smash_logs | A Comparision of Social Classes, Rich Boys and Mailmen

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A Comparision of Social Classes, Rich Boys and Mailmen

Who: Jeff Angel, Parakarry
What: Jeff goes to drop his mail. Conversation ensues.
Where: Paretta's Parcel Pick-up
When: Nov. 30th
Warnings: None...yet.

With a clunk, a large cardboard box plopped on the wooden floor of the store. Parakarry busily rummaged through its contents as he restocked the shelves. Stationary, pens, and postcards; they brightened the inside of the shop with their festive shades of red, white and green.
Between tending his store and delivering mail, Parakarry spent most of his day working. With the upcoming Christmas season, he was busier than ever. Difficult as it was though, he seemed to relish his job.

With an accomplished smile, he wiped his brow once everything was organized.

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Walking towards the delivery store, Jeff wore a frown upon his lips. The box of books he was currently carrying was rather heavy. And even though he wasn't out of shape, it still proved extremely difficult trying to balance the box while climbing stairs and opening doors.

So when he finally arrived, he slammed the box onto the counter. A tad out of breath, and somewhat irritated by this point, he shouted, "Hey!"

"Oh, welco- OW!" Parakarry yelped as he stood up, smacking the back of his head against a display case.

He rubbed his noggin while giving a wince. "Ah. How may I help you?" he asked in a polite but embarrassed voice.

Jeff might have noticed Parakarry bang his head, but the blond felt no sympathy for the other. "This," he pointed to the box on the counter, "needs to be shipped. Preferably as soon as possible." He shot an expectant glare at the other.

"Right away," Parakarry replied cheerfully as he flew to the other side of the counter.

He gave a low grunt as he carefully lifted the box. "This feels light," he said in pleasant surprise and he carried the box with little difficulty to a nearby scale and took a weight measurement.

He pulled out a notepad and began to jot down the measurements and calculations. "Plus 5...and it's going out of city limits...so..."

He walked back to his side of the counter and looked directly at Jeff. "That will be $10.35."

Light, sure. The blond doubted that, considering how Parakarry grunted when he lifted the box. But Jeff wasn't about to offer any assistance or helpful advice. As Parakarry went about doing calculations, the blond started to tap his foot out of impatience.

When the other spoke, Jeff quirked an eyebrow. "Really? Oh, I see..." He pulled out his wallet and paused. "Do you have a charge minimum or can I pay with my credit card?"

"A credit card is fine," Parakarry replied. "I just need to see a photo ID."

Jeff scoffed. Show an ID? Like Parakarry didn't know who he was. Sure the other wasn't a student anymore, but at least he still paid attention to the school, right? Jeff was the senior representative, for crying out loud. Besides, he was pretty sure Parakarry had been the one who had delivered his birthday gift from his parents that one time.

"Oh please, why would you need that? It's not like you don't already know almost everyone at the school." He pulled out his driver's license and flashed it at the mailman. "There, happy?"

"There's no need for disrespect," Parakarry calmly replied as he inspected the license, "I'm just trying to avoid being shammed with a fake credit or whatnot."

He then realized what he just said could be considered as rude as well. "N-not that I'm suggesting that you specifically would con me. I'm just trying to be on the safe side," he continued in a more apologetic voice.

Narrowing his eyes, the blond let it slide. Parakarry was obviously trying to make sure he didn't sound rude. Regardless, it pleased Jeff to see the other sucking up to him, even if that wasn't the intent.

"Fine, whatever." He then handed over the credit card. "How long will it take for the package to arrive at its destination?"

Parakarry took the card to scan it. "If the weather stays this favorable, I would give roughly two days. Possibly less."

He handed the card back. "Would you like a receipt?"

He took back the card and shoved it in his wallet. "Two days... I suppose that's acceptable."

Waving off the receipt, he replied, "No, that won't be necessary."

"You better be careful with this," Jeff nodded towards the box. "It may not be breakable, but if I find that even one of my belongings in there was damaged, I'll see that it comes out of your paycheck."

"Don't worry," Parakarry assured him, "Every piece of mail in my charge is given the utmost care!"

"Uh huh..." Folding his arms, Jeff paused for a moment. Awkward silence flitted between the two.

Finally, he spoke again, "Is there a reason why you put so much effort into this job? Doesn't seem like it pays off in the end, if you ask me."

"I always put all my effort in any other task given to me," he said while taking Jeff's box to the back room to store. "Why would I put any less in my job?"

Oh right. People usually put effort into work, didn't they? Jeff just couldn't wrap his mind around such a useless ideal. "Because the benefits hardly seem to outweigh the inconvenience. Sure, you need some source of income," there was a hint of sarcasm in his tone, "but there are plenty of other, less troublesome jobs out there."

"Where have I heard that one before?" Parakarry chuckled in amusement.

"There probably are but money isn't everything. It's important but not everything. Besides those better paying and 'less troublesome jobs' were never that interesting to me."

"So you're telling me that you enjoy doing chores for other people who are too lazy to just deliver it themselves?" Jeff snorted, "Though I guess traveling around and seeing places is somewhat of a perk."

Shaking his head, he replied, "I don't think I'd ever want to be stuck with such a menial task."

"Menial? Delivering mail can't be any less pointless then sitting in some cubicle, filling out paper work all day," Parakarry said defensively.

Well alright, he had a point there. "I guess so. But there are other, more exciting things you could be doing. Haven't you ever dreamed about doing something big? Not just some meager desk job."

"What do you mean?" Parakarry asked in genuine confusion.

What could be bigger than being able to feel the wind in your wings and seeing things people who lacked the ability of flight could not? What in Jeff's mind could be better than meeting new people and seeing the smiles on their faces when you bring them a letter from a faraway loved one? Parakarry stared at him curiously.

"Huh?" Now it was Jeff's turn to be confused. How could Parakarry not know what else was out there? Was the other really so sheltered? "You know, like being a famous actor or musician or... scientist who cured world hunger, if that's your fancy. Just something that will cause people to know your name worldwide."

Frowning, he replied, "Isn't that what most people want? Fame and recognition? I mean sure, some people might remember your name if you deliver a package for them, but most often then not, they'd probably immediately forget about you unless they ask for your services again."

"If I at least see one person smile when they receive their mail then I don't care if I'm ever thanked. Even though most people don't give my presence by their mailbox a second thought, I've met people who were truly thankful for my services," Parakarry replied.

"I've tasted fame once before. I did enjoy receiving so much attention for the first time." He shook his head, "No, I loved it. But once the parade was over and everyone moved on, it didn't erase the fact that I would need to leave the traveling companions I grew attached to... or that once my supposed act of heroism became nothing more than a bunch of old newspaper clippings and some shiny medal it would be lone..."

He went silent. Those were dark days he didn't like thinking about, much less tell to some random customer. "Enough of that. I'd rather have one or two people genuinely appreciate me than have of swarm of fair-weathered fans."

Wow, so Parakarry had been famous once? Well, at least in whatever place he came from. But to talk from experience about fame like that... Even if it was the truth, the blond had a hard time believing it.

It was clear that Parakarry's fame hadn't lasted long. Whatever it was that he did, it wasn't enough to get written down in the text books or to last for a few generations. That wasn't the type of fame Jeff was interested in.

"Uh huh..." he dryly replied. "Well, to each his own, I guess. But let me ask you this then: if you don't want a job that makes you famous, why choose being a mailman in particular?"

Perhaps he made the entire experience sound more horrible than it really was. It wasn't as if he had been as he had been simply tossed aside like some rag doll after he and the others were tossed aside like rag dolls after the Star Spirit rescue. It was that having to say goodbye to the first real friends he ever made and slowly go back to a life of quiet anonymity had made Parakarry realize how lonely his life had been in the first place which was why he never really enjoyed talking about that time.

"Because ever since I was little, I noticed that whenever I gave someone any sort of gift. I was clumsy and a bit on the addle-brained side as a child so people were often frustrated with me...but whenever I handed even a simple card for someone, there was a smile on my recipients' faces. I never cared if flocks of people basked me with praise but seeing those smiles made me happy. It gave me an odd feeling of self-value."

He kept talking. "The other reason I became a mailman was for the simple fact that I enjoyed flying and seeing new places. I was never one to just sit down in one place for too long and for most of my life, I never even saw what was outside Toad Town. Being a postman combined both of those interests."

Parakarry waited for Jeff's reaction. Even the postman could tell that his response was boring and incredibly sappy.

Boring and incredibly sappy it might have been, but it struck a chord inside the blond. Regardless of the occupation, Parakarry really felt strongly about being a mailman. From the way the other spoke, it was clear that delivering mail filled him with a sense of accomplishment.

It was a bit difficult for Jeff to wrap his brain around. Mostly because the blond had never felt so enthusiastic about, well, anything really. Sure, he had plans to become either a lawyer or a detective, but if he really thought about it, that was more out of spite towards his father than anything else. So to hear the other speak with such passion caused Jeff to reevaluate his own goals.

Not that he would ever give the mailman the benefit of knowing that. "Making other people happy? What a nice world you live in," he sarcastically responded. "You must think you're some kind of everyday hero, then. Flying around the world, doing the dirty work to bring smiles to people's faces... How pathetic."

He frowned. Parakarry knew that Jeff wasn't going to agree with his ideals but being told that he was pathetic for having them was depressing.

"All right then," He replied while looking at him in eye. "What are your future career plans then?"

"I plan to become a famous lawyer or detective. Someone who is renowned for his wit and intellect, and thus desired by clients everywhere. I'll be solving or working with crimes, so I'll make an actual mark upon the world, unlike your little day job."

Jeff could have go on and on. After all, he was talking about himself. But he decided against it. There was no reason to reveal such personal information about himself to someone he barely knew.

Parakarry was going to comment on the last part but in the end decided not to. He merely gave a smirk and said "A lawyer or a detective? Well, I wish you luck."

Jeff didn't like that smirk. Even if the other meant well, the blond couldn't help but read too deeply into it. "Keep your luck, you'll need it. I, on the other hand, will be perfectly fine relying on my own intelligence."

Parakarry shrugged. "Suit yourself." Jeff was quite the defensive person.

Feeling his patience quickly waning, Jeff felt the need to leave. The package was taken care of. That's all he had to do. Stopping and chatting had certainly not been a part of the plan. "You better make sure that package reaches its destination," he replied, his tone borderline threatening.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure it gets there," Parakarry said with a quivering smile, trying hard to ignore the student's impatience.

"As I said earlier, I should have it delivered in one or two days."

"It better," Jeff nodded. He made a mental note to come back in a few days to make sure Parakarry stayed true to his word. Not that the blond really wanted to come back here.

Turning on his heel, he gave a quick wave over his shoulder. "Pleasure doing business with you," he rolled his eyes. And with that, he left.

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A Comparision of Social Classes, Rich Boys and Mailmen

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