Jim exited the building with inexpressible elation. Holy shit. The bright sun glinting off the surrounding buildings caused him to squint as a flurry of emotions overtook him. Muttering profanities, his hands shook as his tired frame succumbed to the charge of adrenaline. Stranded without a car, he began to pace, hands clasped to the back of his head, waiting for his ride to pick him up. God, he loved that car. Thousands of dollars in renovations, he was going to miss the sound system, which made any music turn liquid, most. But he could rebuild. The last thing he wanted was a Kia, but there had to be at least one or two higher end trade-ins at the dealership. This barely put a dent in his demeanor. He thought he heard a muffled scream come from several stories above him. Poor bastard. The screaming continued for less than a minute and abruptly stopped. A dumb grin plastered itself across Jim’s haggard face.
A firm slap on the back brought Jim careening back into the present. He spun around to meet a puff of smoke from Teddy’s American Spirits cigarette. He frantically brushed it aside, sputtering out a cough. Teddy chuckled, “Jumpy much? I figure a guy with your inconceivable luck would be excited to see me.”
Jim’s eyes emptily searched back wondering what the hell Teddy was talking about. He couldn’t have known what just happened. The dopey, Royal’s jersey clad buffoon was nothing more than a low level bookie. Oh God, this trip wasn’t broadcasted everywhere? Shit. Jim composed himself, and asked, “What are you talking about?”
Grinning like a schoolboy, Teddy replied, “The Toronto win. Duh! Who the hell picks Toronto to win? Like ever? That was not an easy five hundred. Well done, you lucky son of a bitch.” Teddy slapped Jim’s arm in excited congratulation.
Thank God, Teddy didn’t know. Jim had forgotten about the bet he placed. A five to one shot on the Blue Jays to beat the Orioles. He was drunk, and found a loose hundred in his pocket. Today was just getting better. Confident again, Jim smirked, “Teddy, let me tell ya, luck’s got nothing to do with it.”
“Don’t feed me that line. How else you explain that shamrock tattoo on your ass?”
“First off, it’s not luck. Secondly, and most important, if I ever hear you speaking ill of the Irish sciences again, it may just be the last thing you ever say.”
“Whoa. Whoa. I meant no disrespect, just having some fun. You know semantics and all. Just missed that class in high school.”
“Hey, knowing really is half the battle. So you got my money?”
“Not right now. Didn’t know I’d be running into ya. I’ll get it for ya soon. Just got plastic on me.”
This unnerved Jim. After all of the bullshit he just endured, he sure as hell was not going to put up with excuses. Teddy always had cash on him. He was a fucking bookie. Why would he lie? The anger within began to rise through the sunshine and newfound appreciation of life. Stiffening his composure, he grabbed Teddy by the shoulder, met Teddy’s gaze with suddenly dead eyes, and with a firm, hollow tone asked, “Why do feel the need to bullshit me, Teddy? You’re a bank. I thought we were cool.”
Teddy, completely unprepared for this turn of events, felt something he had never felt around Jim, terror. He was a mid-level mover. At worst, he had a short temper which the bosses made it a point to sedate, and at best, he was just a sad alcoholic. Stammering, “I just got plastic man. I don’t pick up the bank for a few hours. Look, I can rush it for you, and maybe this afternoon. I’m sorry. Didn’t know this meant this much for you. If you’re really hurting for money I can put a rush on it. I get it. I’ve been there.”
Not buying any of it, the line about money problems took Jim over the edge. He grabbed Teddy and threw him against the wall, screaming, “What the fuck would ever make you think I have money problems. You mother fucking cunt, this is about fucking respect goddammit. And you have the fucking nerve to bullshit me here. Me? You are going look me in eye and feed me that load of shit, like I’m some fucking low level dealer?”
Taking a deep breath, Jim walked over, picked Teddy up by the collar and slammed his head against the concrete wall. Teddy, unable to respond, swirled in a concussive confusion. Jim became overtaken with anger. That bitch. That fucking bitch. Who the fuck was she? And those motherfuckers, destroying his car. Now this sack of shit. Jim continued, “Fucking hell, Teddy. You’re worth less than a jar of clean piss to the company, and you have the nerve to hold out, and bullshit me? Don’t you know who I am? What I’m worth? The brass that backs me?”
Jim drove his right fist into Teddy’s stomach. Teddy bent over and coughed violently. In short breaths, he begged, “I’m sorry. I’m not bullshitting you. Just gimme an hour.”
The last forty-eight hours flashed through Jim’s mind and his fists finally found a cathartic release. He heard her voice in the back of his mind as he connected with Teddy’s frail body. Now coughing up blood, Teddy was helpless underneath the blows of Jim’s newly awakened demons. A fist felt a rib crack, relaying pleasure and contentment to Jim’s brain and he kept on going, now moving to the face. Cough. Crack. Please, dear God stop. Teddy’s face blurred and all Jim could sense outside of his anger were trace fragments of Veronica’s perfume. Bitch.
After a moment, Teddy’s body slumped and Jim pulled back, allowing Teddy to crumble against the wall, his blue jersey now spattered in quickly drying crimson. Remorseless, Jim brushed the blood off his hands on his pants and turned around to see if his ride had arrived; Teddy, still alive, wheezed gurgled coughs behind him. Jim tuned it out as a black sedan pulled up to the curb. The driver gave him a nod and he climbed into the back seat. He might have known the driver, but he was too dazed to dwell on his identity. Exhausted, he drowned out all of the driver’s chitchat and tiredly mumbled, “Hey man, just take me to the fucking Kia. It has been one hell of a day.”
The driver nodded and took off towards the highway. Settling into the leather interior, Jim closed his eyes and fell soundly asleep.