.
"How much is the deposit?-.
"10% of the price,"" snapped the owner.
"Hmm that's probably about seventy thousand."".
"What?! That can't even pay for the garden! Two hundred thousand is my quote!- exclaimed the owner, who now looked at Calvin with contempt.
"Two hundred thousand?- Calvin was dumfounded and thunderstruck.
He had been very thrifty for the past few months and managed to save quite a sum of money to fulfill his dream. But yet, including his previous savings, it could not even pay for the deposit! He was starting to believe what Sean had told him sometime back. "A dream is still a dream."" .
He left the aura of sadness in low spirits and was at a lost of what to do. .
However, his determination did not allow him to be dampened by the setback. From that day onwards, he took up two jobs and only had a wink of sleep each night. But no matter how hard he worked, he just could not raise enough money for the deposit.
The moon lost its place in the night sky as the blanket of darkness descended on the town. Calvin was hesitating outside the house and waiting for the owner to return. Minutes later, the owner came into sight in a limousine which Calvin looked in awe. Without a second thought, the latter rushed forward to attract his attention. .
"Sir, is there room for negotiation on the amount of deposit for the house?- Calvin asked in a polite and sincere manner.
"No!- The owner slammed on his front door.
Calvin was left alone on the porch. Beneath the silvery moon, the distant owl hooted hauntingly. The silhouettes of the branches resembled ghostly limbs. At the far end of the house, he noticed dark figures of two men leaning against the fence surrounding the house. Every few seconds, the smoldering ends of their cigarettes glowed brightly in the twilight, bathing their faces with unearthly red. Straining his eyes to look more closely, he realized that they were actually watching him. He was curious and puzzled but exercised extreme caution and headed for the short cut to avoid bumping into the two men.
