Chapter 4: Bound by Struggles

The cold winds of late fall swept through the small town, where virtual learning continued to take

place. Frank found himself immersed in the world of online classes, a reality shaped by the constraints of

COVID-19. His family, like many others, faced the challenges of adapting to the new changes as much as

they could.

Now that Frank's mother, a resilient woman, was out of work and also affected by covid, and His

father, a train conductor, departed for 5 days very week ensuring the essential service continued amid the

pandemic and also supported his family as much as possible, The life was becoming difficult and

changing rapidly day after day. Money became a big problem, and bills were piling up. Dinner, which

used to be all cozy with his mom's cooking, turned into a struggle. They had to be super careful about

what they spent on food. The good times they used to have, like laughing together, became more like

quiet moments filled with worry. Frank's sister, Ala, who used to be all lively and full of energy, also felt

the change. Her laughter wasn't as loud, and the house just felt kinda empty without their mom around.

While Life was changing rapidly, Frank and Ala continued their online classes. While Ala often spends

time alone in her bedroom, Frank recently made two friends in math class who he could talk to

sometimes. One was Jason, the Irish boy, who came from a middle-class family. His family was

struggling with money just as everyone was because his dad lost his job. This meant less food on the table

and worries about paying bills. Even though Jason was a bit stressed about all that, he stayed positive and

always made jokes to lighten the mood. Mike, the Ireland boy, had a different kind of difficulty. His

family was dealing with health issues. His sister and grandfather were affected by COVID-19, and it

meant a lot of hospital visits and worries. Mike had to balance taking care of things at home while the

parents were out and keeping up with school, which wasn't easy at all. As they all had some family crisis,

what made them best friends was their similar idea that nature was harsh on the lives of people and

always going to be. Most of the time when the mood was in ruins, the three friends found ways to keep

moving. For instance, One day, after a particularly pressured day from the family, Frank gathered with his

friends in a video call to unwind and share his difficulties.

Frank sighed, "Man, these online classes and family crises drive me nuts. I miss the days when we could

just chat in the cafeteria. With everything is going well" Jason chimed in, "Tell me about it! It's like we're

all stuck in this digital maze, and I keep losing my way. Can we just fast-forward to the part where things

make sense again?" Mike, with a smile, said, "Yeah, like a 'skip to the good part' button in life where no

family struggles or these online classes.” That'd be handy." Frank laughed, "I wish! But you know, it's not

all bad. At least we've got each other to navigate through this mess." Mike nodded, "True that. I don't

know what I'd do without you guys. It's like we're on a team trying to beat this crazy game called 'Life.'"

Jason added, "And who said games were easy, right? This one's throwing us some serious curveballs."

Frank, trying to lighten the mood, said, "Well, at least we've got the best team. Team

'Figure-It-Out-as-We-Go!'" They all laughed, and Jason playfully added, "Yeah, and our mascot is a

puzzle piece or something. We'll design a flag later." Jason teased, "And our battle cry will be, 'Math

problems, bring it on!'"

The life of Frank was going quite well with his interactions with his friends. It makes life a little better

than a captive in a prison or it should be said most of the time. While it was going great, his grades didn’t

show the same result. Frank found himself wrestling with assignments, his connection plagued and

screens and audio lags most of the time. The family was even unable to afford better-quality Wi-Fi.

Frank's grades reached a downfall, an unwelcome consequence of the digital divide that seemed to grow

wider each day. One evening, frustration bubbled to the surface.

Frank, staring at the spinning wheel on his laptop, vented to the empty room. "Life's so unfair! How am I

supposed to learn when I can't even load a webpage?" His mother, exhausted but attentive, overheard

from the bedroom seeking health. She sighed, understanding the weight of their situation. "I am sorry son,

We're doing our best. It's not easy for any of us." Her words carried the weight of understanding,

acknowledging the challenges they faced as a family. Frank knew it too! Therefore, he replied I know,

Mom. It's just frustrating. I want to do well in school, but everything feels like it's working against me."

His mother, with a comforting tone, replied, "I get it, honey. We'll find a way through this. It's a tough

time, but we'll figure it out together." Frank knew the words were just words of encouragement, but he

still held on to the words and continued.

 As the days turned into weeks and the calendar inched towards June, a major blow struck the family.

Most of the deposits that the family had in the bank came to an end, and the Family was life in worry of

the rent, the car insurance, putting food on the table, and Frank, particularly, was worried about wifi.

Now that he wouldn’t have wifi for the next few weeks, he thought to himself “How would I be able to

attend my math class? How would I be able to keep in touch with Jason and Mike? They are the only ones

who help me feel like I am not in a prison.” “They were the only ones who helped me feel refreshed and

continue the harsh life.”

The family gathered in the dimly lit living room, the weight of their shared struggle palpable. Frank,

sensing the gravity of the situation, spoke up. "What are we going to do now? Everything is falling apart."

His father who just came 6 hours ago, looked at his family with a mixture of sadness and determination.

"We'll get through this together." “ Just like…. How We have gone through many conflicts in the past, I

can assure you we could do this !”

Along with the sympathy, The conversation shifted towards a difficult decision. With the restaurant

gone, and the amount of money in the bank coming to an end, the family needed a new source of income.

Frank's father, with a heavy heart, proposed a solution. "Frank, I know this is tough, son but you have to

help out. It's for the family." Frank, feeling the weight of the family's financial struggles, hesitated for a

moment. "But Dad, what about school? What about my classes? How will I manage without Wi-Fi?" His

father, with a deep breath, tried to reassure him. "Son, I know it's a lot to ask, but we're in a tough spot.

Your mom can't work due to COVID, and the bills are piling up. We need everyone's help to get through

this."Frank, conflicted between his responsibilities at school and the pressing needs of his family, replied,

"I want to help, Dad, but I don't want to fall behind in my studies. What about my dreams of going to

college?" His father, understanding the dilemma, spoke with a mixture of empathy and determination.

"Frank, I get it. We all want the best for you. And I want to make sure your studies are preserved. I know

life throws curveballs, and we need to continue. I just know the right person who could help!
Ala from behind the couch spoke out “ Who Daddy? “ Dad replied “ It's Mr.Meota. He is a restaurant

manager of the cafe, which is 6 blocks away. He was recently looking for an employee and said if I have

anyone like Fran, He may accept and keep him as a part-time worker.”

The room fell silent, as Frank contemplated the difficult choice ahead and the burden of responsibility

pressed upon him.

Ala, sensing the tension, spoke up, "Frank, we're a team. We'll figure this out together, right?" Her words

offered a glimmer of hope, a reminder that they were in this as a family. Frank, despite the challenges,

nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we're a team. We'll figure it out together, and I will do my best to help my

family out.” Frank's father hugged Frank with his warm hands and said, "Thank you, son, Thank you.”