Behind the Scenes

K: Payday

Alexander Hill

It was payday. To everyone else, this was the best day of the week, but for me, it was the most difficult. I rolled out of bed, ready to get it over with.

The best part of my day was the fact that I was going to visit my mother. It was the only part I was looking forward to.

I got ready and checked to make sure I had enough time. My shift at the gym started at eight so I had to get my errands done on time before my endless day began.

I hurried down to my landlords' office, taking the stairs in the interest of time. I knocked hesitantly, but waited for his response.

"Come in" He yawned. He was seated at his desk, a pile of papers in his hand.

"Here" I handed the envelope to him nervously. I was late on rent this month again, and it still wasn't enough.

"I hope it's all here" he squinted, grabbing the brown envelope from my fingers.

"It's not" I admitted. "I need some more time, Carl" I pleaded.

"I already gave you extended time for last month, but you're still coming up short" He shook his head. "I'm sorry Alex, but I need the balance by the end of the week." He cut off.

"Please..." I begged weakly. He stopped me with a wave of his hand.

"This is a business and no matter how much I like you, I need this money to run it. End of the week, I'm sorry" He sighed.

"Me too." I mumbled as I exited his office. I shook my head at my misfortune. This day was already sour and it just began. If I couldn't pay the rest of the rent by the end of the week, I was out on the streets. I held on to hope that maybe my tips this week will balance me off. It was the perks of having a bartender job, among two others.

I pulled out the remaining balance of my pay from my pocket, making sure I took the bare minimum for food and transportation.

I headed straight to the home my mother was at, more than happy to see the only woman I had time for in my life. I quickly parked, heading to her room.

I knocked quickly on the door, before opening it. She was a sleep, tubes and monitor cords clinging to her body. I entered quietly, closing the door behind me.

"You're early" she crooked, a weak smile on her lips.

"Yeah, I couldn't wait to see you" I kissed her forehead as I took the seat beside her.

"I'm worried that you don't have many friends" she joked as she struggled to sit up.

"No, lie down" I refused "I'm not staying long" I muttered.

"Finally found a girl friend?" she questioned. I rolled my eyes and rubbed my forehead. "Your d**k isn't getting younger" she lectured nonchalantly.

"Mom..." I whined in embarrassment at the mention of my lower parts. I could never get use to it, no matter how much she said it.

"It's the true." She snarled. "I need grandchildren before my time is over"

"You're not going anywhere" I promised, my anxiety setting in.

"Alexander" She shook her head. I stood up before she could speak anymore, not wanting to hear what she would say next.

"I gotta go to work" I sighed as I kissed her forehead again.

"How is it? I really don't understand why you need two jobs." She worried. Actually, it's three now, I wanted to add, but I held off. "Thank goodness I'm covered by insurance, I wouldn't want to see what would happen then" she laughed.

But she wasn't covered by insurance. At this moment, I was paying for her heart treatment, surgeries, and therapies. But if I told her that, it would only make matters worse. I would handle the burden for the both of us, and that was how I wanted it.

"Yeah" I muttered. "I'll see you soon, mom"

"And find some ass by then, will you? You look burned out." She advised.

My skin heated up and I hurried out of the room, escaping the atmosphere. I'm sure I will laugh it off later; it was just how she was.

I hurried to the office, ready to face hard news for the second time today.

"Hi, Alex" Ronda smiled when she saw me. She was one of the oldest nurses and the first one I met when my mother registered here. I handed her the envelope of money, the last I had.

"Good" Ronda smiled as she ran through the paper bills. "I was wondering when you would stop by."

"How is she?" I questioned worryingly.

"Do you really want to know?" she asked, her eyes projecting bad news. I sighed, shaking my head.

"No" I muttered.

---

I had to be at the gym from eight in the morning till two in the afternoon, then from three fifteen to nine for my warehouse employment. I worked at the club till two in the morning, when it closed.

I picked up this bartending work because I needed more money, I was barely getting by. And now it was like it was all for nothing.

After running back home and taking a quick shower, I got ready and headed out to get here for eleven. A few more hours to go, then I could go to sleep and start my day over again.

I sighed as I entered through the back door of the bar. I had to make around five hundred dollars this week if I still wanted to have somewhere to sleep for the next week.

I pitied myself for a few more minutes, and then I threw on a smile.

It was a smile that could fool anyone and everyone. It was a smile that said, 'everything is peachy with me, what's going on with you?'

Half way into the night, I watched a group of lady's enter into the club gathering all the attention from the room. I quickly glanced over at them, but kept my head focused.

I haven't seen her in a week since she last slipped out of my apartment before I was awake. And that took skills.

I sighed as I thought of how she made my body rile up, reacting to hers'. I sighed again heavily before I went into my full blown charming attitude. Tonight was not the night for her to walk in here.

I tried my best to ignore her table, especially since they were the most vibrant.

I was a bit surprised when I saw her make her way over to the bar. I turned to Dawn as she poured his last drink of the night, wiping down the counter.

"Please take one more tonight" I begged weakly.

I could hear the annoying snapping of her fingers at the end of the bar, her patients wearing thin.

"I'm out buddy. I wish I could, but I really gotta go" she pated my back.

I sighed. Today was just not my day.

I didn't bother pulling out my charming attitude. I simply smiled and I was determined to get in and out as painless as possible.

I threw the towel over my shoulder and attended to her before she exploded.

"What can I get you?" I wondered

"Hi" she smiled. I didn't respond. I stared at her blankly without expression.

"The usual?" I asked, trying to move this along quickly.

"Yeah..." she trailed off, a bit sad. I brushed that off and grabbed a bottle of tequila from the shelf. "A tabs good?" I wondered, knowing she had a reputation with my manager. That was not fun to find out the week prior, but that was the least of my problems.

"Yeah, that's fine" she trailed, but before she could say something else, I turned away.

I had to serve as many people as I could, and no matter how much I wanted to stand there and listen to her explain why she left without a word the other night; it wasn't on my list of priorities.

As the night progressed, my tips got smaller and smaller. I sighed in frustration as Kimberly approached the counter again for the twentieth time that night.

"Do I have to keep ordering a bottle of liquor to get your attention?" She called as she climbed over the counter.

"You can't do that" I lectured, worried for her safety. She looked completely out of it, her body much more loose.

"Relax." She giggled as she began dancing around me, rubbing her ass against my body. "What do I have to do to say I'm sorry?"

"You don't need to apologize" I sighed, holding on to her for her to stop. "You really shouldn't be back here"

"But I like you" she slurred. This time she came closer to my ears, pulling me down by my collar. "Like really like you" she whispered before nibbling on my ear.

"You're drunk" I muttered as I escorted her back to the other side of the bar, carrying her over to her group.

"This is the guy I've been talking about" she announced when we reached them.

There were three ladies sitting there, different from the ones I first saw her with. They seemed more mature, people who I trusted to take care of Kimberly.

"Hi" one smiled politely, coming to shake my hand. I smiled for the first time tonight, dropping my mask. "Elizabeth" she told me.

"And that's Katherine, and Sara. They're sister. They don't really look alike right? It's because they don't have the same mother, cause you see, their father was a w***e who-"

"Alright Kimberly." One of the other ladies interrupted, coming to take her from me. "You've had too much to drunk"

"No!" Kimberly waved off, clinging to me. "I want to be with you tonight" she gazed into my eyes.

"Kimmy" Elizabeth calmed. "You promised Zack you would sleepover tonight" I could tell she was lying, but Kimberly looked convinced.

"I did?" Kimberly wondered "Alright, but another night" she slurred.

"Thanks" Elizabeth smiled, trying to hold Kimberly hand.

"Will you dance with me?" Kimberly asked me. Her eyes were bright, and full of light. I had no idea what changed her mind about me from the other night, but it made my heart lighter.

"I'm working" I muttered.

"I will pay you whatever you would make tonight." She pushed.

I thought as I turned back to look at the empty bar counter. I was probably done with tips for tonight... I would pay her back...

"Five hundred dollars" I suggested. I would pay her back...

"Done" she smiled, pulling me to the dance floor. "You are mine for tonight".