Urban Tale - New Year's Eve

Jimmy has been living on the street all his life. His father James Jr. lived on the street all his life and died on the street. His grand father James Senior lived on the street, not as long as his father and Jimmy, but he died on the street just like Jimmy's father. People might be curious about why a street wonder will have child. As far as we know, this is mystery. In fact, nobody cares.

This is a freezy New Year's Eve. Jimmy finally fights against all the party people and comes back to his secret place where he usually rests. This is a cozy corner. His father slept here. His grand father slept here, too. Jimmy folds his bed carefully. It is a deserted single bed he found on a backyard and he dragged it all across London with him. He folds out his sleeping bag. This is what he herited from his father. He is ready to embrace the new year with his calm sleep, not ecstasy of meaningless countdown for a hope of better year. Those are unpractical for Jimmy. Jimmy wants to sleep, NOW, just as what he used to be for the past 23 years.

Just about he falls into this hollow of dream, a bunch of young Asian people gathered around him. They look at Jimmy with curious eyes. One of them breaks the silence and starts talking. "Why are you sleeping here?" with his funny Chinese accents. For a professional street wonderer like Jimmy, he meets all different kinds of people. This person is apparently one of those he met before. He doesn't want to be too rude. Otherwise, people will think he is a racist. This is not what he likes. He decides to ignore his question. So he continues his sleep. These people are still around him. Jimmy hears a chitchat which is the language he doesn't understand. Later, another guy speaks again. He says, "Why don't you come to our place? It's warmer and better"

This offer sounds unusual for Jimmy. He gets up and looks at this guy with his astonishing eyes. This is ridiculous, Jimmy thinks. How come there is someone who invites a street wonderer to thier place. This is absolute against nature! This thought quickly flashes in his mind. However, after all, Jimmy is still young. Curiosity is always a valuable quality of young men. Now he feels curious about these people. He decides to go with them and see what might happen. Poor Jimmy, he probably never hears about how curiosity kills a cat.

There are seven of them including Jimmy. They lead him through narrow lanes, dark alleys. Finally they stop in front of an old victoria house situated at the end of the road which people call it, cul-de-sac. As soon as Jimmy enters the house, he finds there is nothing in this house. As empty as an empty street. Only the ceiling makes it look different to Jimmy.

One of them goes into a dark room. Later he brings a box of beers with him. People start passing around the beer. Jimmy is offered, too. Then there is a fire being set off. The room gets warmer.

They go approaching Jimmy. Finally Jimmy is around by them. They go hand in hand and start singing and dancing. The singing gets louder and louder. Each step gets harder and harder. Jimmy feels like experiencing an earthquake. A hand invites Jimmy to join them. Without hesitation, Jimmy joins them. This is his first dance ever since his life. They dance around the fire. They shout, laugh and run around the fire. Everyone's face is distorted by the flame. 10...9....8....7... Jimmy starts to get dizzy but he can't stop. 6...5...4....3...He dances, dances and dances until he steps on a beer can. 2....1...Then he slips, slips and slips until his head hit the floor. Happy New Year...Everyone is still dancing and shouting. Nobody cares about Jimmy. This is very normal, dying Jimmy thinks.

Jimmy wishes he dies on the street like his father and his grand father where it is at least a place he calls it home. This is new year's day. Jimmy didn't know he is actually born on new year's day, but now he definetely knows he dies on new year's day. But who will know except himself? Back to the corner where Jimmy is from, another street wonderer is moving his bed. Too bad, Jimmy wishes he could have a son. So he can pass down his bed to him.