The Unconquerable son-in-law

Chapter 4

Mason opens the glass door and steps in. The supermarket is filled with customers who come to buy something. Mason enters his workplace around 12pm which means he is super late. He wanted to enter the inner room to change and start working when the cashier in front saw him.

"Look, who is here?" She spoke out mockingly with a sinister smile. 

Mason averts her gaze and proceeds to get in. "The boss has been asking you. I'm sure today is the day you leave this job." She said cunningly and Mason stood on his track. None of his colleagues actually likes him and always makes fun of him. They make sure they find fault in him and table it to the boss. 

"Oh, Mason is here. I will inform the boss." One of his colleagues who saw him says in a haste and rushes over to get the boss' attention. Mason sighed and knows he is in trouble. He hopes the boss, Mr John will hear him out. He's not feeling fine and he should be at home resting but he manages to be here since he needs the money. 

Mason proceeds to enter the changing room when a guy blocks him on his way. "Mr John told us not to let you in before he sees you." He says and smiles at him but Mason knows that smile isn't genuine. 

"Listen, I.." He was about to say when Mr John's voice rang out.

"You wretched being. Where have you been?" Mr John thunders and marches towards him with fury and anger. 

"Mr John." Mason calls and faces him. "I did not feel…" 

"Shut up! You dare to talk when you know you are late. Such audacity! Do you own this company?" Mr John says facing him.

"Who is he?" A customer says as they pass by. Mr John was making a scene out where customers were passing and Mason felt uncomfortable. He knows Mr John is intentionally doing this to ridicule him.

"Do you own this company? That you can come to work anytime? Even if you work for a hundred years, you won't be able to build this. You would never be able to own a supermarket nor own a Cafe." He says scornfully.

"I know him. I hate him. He looks so poor." A customer says to another while passing by.

"I wonder what Mr John sees in him that makes him employ him." Another said. Mason feels dejected and ashamed. Mr John was just five years older than him. Mr John was 30 years old while Mason was 25 years old. Why is he treating him this way when he never offends him. 

"Look at his poor clothes. It's torn." Someone behind them laughs out loud. 

"Come to my office Mason. I will show you what you deserve." Mr John says and walks over to his office. 

Mason drags his legs towards the boss office. He wants the ground to open and swallow him in as the embarrassment and pain he was feeling was top notch. Any moment from now, he can burst out of frustration. 

He enters the office and sees Mr John sitting on his chair and tapping the pen on the table with fury. 

"Mason!" He calls out with gritted teeth. 

"Mr John, I can explain." Mason finds his voice after moments of going speechless. The shock he had when Mr John embarrassed him publicly, makes him speechless. That wasn't the first time he would treat him with disregard but he was expecting Mr John to hear him out first. 

"There's nothing for you to explain Mason because your explanation or excuse is useless. I employed you here out of pity and now, you are acting like you own this building. Are you trying to chase away my customers?" He asks. 

"I'm not chasing away your customers sir, I was just late." Mason tries to explain.

"You were just late? Just late? You think being late isn't an offense. Look at you! Look at your tattered clothes like almost everyone hates you. The customers hate seeing you. And on top of it all, you are late." Mr John said. Mason bow his head down as he realizes that explaining won't solve anything. Mr John's mind is made up and ready and until he punishes him, he won't back down. 

"You know what, kneel down." He ordered. Mason stares at him gobsmacked as he gulps down nothing. Has the issue escalated to this? 

He kneels in front of him and Mr John eyes him vigorously. "Stay there for an hour. Or two." Mr John says and walks out. 

Mason was devastated and sad. Wasn't kneeling down supposed to stop when he grew up from a child. He's no longer a child and Mr John demands him to kneel. Why? Because he is poor. Poor and wretched. 

Mason is frustrated and he knows he will blow up, his anger, frustration, words, everything will blow up. 

In an hour's time, Mr John walks in and sees Mason still kneeling down. Seeing him kneeling makes him happy as he gives out an evil smirk. He walks over to his seat proudly and sits on it while still staring at Mason. Mason was staring daggers at him. 

"What? Do you want to beat me up Mason?" He asks with a smirk. 

"Can I stand up?" Mason asks, ignoring his question. 

"What if I told you to stay there for another hour?" Immediately Mr John said that. Mason stands up in a haste, with rage. 

"What is my offense to you? My offense is no other than because I was poor but I didn't wish to. I never wished to be like this. If it was the others, you would have listened to them but you aren't listening to me. My opinion doesn't matter based on who I am." Mason spat out angrily. Mr John is shocked and he holds his arm chair tightly as that was the first time Mason will speak back at him. 

Mason knows this is the first time he stood out but he doesn't want to stop. He wants to say his mind before he stops. He knows if he stops now, he may not get the courage to say anything again. 

"I was sick. I wasn't feeling well and I had to go to the hospital. Or am I not allowed to treat myself when I get sick again. Why should I be punished for this? You get sick, I get sick, we all get sick. Why? You mistreat me as if I am no human. I'm human too, I might be poor but I'm human. I might not be able to have anything valuable to give you but I'm human." Mason added in rage. He stops and looks at Mr John's reaction which was frightening.  

"Mason!" He whispered after some moments of silence. "You are fired." He says.