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Ben’s Terrible Very Bad No-Good Day
Wednesday, December 13
The Prince Building
The Loop
Candida looked Ben in the eyes as he walked over to his locker. “Don’t bother taking off your coat,hijo.”
Ben’s heart leapt into his throat, robbing him of the ability to do anything but stare at his boss. Was he getting fired? What had he done wrong?
She clucked her tongue. “Don’t look at me like that. I need you for sidewalk duty today.”
Ben’s relief was short-lived. The snow was coming down heavily in thick, wet clumps. Sidewalk duty meant he’d have to spend six hours, minus his break, outside constantly sweeping snow away from the sidewalk and entrance to the building. Not only was it a cold, wet, and completely miserable task, but Ben was still frozen from his morning commute and he hadn’t had time to warm up yet. On top of that, he was out of hand warmers. He’d meant to buy more at the store, but money was tight this month—more so than usual—and he’d used the money to buy food instead. He’d gotten to work that morning with a full belly, which was something, but his hands would be a mess after the end of the day. Drawing would be entirely out of the question later. In addition, it was harder to people-watch on sweeping duty. With the heavy snow, hats were pulled down, scarves were pulled up, and backs were hunched against the inclement weather. There wouldn’t be much for his scope of imagination, as his high school art teacher used to say.
“Yes, ma’am.” Ben accepted his fate, putting his lunch away in the fridge. Instead of leaving anything in his locker, he took out the spare pair of gloves he kept in there and put them over his current gloves. It wouldn’t be as good as a handwarmer, but it would help a little.
“You can come in if it turns into rain,” she said, as if throwing him a bone. “Then you can join Jaime on mop detail.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He went to the closet to get the sidewalk broom then headed upstairs, ready for an unpleasant day.
The snow fell heavily enough that as soon as he’d swept the entrance area enough snow had fallen to start all over again, so that was how he spent his day. He was bundled up as much as he could be, but the wet snow still found its way onto his bare neck to then melt and trickle down his back. His hat was wet and his gloves had become caked with snow. To pass the time, he thought about his favorite faces, especially Silver Fox. In his head he spun a fantasy of SF’s life. He’d be some sort of executive, based on how he dressed, and he probably lived in a penthouse. Or maybe one of those mansions that lined Lake Michigan. Ben imagined him sitting in front of a marble fireplace with a roaring fire, a mug of hot chocolate in his hand. A dog, probably something purebred and extremely refined, dozing at his feet. He read a book, or played chess with an unseen opponent, or played music on a grand piano. When it was time for bed, he’d sleep in a huge bed piled high with pillows and blankets. The sheets would be satiny-soft and toasty warm. And as he slept, SF would let out low and somehow comforting rumbly snores. Ben would cuddle close into his warm body and—
“Watch what the fuck you’re doing!”
Ben looked up, startled, to see he’d almost swept right into a man walking out of the building.
“Sorry, sir,” he mumbled.
“Fucking asshole,” the man growled, giving him the finger as he strode away.
When Ben got home after work, he dreamed of taking off his cold, wet clothes and taking a hot shower but Kyle stopped him. “Hey, man. I’ll take fifty bucks off next month’s rent if you shovel the snow outside.
Ben considered it. He wanted to shovel snow about as much as he wanted a hole in his head, but fifty bucks was fifty bucks. “Only if you give me the cash. I need it now, not later.”
Kyle grimaced at him. “You want the money or not?”
“Do you even have it?” It wouldn’t be the first time Kyle had promised him payment for work and then had mysteriously not had the money.
Kyle looked like he was warring with himself but eventually he grabbed his wallet out of his pants and took out two twenties and a ten to show Ben. Ben went to grab for it but Kyle pulled it away out of his reach.
“Money after you’re done, got it?”
Resigned, Ben nodded.
“Thought so.” Kyle went to the fridge, took out a beer, then headed to the living room to watch football.
Ben sniffled then coughed. He’d been congested all day and his throat hurt. He had a little bit of honey left. After he was done shoveling he’d have a hot shower and then some tea. Then he might feel human again.
He was nearly finished shoveling when his phone rang. With his gloves on he’d have no hope of answering it, so Ben let it go to voicemail, finished the steps up to the house, then headed back inside. In the kitchen he took off his gloves and looked at his phone. There wasn’t a voicemail but one of his coworkers, Louisa, had left him a text message that just said HELP in all capital letters.
His fingers too numb to text anything but total gibberish, Ben called Louisa back.
“Ben, I need your help,” she said. “It’s an emergency!”
“What’s wrong?” Louisa was usually calm and completely unflappable. Her agitation worried Ben.
