The sobbing man nearly pushed Kathy over the edge. The day had been too long, and her stomach too empty to deal with it. Still, she knew she just had a few more hours, then she would be home. Not that home was any better.
“Sir, if you don’t quiet down, I’ll need to ask you to leave.” She finally mustered the courage to say.
The man continued sobbing, as if she weren’t there.
“Jesus, its just a damn burger.” said Carl, Kathy’s manager. “Kick him out, will you?”
As if on cue, the man stopped crying, and ate his sandwich.
“World’s a fucking mess, but its not that bad.”
“Yeah.” Kathy said, before another customer approached.
“Hey babygirl, can I get uhhh…”
Kathy hated people who called her that. Only Ian could call her that without her losing control.
“That’ll be 2.39” said Kathy.
“I haven’t ordered yet!”
“Next customer.”
“Fine, whatever.” replied the customer, as he left towards the Burger King next door.
The next customer approached.
“What do you want?” Kathy asked.
“Gimme a bit.”
An hour passed.
“Have you decided yet?”
An hour passed.
“Let me have….”
An hour passed.
“….one small fry, and a diet coke.”
Kathy handed him a large cup.
“I said small--”
“Free upgrades to large today, enjoy.”
There were 28 more people behind the indecisive man in front of Kathy, and she was too tired, too hungry, too lonely, to listen to a single word more from any more people. So she left.
“Where are you going, Kathy? There’s at least 2 dozen more customers you need to process!” Exclaimed Carl.
Kathy ignored him.
A flurry of expletives followed, but Kathy ignored them all. She just wanted to be home to see Ian.
On the way home, she spotted the sobbing man, getting harassed by a group of children. One of the kids looked like hers, but she couldn’t tell for sure. Nor did she care if it was. The child that could be hers spotted her, before running over. Damn, it is mine she thought.
“Mom! Can you help me? This man gave us a bad check, and Frankie’s sister is really sick, and we need--”
“Whatever.” Replied Kathy, before she made her way to the man who had sobbed.
“Hey, did you give my kid a fake check?”
“I—well, yes, but I really don’t have the money to pay for whatever these kids need. You’re his mom, why don’t you pay for it?”
“Frankie’s not my kid, billy is. Now pay up, before things get messy.”
The man looked perplexed. “Are you coming onto me?”
Kathy thought for a second. She didn’t think she was, but maybe.
“Whatever, I just don’t have the money. I would if I could, but things are bad out there. They took the stairs out of my apartment. Elevator doesn’t work. I got a new mold spot on my ceiling! Just let me go, I’ll pay when I can.
“Mom! Frankie’s sis doesn’t have that much time!”
“Who does?” Kathy asked.
“Mom, please!”
Kathy sighed, “here, take it.” she said, handing a dollar to Frankie.
“But….this won’t pay for her medicine….”
“Tough; buy her a McDouble before she croaks.”
“McDoubles are 2.39 now.” said the man.
“Damn, you’re right. Here, take this too.” Kathy handed Frankie another 2 dollars.
Frankie began to cry.
“Jesus, not you too.”
“Wait, do I know you?” the man asked Kathy.
“You were crying in my McDonald’s earlier.
“Oh. I do know you. What’s your name?” Jack asked.
“You’re never going to see me again. My name is Kathy, though.”
“Mine’s Jack.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“Oh.”
“Don’t start crying again, for the love of God!”
He started crying again.
Kathy sighed, before walking off.
She shut her eyes, and rubbed her forehead. When she opened them, she was back at McDonald’s. Clocked in, she began work. There were 58 people in line this time. They all wanted a McGriddle. It was 11:45; no more breakfast. They all got McDouble’s instead. They all cried.
On the way home, she saw the kids harassing Jack again. Once again, she gave the kids 2 dollars to leave him alone. Once again, they left him alone.
Opening her eyes, she was back at work. Clock in, take order, go home.
Give 2 dollars, go home.
Opening her eyes, clock in, take order.
2 dollars, go home.
Open eyes, clock in, order.
Money. Home.
Eyes. Clock. Order.
Frankie’s sister died. Jack wasn’t there, neither were the kids. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
Clock. Order. Home.
She opened her eyes. The McDonald’s was boarded up. She tried to go in so she could start work. Carl was standing outside, sobbing.
“I want to clock in. Can you open the door?”
“We’re closed, Kathy. We couldn’t beat the rise in the cost of ingredients.” Carl said.
“But we served hundreds of people a day; we were the most successful restaurant in the city. How did we fail?”
“We sell burgers at 2.39. It costs 28 dollars to make the burger. Owner refused to increase the price. Said it was the only way his child’s friend’s daughter could get food while she was dying of cancer or something.”
“Oh, I see.” Replied Kathy.
Carl sighed, before pulling out a joint. As he lit up, he offered a hit to Kathy.
She refused. She only smoked with Ian.
“Suit yourself. Wanna fuck later?”
She refused. She only fucked Ian.
“Suit yourself, baby girl.”
Kathy pulled out a knife and stabbed Carl 12 times in the chest, and 13 in the face. He died on the spot. Kathy went home, covered in blood.
The police ruled Carl’s death a suicide.