Chapter 20

Ferris Long had cleaned up his house and started with dinner. Since the food was almost ready, he switched on the TV. He flicked through the channels and found something he enjoyed watching from time to time. It was a funny TV show that posed various challenges for people who dared an almost impossible obstacle course. If they failed to reach the set destination across moving parts and platforms, they would fall into the muddy water and be forced to start again from the start.

Ferris heard the boiling pots on the stove and got up to switch off the plates. He took out a knife and fork from a drawer and noticed his nails. They were far too long for his liking.

Ferris placed a plate on the table next to the knife and fork and went to the bathroom to get the nail clippers. He realised the nails of his left hand were slightly longer than the ones on his right hand. He trimmed his nails and flushed the cut-offs down the basin.

After Ferris had his dinner, he washed his plate, fork and knife. He placed them neatly in a plastic rack next to the zinc. He went back to the couch and scanned the channels once more. One channel that caught his attention was a program about an Indian tribe. The program explained that the tribe conducted rituals to survive. By conducting the rituals, they could also see into the future for a brief moment. A chosen candidate was given a substance made of certain herbs and cacti which placed them in a severe trance for as long as three days. While the chosen one (sometimes referred to as the medium), was in a trance, the rest of the tribe danced around a fire channelling their energies into the chosen one. The medium then communicated with their deceased ancestors. It was said that once a medium returned from a trance; they had the wisdom to guide the tribe and keep them from harm.

The program was finished and Ferris's mind drifted back towards his day at work. He thought about his new manager Craig Edison. He gathered that Craig seemed to be a good man with strong management skills. Ferris knew, in most cases, new people only showed their true colours after approximately three months or so. Either way, Ferris had been through tough situations in the past. He knew things could not get worse than his previous manager they called The Hammer. The Hammer was far too judgmental and things had to be his way. If you did not agree with his methods, then you were better off packing your shit and being off on your way somewhere else.

Ferris felt a sharp itch on his left hand. He scratched and noticed a small hump on the knuckle of his index finger. He remembered the annoying mosquito he had heard the night before. The little bugger got me, Ferris, though. Something else caught his attention, and he felt a little annoyed with himself. How could he have missed the nail of his middle finger? Ferris knew he was on the other side of youth, but how could he have missed this nail? It had not been trimmed properly. It was slightly longer than the rest.