, but I don't think you're up to it."
Alex gave a little smile for some odd reason. "Truth hurts."
"You can still find a job around here somewhere, but it's going to be little more competitive than you think."
Alex shook his head as if he was feeling amused. "This is a welcome change from you. I remember a time when you wouldn't think so highly of me."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't try to act as if you can't remember our college days. Who do you think was the one who teased me and tried to intimidate me for four straight years? I've never met a jackass that had been as daunting as you."
Cliff chuckled. "Hey, people always act that way when they're still young. It's like in high school. It's to see who the weakest link is. Ironic, isn't it?"
"I wouldn't say that I had won the battle. I still lost everything, including my own wife."
"You could regain all that if you tried hard enough."
Alex's little smile grew just a little larger as he looked down at Cliff's half-naked body. "I can see that you've been taking care of yourself just fine."
