The Mysterious Mr. Willow

Hard work continues to brew in these restless nights, the pounding of steel mashing against each other with tons of cranks turning and creaking echo throughout this cramped neighborhood. A nightmare at first, for sure, but it's almost as if it becomes a lovely symphony. A collection of instruments that all have a part to play to keep a song alive. In this case, Aaron Milano lives for the song, he glorifies himself as the grand conductor for a new masterpiece: America.

Aaron busts his own back everyday and night through shifts where the hours themselves shift constantly. Today in particular, it was a miserable noon-till-midnight. But to him, slowly constructing a tune the whole world could enjoy was accomplishing to Aaron. He never minded it.

It was just a typical session, and like all great conductors after typical sessions, he comes back home extremely tired. So tired, in fact, that all of his joints give out and proceeds to fall face first towards a worn-out mattress. Aaron's knocked out completely like a baby falling asleep to a lullaby.

Then, the sound of a window nearby is heard shattering into bits of pieces followed by a noise that resembles a chunk of debris rolling through a sturdy, wooden floor. Aaron wakes up and immediately sits up in shock.

Aaron Milano: Damned brats!

He gets on up out of his mattress with rage and walks to the broken window to see if the culprits are still out there. Aaron mutters something under his breath.

Aaron Milano: It better not be those hooligans down at the mines...

Aaron pauses on his words. As it turns out, nobody threw a rock at Aaron's window. It was a barn owl who flew into the window with full force on purpose. Weirdly enough, there's no harm, damage, or a single scratch inflicted upon this owl. The owl just casually wobbles to the door.

Once the owl approaches the door, it realizes that it can't reach the doorknob. So it turns towards Aaron for help.

The Owl: Who. Who.

While standing still and trying to process what's happening, Aaron figures that this particular situation will be done sooner if he just helps the owl get out. He opens the door for the owl, and unexpectedly, a blind, elderly man is just casually waiting for Aaron to open the door.

Mr. Willow: Hello, my name is Mr. Willow. My apologies for the extremely abrupt introduction, Mr. Milano.

Both the owl and Mr. Willow acknowledge each other's presence. Mr. Willow then lets out a chuckle to himself.

Mr. Willow: I see that you've met my pair of eyes.

Mr. Willow begins to nonchalantly walk into Aaron's household as if he's been properly introduced. Of course, Aaron sees it fit that he deserves an explanation on why Mr. Willow is visiting him specifically. He chuckles at first in order to alleviate the situation.

Aaron Milano: Um... Willow, I think you... I don't know...

Mr. Willow: Yes, you don't know me Aaron. But, and I know this'll sound terrifying to you, I'm familiar with your life choices.

While Mr. Willow makes himself at home in the Milano residence, Aaron has to take in the fact that this random stranger basically said that he knows everything about him and is currently sitting at his dining room table.

By the time Mr. Willow sits on a chair, the owl starts to fly over to the table then stands on top of the table's surface. The owl looks directly at Aaron.

Aaron Milano: A stranger telling me they know my life? That's rich.

The Owl: Who.

The owl looks over to Mr. Willow.

Mr. Willow: Oh! I just sat down, little guy. I'll tell him the offer in just a bit.

Aaron Milano: Offer?

The Owl: Who. Who. Who.

A sigh is let out by Mr. Willow.

Mr. Willow: Alright. Mr. Milano, may I call you Aaron by any chance?

Aaron Milano: Just get to your offer! What's so important that you needed to meet me in the middle of the night?

Mr. Willow: Okay, Aaron. I know you're upset that I'm disrupting your sleep schedule. But please, calm...

Aaron Milano: What? Calm down? I have to get up early today for work! So, to be quite frank, get to the Goddamn point!

Mr. Willow's positive mood is ruined in just a matter of seconds. He rummages through his pockets to take out a journal and gives it to Aaron. Aaron takes the journal then quickly examines what's written in some of these pages.

After flipping through a few pages, this makes Aaron a little more confused rather than aggravated. He closes the journal and places it down on the table.

Aaron Milano: You're offering me a bet or something?

Mr. Willow chuckles at Aaron's assumption.

Mr. Willow: I'm offering you the best future you could ever have, Aaron. Everything in that journal is all accurate. The times, the dates, the specifics, etc.

This elderly man proceeds to get up from the chair with the owl following him by standing on his shoulder, the owl and Mr. Willow approach Aaron as closely as possible. They all see eye-to-eye, then Mr. Willow breaks this momentary silence.

Mr. Willow: This here's luck, with a price...

Owl cuts in out of nowhere.

The Owl: Who.

Aaron Milano: I don't get it. How do you know all this? Why the specifics?

Mr. Willow: Well, here's the thing. By reading the journal I made for you, you're forever in my debt. To ease you up a little bit, let me give you some reassurance. This "making America" nonsense for instance...

Mr. Willow scoffs.

Mr. Willow: That's a never-ending debt, you'll only be disappointed that everybody steps on the things you've built and you get screwed over. But my debt: You're a part of something where everybody gets an equal share, live a good life, and meet your maker.

Everybody takes a moment of silence until Aaron speaks up his thoughts, he's reasonably nervous.

Aaron Milano: What's the price?

Mr. Willow: The price: If you don't do exactly what's on that journal, whether you don't show up on time for a certain event or don't do a certain handshake for someone, I'll find you.

Aaron Milano: Then what?

Mr. Willow and the owl begin to head towards the door.

Mr. Willow: The owl, remember, he's my eyes. Just know that I'll be watching you, Aaron. Day and night.

Mr. Willow turns the doorknob, opens the door, and is about to leave Aaron's home. Aaron then demands an answer out of him.

Aaron Milano: But... I have a lot of questions and no answers to any of them! You're just gonna leave me to wonder what the hell I'm supposed to do?

Before leaving Aaron's humble abode, Mr. Willow turns to Aaron one final time.

Mr. Willow: Just know that you're a lucky man. Keep it that way.

Mr. Willow leaves the home, now leaving Aaron to look at the journal and contemplate his future.