Payday

My bed lay unmade as I rushed around trying to find my coat. It was almost noon and I was late for work. Again. Today was payday. I had been waiting for today for about a month. I was broke. I had spent my previous month's salary on house repairs, and now all my bills were unpaid. I had decided to change jobs a long time ago, but no time ever seemed right for it. I got cold feet each time I tried to enter my boss' office with my resignation letter.

'Damn it! Where did I keep that coat?' I muttered to myself as I frantically lifted every pillow on the couch, hoping to find it shoved somewhere underneath. It was the only coat I had that was washed and did not smell of pizza and pudding. I finally found it under the bed, covered in dust and cotton balls.

'I'm late! I'm late!' I panicked. Hastily, I ran towards the door but still took a quick stop in front of the mirror for one last check. I looked quite decent. My dark brown hair brushed the back of my neck, wrapped tight into a high, messy pony tail. A few loose strands tickled my cheeks. My features were what you could call mildly attractive - Dark brown eyes, plush pink lips and caramel complexion - and were considered somewhat appealing. I rarely wore makeup but today I was feeling the need for extra attention.

I rushed out of my apartment, down the stairs and into my car. My boss was going to be really mad considering I had been late for work everyday for the past week. I wasn't exactly employee of the year, and to be honest, I didn't really try hard enough. I was stuck at this job for a long time and I absolutely hated it.

The glass doors to the building slid open as I touched my key card to the sensor. I hurried over to my desk, pulled out my chair and turned on the computer. I spread some of my stuff around to make it seem like I had been there for a while. Just as I was about to sit down, I heard someone call out my name.

Joe was leaning on the wall next to the coffee machine waiting for me to respond. Instead, I picked up my empty coffee mug and walked over to him.

'Let me guess.' I said, annoyed, 'Boss wants to see me'

'Like, immediately' He nodded.

I let out a big sigh. My boss was a nice man, but he was strict when it came to discipline. I strutted over to my boss's cabin and knocked on the tinted glass doors.

'Come on in!' came the response.

I opened the door and walked in. I tampered with the thought of what to do next but my boss gestured to me to sit down, so I did.

'So, miss Carson,' he said, 'this is the fifth time this week that you have come late. I am very disappointed in you.'

'Well...' I started to speak, but couldn't come up with an excuse. Instead I just let out a sigh. I had wanted to quit this job for a long time but I could never bring myself to do it. I tried my best to put up a guilty face, but I couldn't. And I think my boss saw that.

'Look, Olivia, I don't want to do this but you have left me no choice.' he continued. 'I'm afraid I'm going to have to fire you. I will give you an official letter and the next three months' salary. You can go now.'

I stared at him in part concern part relief, but then silently stood up and walked out. I felt disappointed and happy at the same time. Now I didn't have a job, but at least I wasn't stuck doing something I didn't like.

I met Joe near the coffee machine. I filled my empty mug as he attempted to read my facial expressions. He and I weren't exactly friends or anything so he didn't bother asking what had happened, even though I could see he wanted to know. I walked up to my desk, gathered my stuff and left the building.