I went into work today. I was feeling so-so. I had a pretty good weekend, but I've been kind of down due to some personal issues.
I step in, and David, the gay manager, greeted me.
I said hi back to him and I went to the break room.
He followed me there. He had a big smile on his face and I knew he wanted me to ask him something.
So I did.
Me: How was the audition, Dave?
You see, Dave went to a Real World audition up in Chicago on Saturday. It's all he's been talking about for the past two weeks. So, when I asked him about it, his smiled managed to get wider.
Dave: Oh, it was great! They really liked me. The one woman who was in charge said I should definitely send in a follow-up video because she'll be looking for it.
He kept going on with the details. He followed me with them all the way back up to the front, where I was getting a drink.
I was just nodding and saying things like "that's nice" and "good for you".
But then he struck a nerve.
In his closing, he mentioned how all of his dreams were finally coming true and that the universe was smiling down upon him.
I decided to remind him that the universe **lololololololol**ks.
I walked over the front counter and grabbed the Cancer Girl Collection Cup.
It was one of the community deals where people set out these cups at local businesses to collect money from the public. And the money always goes to some poor family. The cup always has a picture of the victim and their **lololololololol** story.
In the case of this particular Collection Cup, it was for a two year old girl that came down with cancer. What kind, I don't know and I don't care.
Anyway, I picked the cup up and showed it to Dave.
Me: This girl has a better chance at getting cured than you ever do at getting on that show.
Dave looked at me, puzzled. He was always slow to grasp a concept.
Dave: What do you mean.
I pointed to the picture of the girl.
Me: You see her. She's as good as dead. Just like your chances of being picked for The Real World.
Dave didn't like that. he stormed off, back into the break room.
I got my drink and headed back there as well.
I saw him talking on his cell phone. I couldn't hear what he was saying. There was another employee in there with him. She came out shaking her head.
She walked up to me.
Her: You're in trouble.
Me: What do you mean?
Her: Dave's talking to the mother of that girl with the cancer.
Me: He's what? How does he know her?
Her: You didn't know? They're friends. Dave was the one who brought in the cup.
Well, I didn't know that. Oh well.
I saw Dave hang up his cell. He walked over to me.
Dave: Her mother is one her way here.
Me: What the fuuuuuudge are you talking about? Why is she coming up here?
Dave: I told her what you said.
Me: Why? It's nothing personal to her or her daughter. It was about you? Why are you bringing her into this?
Dave: Because I don't appreciate you saying those things and neither does her mother.
He walked away from me. Doing his little head twirl in the process. I tried my best to comprehend his actions, but I couldn't.
A half hour later, the mother arrived.
Kenny yelled at me to come up front.
He then said something to this white trash looking woman.
29 years old, give or take, and I do mean white trash
She looks at me.
The Mother: Are you the son of a **lololololololol** talking about my daughter?
Me: I guess I am.
She looked over at the collection cup.
The Mother: Why are you making fun of her? She is a gift from God.
I chuckled at that a little bit.
Me: A gift from god? Please. If anything, this little cancer deal is god's way of telling you that you never should have had her in the first place.
She took a step back. Shocked at what I just said. I could see her trying to find the right words to say.
She finally responds, trying to choke back some tears as she gets the words out.
The Mother: Don't you have a heart? Don't you have some compassion?
I stared at her. I threw my hand into my pocket and pulled out a nickel. I held it up for her, so she could make out what it was.
I walked over to the collection cup and dropped it in. I then held my arms up beside me as if to say "What now, bitch?"
She took a look in the collection cup and let out a small gasp.
She took the cup over to the open space on the counter and dumped out the contents.
There was two 1 dollar bills and a dollars worth of change.
Me: 3 bucks. Looks like she's cured.
She picks up the nickel I dropped in looked at me, then around the store.
The Mother: You are all assholes.
She throws the nickel at me and walks out.
I turned to my left, Dave was standing there.
He looks at me, angry as hell.
Dave: I can't believe I just saw that! Where do you get off?
Me: Usually in the bed room.
Dave starts to walk away.
Dave: I can't deal with you tonight. I don't know how to deal with people like you period.
I shrugged and yelled out.
Me: That's why you'll never get on The Real World.
Dave didn't talk to me the rest of the night.
