The days passed and still John did not appear, did not answer his phone, he had disappeared. Slowly they packed all their belongings, went looking for rental properties nearby, borrowed money from friends. On the penultimate day of their eviction date they left their house, broken but still hopeful, and moved into a rental property nearby.
Months later John rang him, “Hi dad, where are you now? I couldn’t reach you, had business overseas. I’ll come over soon.”
“How’s the house building going, son?”
“Not long now dad, just a few more months.”
“OK John, I thought so. Please come over and bring the kids.”
Dimi puts on his work shorts and singlet, sits down and bends over his protruding stomach to put on his socks and shoes. His skin is browner now, more like over-used tired leather. Ten years have passed now, John is still building the palace, has to travel a lot for work he says. John is always impeccably dressed and groomed.
“What does your son do, Dimi?”
“Oh, he’s a successful businessman, in the import, export trade you know, has to travel overseas a lot. You should see the car he drives, a BMW special with a large black and white stripe down the middle. His kids are teenagers now, done well has my son.”
“When will he finish building you your house Dimi?”
“Won’t be long now, anytime soon now.”
They receive another eviction notice. Exhausted, they move to another rental property nearby. Dimi is eighty and could no longer drive his truck, so his friend and employee Nick drives. They call by the fencing yard and collect the palings, Nick helps pay for them, and they go to their next job.
“Can you lend me some money Nick?”
“Sure Dimi, how much do you need?”
“Just enough for my burial, Nick. I haven’t got much longer to live.”
“Why do you say that, Dimi? You’ll be moving into the palace soon, just hold on.”
“I have no more time Nick, the scaffolding has fallen, I have no more dreams.”
That night he passed away peacefully while sitting in his favourite spot on the couch, watching Maria’s favourite soapie. He closed his eyes and nodded off to sleep, his head dropped, his breath stopped and his dreams vanished.
