CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE: Swim With The Fishes

“Fired?” Tina Kennard’s breath hitched inside her throat as her hand stilled behind her father’s back. Did she hear her dad correctly? Did he really get fired? No, she shook her head, that can’t be right. How on earth can he get fired from that job? He was well liked in the vineyard, he was a nice man and a very hardworking laborer.

“Y-yeah..” Ken sniffled as he wiped his eyes with his left sleeve. “I.. I got called to Dave’s office this morning.. he.. he told me to leave the f-field and.. go.. go home..” His lips quivered as his eyes began to water some more.

“But why?” Tina softly whispered as her legs gave way and she sat beside her weeping father. She could feel the energy being drained from her body as the gravity of the situation came weighing in. What would happen to them now? They were hard pressed for money just as is.

“The n-new owner..” Ken bit his lower lip and whimpered. “She.. she reviewed the files of.. of random workers. She.. told Dave that she.." Sniff. "..didn’t think that I was fit to work in the field. She said that.." Sniff. Sniff. "..someone my age shouldn’t be made to pick grapes and carry barrels.. so.. so..” He started to blubber as snot came out of his nose. He lifted the end of his shirt to his face and wiped his red and runny nose with the fabric. If Tina wasn’t too shocked to react, she was sure that she would be totally grossed out by now.

Tina’s hand recovered from it’s frozen state and began to lightly pat Ken’s back once more in an effort to console the crying man. “Daddy?” She prodded gently, encouraging her father to continue.

“I’m.. I’m not going to work in.. in the vineyard anymore..” Ken’s shoulders shook as he sobbed into his hands. After a few moments of weeping, he finally looked up and swallowed hard as he looked around the four corners of the living room. “I’m gonna be stuck.. all day.. just stuck..in.. in..” He choked as he pointed to the walls with his shaky fingers.