Lemurick pt9

Lemurick had not gone too far when he began to see glimpses of a whole other part to the city he had lived in. (Actually, this was originally part of the city-but it was so different and so much better that the citizens of this part refused to claim the other half and made it an entirely separate city). His heart beat faster, this city was clean and bright and busy. People rushed everywhere, clearly headed to important appointments. How different it was from the other city, where people strolled about lazily and ran in packs in search of fun and happiness. Here everyone seemed to be the god of their own personal world, they rarely acknowledged each other's existence. "What power!" Lemurick thought. These people trade with all the world and hold the lives of hundreds, even thousands in their hands. Like a hunting wolf lusts for more blood after he has tasted it, Lemurick hungrily basked in the world of success and dreamed of the power and glory he would gain for himself. Fortunately for Lemurick, he had been taught well by his father that fortunes are not gained over night. He knew he would have to work very, very hard to live at the top. So he started at the bottom, he got a job that matched his degree and snatched at every new opening and chance for promotion. He became adept at manipulation and acting. He could breeze through any interview, provided they didn't look at his qualifications. Rejected time and again for good jobs, Lemurick resorted to forging and doctoring important documents. He learned that for the right price, you could find people who could work all kinds of magic. He was now on the fast track to success: money. Money meant power and power meant greatness. Maybe Lemurick wasn't so ordinary after all.

Lemurick pt8

Lemurick stayed in the city for two years. At one year, eleven months and ten days Lemurick finally told his friend "no" and for once, stayed home. He needed to think. Lemuirck was a little afraid he would be able to anymore, all the hats had played with his mind, and it hurt so much to think. He forced himself consider what his life had become. He pondered what he had learned from the citypeople and FairweatherFriend: 1. he learned that no one really cares for you, you have to take what you can get. 2. Worrying about hurting other people will only give them an advantage to hurt you, so beat them to it. 3. Happiness is not free. 4. Happiness is bought at the Hat House. 5. Love is passing and will almost never last more than a night. 6. Friends are only friends as long as they get something out of your friendship. 7. And no one wants to be friends with a poor man. Lemurick was very tired. He worked a dead-end job to be able to stay in a crummy room and eat enough food to live. What ever else he made was spent entirely on hats and parties to forget his terrible life. But every morning he would wake up and reality would still be there. Finally he gave up working and started stealing so that he could forgo reality completely. He had only been caught once and spent a three months in prison. After than Lemurick went back to the cycle of working and forgetting. It would all be bearable if I had someone to share this with, he had rationalized. But he could never find a girl who would stay by him, and though he had had his share of relationships, they had all ended terribly, leaving him more dazed and bitter than before. He finally realized that he had nothing to share. How could he invite someone to join in this awful life? Lemurick was utterly depressed. And this is where we find him, pondering the out come of his life and what he has gained thus far. A complete failure was all Lemurick could use to describe his life. He resolved to make something of himself. He would pull himself up by the boot strings and become a self-made success. Twenty days after this conclusion, without so much as a note good bye, Lemurick collected his few belongings and headed off in the direction that looked most successful. There was a look of determination on his face and a spring in his step.

Lemurick pt7

Lemurick stared in awe at the sights around him. Everywhere he looked the sky was filled with flashing neon lights and bold signs. He was a little embarrassed at what some of the signs said and showed. The buildings were so tall! And the people looked so happy! They were clinging to each other and laughing very loudly. He watched an especially large group of people stumble out of a door way. The door to happiness, Lemurick determined. He eagerly entered. The room was filled with happy, loud people all with strange hats on their heads. Some where singing, some were dancing, but almost all were smiling. The room had a strange odor, but Lemurick ignored it. He went up to a counter that many people sat around and found they had gathered around a man without a hat. Several people noticed him approaching and asked him where his hat was. Lemurick said that he had left his at home. They roared with laughter and Lemurick wished he had stayed outside. One man put his arm around him and said, "Don't listen to them, I used to be like you. Don't worry, I'll show you how to live. You're still a kid, you've gotta grow up." He turned to the hat-less man and said, "Give me a good one for my friend here." The hat-less man handed him a big, strange looking hat and took his money. The man put it on Lemurick's head. "My name's FairwheatherFriend" he said. "I'm everyone's buddy- stick with me and you'll be alright." The goofy hat felt odd on Lemuirck's head- at first it felt the same as any other hat but then he noticed a difference- he started to feel happy, happier than he'd felt in a while. With the happy feeling came a strange sad feeling. Lemurick was scared, and he started to take the hat off. "No!" said FairwheatherFriend, "I bought that for you, wear it. The longer you do the better you will feel. Trust me." Lemurick kept the hat on and his friend was right, he felt really good. How had he lived without this for so long? Lemurick was sure he had found paradise.