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Payday

By

Grant Wamack

Sunny Vasquez stood under the bridge on the south side of town.  It was quiet and muggy this morning. To keep warm he wore layers upon layers but he was still freezing. He lit up a cigarette hoping it would alleviate the cold.

Sunny looked side to side down the empty streets. Next, he glanced down at his watch. Four oh five a.m. He went through the same routine over and over, but time still moved sluggishly despite his best efforts.  He always got a little jittery this day. It was natural. It was pay day after all; there was much to be looking forward to.

He was waiting for a guy to show up-a regular joe. A week ago, he had met the guy in a bar called O’Malley’s. Nothing special about it, in fact it was the pits. A complete and utter shithole. It was a place that attracted nobodies-people who wanted to be left alone to drink their sorrows away in peace. However, there were others who drifted to the bar aimlessly in search of a purpose. And Sunny provided a purpose and direction. He gave them a little bit of meaning for their meaningless lives.

The guy sat in a dark corner of the bar, nursing a cold Heineken. Sunny walked over casually and took a seat. Both men sat in the darkness not saying a word till Sunny cleared his throat.

“So you look like ya need a job. Don’t cha?”

“Everyone needs a job these days. Bad economy and such.”

“Well would you be interested in doing a lil’ something for me. I provide jobs to certain people for my own personal reasons. It’s a don’t ask, don’t tell type of job. Ya hear?”

“Yeah I hear you loud and clear. I guess I could take this job. I mean it isn’t too hard right. I’m forty four for fucks sake.”

Sunny appraised the guy’s broad shoulders and big hands. “For you, it should be a piece of cake.”

“Alright then we’re settled.”

Both men shook hands.

Looking back on it now, getting the guy to accept the job was a lot easier than Sunny had originally thought. He always had a difficult time getting people to jump on the bandwagon. People like to know what they’re getting into because if they go in too deep they just might drown.

Hopefully, this guy was a swimmer. Fuck who am I kidding; Sunny thought with relish, I hope the kid’s a shark.

Sunny drew on his black and mild and exhaled a puff of smoke. He let it drop to ground and stomped the butt out with his heel. Trying to get comfortable, he leaned back against the brick building behind him. After a few minutes, he started tapping his foot impatiently.

Relax, he thought, he’ll be here any minute.

Cars passed overhead. The bridge’s rusty frame vibrated with the weight.

Sunny turned his head to the right and noticed a figure in the distance. He rubbed his eyes just to make sure, but his first assumption was right. It was the guy from the bar. Every minute that passed added a bit of clarity and another line of definition. The guy was a vague sketch being completed before his very eyes.

Finally, with what seemed like ages, the guy stood before him holding a black sack over his shoulders. He looked at Sunny with those questioning blue eyes.

“You got the job done?”

“Yeah.” He dropped the sack with a resounding thud.

“Okay. Then we’re all good.”

The sack shifted. Sunny grinned and patted the guy’s back.

The guy grunted. “Where’s the money?”

“Relax I have it right here.” Sunny pulled out a large wad of cash and handed it over to the guy. His eyes widened.

“Thanks.” The guy began counting the cash.

“Nice doin business with ya.”

The guy turned around, holding his money tightly, and walked away into the early morning fog.

Sunny grew giddy with excitement. He dragged the sack into the nearest alley. No one would disturb him here. The homeless knew what he was capable of. They steered cleared of this place. In fact, everyone did.

Sunny opened the sack and took one look inside. He smiled with joy and emptied the steaming contents onto the ground.

“Man I love payday.”

Grant Wamack has work that is due to appear in Saucytooth’s 365 Days of Dementia. He has been published in Nemonymous 8, Polluto #2, and 365 Tomorrows.You can hear him talk about nothing at http://grantwamack.blogspot.com/.  If you haven’t had enough nothingness you might as well visit him at http://www.myspace.com/gsmooth101