The Call Pt1

My heavy lids rise slowly against the morning sun peaking through a crack in the flimsy curtains. Half open, I lock in on the stale half smoked joint. Fingers glide across the ash to a lighter and I spark. I sit up into a crumple and exhale my worries around me. 

This again? I mock to myself. I half expect to wake up in another universe most days but here we are again. This Life.

I slug my way through the morning and trudge out the door. It’s time to perform. Two missed busses force me on a walking path past the worst diner in the tristate area. 4.35$ later, I’m viewing the bottom of the styrofoam cup that used to house mud advertised as coffee. Not that I mind. Something about the bitter, mildly acid blanket brings comfort. For a moment, I’m just appreciative of the adrenaline through my veins. A horn snaps and I’m jolted watching a could be accident avoided by the reflexes of two careless drivers. 

I pondered the fleeting nature of existence as I finally make it the bar. Fuck Brunch I whine inside whilst trying my damnedest to fix my outsides. Fix your face, no one cares I chant to myself as I key in, flip light switches and pull the mats from the blue solution. I take a breath, hit play filling the room with the false cheeriness of the Besties Who Brunch playlist I’m sure an algorithm made. The hoard has arrived and the door flies open to accommodate 34 cooing baby shower attendees. Swiftly, they surround the bar from floor to taps with balloons, presents and streamers. I choke back the urge to run as a frozen sheet cake is thrust upon me.

I’m sure I browned out because before I knew it, it was 2pm a whole 3 hours later. The rest of the afternoon dragged on as if to mock me.

The landline rings as I burst through my door, the stickiness of the lock seemingly winning this battle; I debate winning the war through replacement while rushing to pick up. Call Missed. They never leave a voicemail. I just have to answer when they call. This phone existed in the unit well before I did and my nostalgic heart couldn’t bear to remove it. It took 7 months for my first call to arrive. Initially, I thought it was a prank. Each call is the same, coordinates, simple directions and it never lasts more than a minute and a half. At first, I didn’t take it seriously. Then one day, the coordinates were right next to the bar; the curiosity burned within me. Building my self resentment, I went to the location and followed directions, three steps to the left, one medium hop, bend and place your right hand. After digging for what felt like forever, I hit a metal box. I cried. Never have I seen that much cash in one spot. For the first time in my adult life, I paid rent in full on the 1st that month. Nothing is free in this world loops in the silence as I hopefully will the phone to ring again. 

Weeks passed. The routine hardly changed. Wake, Smoke, Stifle, Serve, Suspense.