Meg
I just paid $7.50 plus tip for a bottle of shitty IPA.
I miss The Alley
Folks headin and out of the diner down the road from my apartment while I sit in my car munching on the remains of my pie, watching the clock on my dashboard.
Don’t worry. It wasn’t in my purse all night. I put it in my fridge the moment I got home and then transferred it to a plastic tub to bring with me to work because I am a grown adult woman and not a heathen.
The fur around my coat’s hood tickles my cheeks as I snuggle deeper into its downy warmth. I could turn on the ignition and jack the heat but that would require gas, and the tiny gas pump icon came on before I went to work this morning.
At this point, I’m running on fumes in every sense of the word.
At five minutes to five, I grab my phone and make the call.
“Talbott Property Management, this is Tony.”
“Hey, Tony. It’s Loren Piper from Apartment 5316. How much longer are you going to be in the office? I’m stuck in traffic on my way home from work and need to pay my rent.”
His response sounds as flat as a pancake. “We will be gone at five.”
“Oh, crap. Is it okay if I just drop it off tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is a holiday. The office will be closed until Monday at nine.”
Perfect. “Crap. You’re right. I don’t know where my head is. I’m so sorry. I should’ve left the check yesterday.”
“We’ll see you first thing Monday morning, Miss Piper.”
“Yes, of course. First thing.” First thing after I get home from work, that is. By then, it’ll be too late to cash the check and if I drop it off in the office mailbox but forget to sign it, that might give me until Tuesday after work. They’re only open until noon on Wednesdays, but since I’m working all day, I won’t be able to sign the thing until Thursday, which means they’ll deposit it on Friday, also known as payday.
I drive into the apartment complex with a smile on my face.
That is until I pull into my parking space and find Toby coming down the stairs of my building.
When he sees me, his eyes gleam like one of those cartoon villains, the ones who twiddle their fingers together while laughing maniacally.
Except he’s not laughing.
He’s coming over to the car and folding his arms over his chest.
So much for hiding in here until he’s gone.
Cold air rushes into my vehicle when I roll down my window to offer him a wan smile.
“Just the woman I wanted to see,” he says. “I’m not sure if you received the many notices we’ve slipped beneath your door, Miss Piper, but rent is due today.”
“Yeah, I know. I called the office. Got stuck in traffic.”
“It’s a good thing I ran into you then.”
Shit. “You want the check now?”
“That would be great.”
“Sure. No problem. Just a sec.” I rummage through the sticky napkins in my purse and shove aside random receipts. Would you look at that? Turns out I didn’t leave one of my spoons at work, after all. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have a pen on me. Can I drop it in later or…?”
Toby whips a shiny silver pen from his breast pocket.
