Rolex Watch
written by: Arina Egorova
Mr Johnson was a gambler, addicted to all the stuff you can find in casinos. But before, he had ruled a big company, one of the biggest in New York. Mr Johnson tried his best to be a good father to Ann. Every day after work, he would come home at 6 pm, tell her how his business was going, and then they would watch a movie, usually a comedy.
Ann remembered clearly that day when everything fell apart. He came home so late, around midnight, reeking of cheap whiskey and cigarettes. “Dad? Are you okay?” she asked quietly, even though she knew he was not. “Dear…” He slowly sank onto a creaky wooden chair. “…I have bad news for you.” Her heart skipped a beat. “I think I lost all the, ugh, money we had…in the casino.” “You think? What the hell are you saying?!” Ann screamed, not letting him touch her. “You had everything! We had everything…” And she suddenly realised that he was not listening to her. The most terrifying thing was that he did not even hear her. He was standing there, looking at his Rolex watch – probably the last expensive thing they had. “I will come back soon. I know I can change things, and I will get our money back!” he dropped the words as he ran out of their apartment.
***
“Happy birthday, Ann!” Jess woke her up with a birthday song. They became really good friends, which is a good thing for roommates. “You’re 20! How are we going to celebrate? Oh my God, I already have a plan to…” “Jess, please, you know I have to work. They’ll fire me if I don’t come in over a whim.” “C’mon, that’s not a whim, that’s a big day! By the way, did your hm… Mr Johnson text you anything?” Ann hadn’t had much contact with him since then. “Well, he invited me to breakfast. I’m not sure if I want to come,” said Ann, reading the message from her father. “Ann, if you want my honest advice, I think you should go. You haven’t seen each other for three years, and he asks about you every day. It seems like he really cares. Give him a chance.” “Well, I didn’t feel like he cared when I had to drop out of school and go to work as a cleaning lady at a shopping mall…Fine, but I will only meet him to show gratitude for my wonderful childhood.” She smiled, remembering those days, and started getting dressed.
***
“Dear, happy birthday!” Mr Johnson handed her a strawberry cheesecake, her favourite one. She raised her eyes to him, noticing that he looked different. Clean, branded clothes, patent leather shoes. And the Rolex watch. “How are you doing? I mean, do you work somewhere?” She glanced at his watch, and he immediately knew why she asked that. “I’m back in the company! Not as a boss, of course, but I work so hard, I improved for us!” He cleared his throat and continued a little more slowly: “Please come home, and everything will be like before. I… I missed you so much.” Not Ann herself, but that little girl inside her really wanted to believe him. And so she did.
***
The next few weeks were a blur. Ann returned to her childhood home, but it wasn’t the same. The apartment felt empty, lacking the warmth it once had. Still, she gave her father the opportunity to show he had changed. And he kept his promise – no more gambling, no more late nights. Ann finally felt… relieved? They talked more than they ever had, about their lives and their dreams. “How about making it a movie day tomorrow? Spend the whole day lounging on the couch, watching comedies and eating popcorn?” She gave him a hug. “That’s a great idea, my dear.”
***
Ann woke up really excited. Humming a song, she went downstairs to spend this wonderful day with her father. “Dad? Are you in the kitchen?” Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a strange man in uniform putting the Rolex into an evidence bag.
- Rolex Watch - September 8, 2026
