Anthony's Journey

“Damn, I’ve never personally known a millionaire before, but here we are. Congratulations, bro,” said Damien Keiser, as he brought both hands together in a playful pose of worship. He gave his friend a hug.

“Ha, that only means that I’ll pay more taxes, now,” replied Anthony Andrade, as he smiled at his friend.

Just then, a Human Resource secretary came in to congratulate Anthony. “Mr. Andrade, I just want to say that I’m happy for you. You’re really moving up in the world.” She gave him a hug. “Anthony, you’ve busted your butt for this company, and I’m glad they’re finally taking care of you,” she added.

Anthony smiled and thanked her. After Damien and the secretary left, he looked at himself in the mirror and straightened his tie, which made him reminisce about how far he’d come.

***

Anthony Andrade grew up in the small agricultural town of Shafter, California. He was raised by a single mother who always provided for him. He never knew his father. He’d always excelled in school, but it was a surprise even to him when he got a full-ride academic scholarship to Georgetown University.

When he left his hometown for Washington D.C., he didn’t know what to expect, but he had confidence in his abilities, and the fear of failure, of having to come back home with his tail between his legs, helped him to dedicate himself to his studies. He embraced his new surroundings, and became a tourist when time permitted, because he knew the historical significance of the city.

While academics were easy, it took a while to adjust to the new culture and immense campus, with its lush green grass and magnificent buildings of learning. Many of the students didn’t look like him. He was the brown one, and there were others like him, plus the foreign exchange students, but a lot of the students already came from prestige, the sons and daughters of Senators and Congressmen and others in government. But Anthony trudged on⸻he was a young man on a mission. Slowly he got control of his shyness, and through study groups and coffee with classmates, he made friends.

The secretary knocked on his office door before coming through with papers for Anthony to sign, which forced him back to the present. “Sorry Mr. Andrade, here is one last signature the company needs, before you can start making the big bucks,” she said with a smile. After getting his signature, she closed his office door. Anthony watched her go back to Human Resource from his window.

He got up from his desk and walked to his twelfth story window and peered down towards the street. The people below looked like ants. He was thrilled with the new promotion. He went back to his desk and once again was in a reflective mood.

He smiled as he thought of his time at Georgetown. After finally settling in and getting the college routine down, he thrived both academically and intellectually. Anthony felt joy as he discovered the six-floor Lauinger Library,  place where he did more than his schoolwork. The library wasn’t always for studying; he also visited to peruse the books of his interests. Most students found the library to be a torture chamber, a place forced on them to get their work done, but for Anthony it was an enchanting and magical place. He learned from an early age that a library was a place of discovery. There were times in his youth when money was tight, so instead of asking for things and causing his mother stress, he would pick up a book and read, and he traveled with the characters on their journey throughout the book. He had a love of reading, which had helped to propel him to where he was today.

This is why he would go to the library even in his free time, because it was an inviting place for him spiritually. Anthony felt free there and he explored every square foot of the immense library. The furniture and chairs were inviting and reminded him of what royalty would probably use as furniture. In Anthony’s eyes, this was high class and appealed to his sense that this was a magical place. He’d get a kick out of sitting in overstuffed chairs, with fancy lamps providing the illumination of his knowledge. It warmed his heart, and he felt bliss, as if there was no other place in the world he’d rather be.

Anthony came back to the present. He was looking at his computer screen when an email came through from Human Resources.  The subject line included his monthly salary. He smiled, balled up his fist, and hit himself in the chest. In Anthony’s world, that was a high-five to his heart, because without it, this would never have been possible. His eyes started to water, and he reached for some tissue, then lightly dabbed his eyes from the moisture of his happiness. He looked at his watch, but it still wasn’t time. His mom was still working, so he continued to think back to the road that got him here.

Anthony smiled as he thought of the first time he came onto the Georgetown campus. The grounds were gigantic. The university’s architecture was intimidating, but also exciting to him, because he wanted to prove to himself and everyone back home that he belonged. Sure, the campus was over twenty-six hundred miles from home, and he missed his mother and all his friends, but he had the right frame of mind. The fear of failure guided him through as he slowly learned that this campus was as much his as it was for those sons and daughters of privilege.

He’d see the arrogance in some students, as they turned their noses up at those who had earned their way onto campus, and not because they were legacies. Anthony minded his business, but he was keenly aware of the attitudes on campus, and he used it to his advantage. It helped to push him to study more if he had a challenging class. He would never forget  the shocked looks from the privileged when they found out a Chicano from the San Joaquin Valley in California had earned the highest grade in class, that he’d never forget. He’d encounter those same looks as he made his way up the company ladder. Yes, those people with connections were always at the front and center of everything, but here he was now, and he was going to be eating at the big boy’s table.

By his senior year, he was already being scouted by companies because of his potential. Anthony was surprised to hear from so many companies. He was one of the lucky ones that could weigh the pros and cons for every company and find a perfect fit. He knew he was fortunate; other students had to sign with whichever company showed interest in them, but the good news was that their foot was now inside the industry door. And Anthony knew, better than most, how important it was to get inside that door.

Anthony flicked his wrist to look at his watch. Only one more hour, he thought. He stood up and walked to the window. It was just past two in the afternoon, and the sun was on its downward trajectory. The sun cast a long shadow on the building across from him. He thought of where he was today, looking out from his new office, on the twelfth fucking floor, and tears of joy quickly fell from his face, and landed on the cuff of his blue-collared shirt. The tears registered on the fabric, making a dark blue circle. He took out the tissue that he’d bunched up in his pocket and dabbed his eyes. But the tears came, and they would not stop. Teary-eyed, he placed a hand on his enormous desk and used his hands to guide himself back to his chair. He was choked up with emotion and took a long swig of water to get rid of the lump in his throat.

He sat down again and saw the clock on his desk. It read two twenty-eight. Anthony calculated that he still had about twenty minutes to kill, plus he had to finish his introspection. This position he had today was because of his work ethic, yes, but it was more than that. And it was true that he had always done well in school, but Anthony would always be forever grateful for his mother. She’d always put his interests first, sometimes working double shifts because it would help with the bills. She was the one who told him how special the library could be. She was the one who set the strong foundation he was standing on now. A smile came to Anthony’s face as he pictured what her face would look like when he told her the good news. This would change both their lives, because now she could stop working and not have to worry about her bills. It was time for him to reward her for being such a strong force in his life, who gave him love, encouragement, and at times a swift kick in the ass when he was a little too full of himself. He remembered all the times she went without, so he could wear new shoes, or sport the latest pants that were in style. Now it would be her turn to be first. She had been a mother and father to him, and now he would repay her for all the sacrifices that she had made for his benefit. At two-forty, Anthony waved to his secretary then got in the elevator and went down to the parking garage.

***

Anthony got home at three-thirty. He changed out of his business suit and into a shirt and jeans with flip-flops to relax around the house. It was three-forty-five when he finally sat on his sofa and called his mother. After the pleasantries were over, he got down to the reason for calling. He asked his mother if she remembered the phrase she would always say to him. On the other side of the phone line, Anthony’s mother tried to remember, then blurted out, “One day, your ship will come in.” Anthony stayed silent as his mother put things together. She shrieked with joy.

“Amá, today I got a promotion that includes a window office on the twelfth floor, and get this, tu hijo got a huge raise, amá. I mean it’s huge. It’s big enough that you can retire now, as of today. You took care of me when I was growing up, and now it’s your turn to have a life of ease.” Both were still trying to stop the happy tears. Anthony’s tears continued as he thanked his mother for putting him on the road to success. Everything he’d ever accomplished was because of his mother’s sacrifices. His love of books was taught to him by her, and without that, he doubted that he’d be where he was today. Yes, it was now time to return the favor to the person who set Anthony on the road to prosperity. That was the least he could do for the person who relinquished her dreams so he could chase his. He would spoil his mother who had given him the world.