Happiness
The warm summer heat radiated through the shimmering glass and the dry leaves of a nearby tree rustled on the wall of the building. A figure lay motionless inside, unaware of its surroundings, as its mind and body were in different locations. The room was filled with silence, but soon, perhaps too soon, an electronic ringing engulfed it. The figure stirred as its conscience returned from its dream and almost instinctively, an arm crept away from the warmth of the bed, and silenced the room. Then, as reality set in, the sleeping boy rose. He wandered into the kitchen where he looked upon the food blanketed by a frost, and without hesitation he reached for the cold white jug. In no time he was shoveling down the milky grains he had grown so accustom to. Once satisfied, his legs brought him to a brown tiled room, and tucked in its corner laid a shiny silver faucet; under which, he bathed his body. He fastened on clothing that fit the style of his time, a pair of cotton-sowed shorts with enough pockets to hold a town, a simple t-shirt and a pair of low-cut white vans. He inspected the figure in the mirror and dignity gleamed in his eyes. The boy walked into the heat of the Arizona morning and squinting as his eyes adjusted, he reached for the handle of the glistening, foreign made pick-up that sat frozen in the driveway. He roused the truck, just as he had been roused minutes ago, and the engine roared in the sleepy town.


The truck died down to a halt as it approached a clothing store nestled in between two other retail stores. The boy advanced towards it and was let in by a woman who had a smile on her face that was permanently carved in from the years of retail. They methodically walked through the store tiding up the merchandise. More employees arrived and a steady hum of conversation was kept throughout the building. They talked of senseless things to pass the tedious work, until the storehouse opened and the signs and mannequins in the window corralled customers in.
The kids were still on summer break but the school year was approaching them quickly and silently; like a lion stalking its prey and before they knew it, it would be upon them. But for now, they were wasting their time, rather, using their time, to enjoy life. On the contrary the children’s elders, the teenagers, who had just surpassed the age of carelessness, were beginning to feel the pressure of survival. They must take on responsibilities, and explore society, for soon, perhaps too soon, they would be left to fend for themselves.
The sun shone brightly in the sky now, and the sleepy town had awoke. The children tugged on the sleeves of their mother’s shirts; yearning to play in the park so they could run out their energy that had accumulated over the night. The adults downed their coffee, hardly tasting it, and went on wasting their life away, trading time for money and money for happiness; ignorant to the fact that happiness cannot be bought. Nevertheless, it was a Saturday and they have just been paid, so they got to the streets and traveled downtown to see what new artificial happiness they could acquire.

As the clock struck nine, the store turned on its sign; notifying the public that they were ready to sell. One by one the customers pulled their vehicles into straight lines until the parking lot was full and the line of paying customers snaked around the store.
The manager of the store assembled the workers and lectured them on topics they had heard a thousand times. Greet the customers, make them feel welcomed. Make sure the clothes are folded. The neater the store, the more sales. The more sales the happier I am. If I’m happy, you’re happy. If the customer has one item, sell them two or three. Customer service them, it cuts down theft and increases sales. We have a big day today, gotta make twenty thousand. Sam take care of fitting rooms, give them more clothes to try on while they’re in there but don’t harass them. Brandon you’re in shoes, sell the Nikes they’re expensive and folks love em. Everyone else, keep them busy, take merchandise out of their hands and bring it up front, gives them freedom to buy more.
That mother has two girls, go talk to her. That’s a two hundred dollar sale; show her the new skirts. Have em try those on and squeeze em in one fitting room. We need the rest for other customers. Foster go talk to that broad shouldered man, does he need help? What’d he say? Just looking? Change that to just buying, bring him over to Brandon; he looks like he could use some new shoes.
Did you see those new Nikes? Deliveryman dropped them off this morning. I got them on right now, and man these have to be the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned. Could walk to Flagstaff and back in these. What size are you, don’t take my word for it, try them on yourself and see. Ten? Alright, I'll be back in a second. How’d those

fit? They look great and what’d I say, they’re comfortable huh? I’ll hold those up front for you. If you want to see anything else, names Brandon, give me a shout.
Managers with content faces and aged bodies survey the store, scanning the customers, seeing not people but money. Sales men nicely dressed, look for weaknesses in the people’s eyes, waiting for a chance to pounce.
Hello Sir, what are you looking for today? In need of some summer attire? Alright then, follow me. What kind of shorts did you say you wanted? We got Dickies and cargos and hybrids and loose fit and even slim fit. Anything you want Sir. The cargos are popular right now, everyone’s wearing them. You wouldn’t want to be left out now would you Sir? That’s what I thought, I’ll grab a pair of those for you and your fitting rooms right there. Oh you’re welcome sir; my names Foster, if you need anything let me know. Alright I got a man in the third fitting room trying on some shorts.
The employees communicate on shiny headsets, that send secret messages through the store, something older salesmen could only dream of. You don’t want too much customer service; that’s how you’ll loose sales, they have to be able to breath a little. Communication is success.
The sun began to hide behind the mountains and the moon took its place in the evening sky. The customers dwindled in numbers, as it was a Saturday night and they had places to be. The boy in the shoes was fatigued from the hours spent on his feet and climbing ladders. However, there was still work to be done and clothes to be folded. When the electronics in the clock final showed nine the boy took his check and walked out into the night. He approached the familiar lonely vehicle and as the sparks started the

great engine, he pondered about the word his manager had previously in that day. Happiness. She said she would be happy about more sales. But, this was only temporary joy, not its true happiness. That only comes from making a goal and reaching it, and to have lasting happiness, one must always have a goal, for life is nothing without a purpose, and joy comes from feeling important. He thought of this as he sat in his car, he wanted to have a purpose outside of selling shoes; he did not want to be one of those adults stuck in a never-ending cycle. As he sat there, he unlocked one of life’s many secrets, the goal in life. It is to be happy, and the purpose of life is to do anything in life that makes you happy.