Page 20 of The Good Char (Soul Taker)

KIMMY

A few paychecks in and my little apartment was furnished enough for me to stay.

“My own place. I can’t believe I did it,” I whispered, looking around the plain walls with a big smile.

It was still somewhat sparse, but I had a bed, the lower box that sat on the floor, a loveseat and a kitchen table. I would need to grab a microwave next and maybe a few pots and pans.

Nodding my head, I left my apartment, intent on checking my mail. Turning my key to lock the door, I lifted my eyes to see my strange neighbor down the hall looking at me again. I waved and he tipped his head. We never spoke but he seemed friendly.

Shrugging my shoulders, I went down a couple flights of stairs to the mailroom. Humming to myself, I unlocked my box and took out the few letters that were in it. My heart stuttered. The first was a bill.

Did I miss one? I could have sworn I calculated and paid everything on time. I could have sworn!

“Please, please, please,” I chanted, hoping that it would say zero dollars.

I ripped it open and slowly pulled it out and felt my eyes burning from tears forming.

“Oh, good, they fixed the mailboxes. Whoever was stealing mail won’t be able to do it now,” came an unfamiliar voice beside me.

I blinked a few times and turned to look at them.

It was an older woman who probably also resided in the apartments.

“You must be new, I haven’t seen your face around.

Welcome. Why would a pretty girl like you decide to live in a dump like this? ”

I sniffed and shrugged my shoulders, at a loss for words. My mind was still reeling over the fact that my utility bill was doubled, stating that a payment was missed.

It was nice of our landlord to fix our mailboxes. But it didn’t change the fact that I was left with the repercussions. How in the world was I going to pay this on time? I wasn’t even sure if my next paycheck would cover it all.

I felt defeated. I would have to stay with my parents a bit longer.

It was the only way I could save. Keeping the lights off in my apartment made a big difference.

I had yet to turn on the water, trying to hold that off for last. And I still needed to purchase cookware.

So it was either scrounge up money quickly to pay this bill, or not be able to have any tools to make food.

Maybe I could ask Mr. Dzik for more hours somehow.

“Well, see you around!” my neighbor waved as she turned and walked back to her apartment with her cane and mail in hand.

I shoved the rest of the mail into my hoodie pocket and made my way to my bicycle. Mr. Dzik gave me the day off with full pay, mumbling something about needing distance.

Well, this was an emergency so he was going to have to suck it up and see me again.

The trip was quick, my mind occupied the entire time.

Parking my bike, I took off my helmet and fluffed my hair out before tying it into a ponytail.

Marching to the food court, I beelined straight to The Good Char with my eyes glued on his form.

As if he could sense me, he snapped his head up and shoved the order in his hand into the customer's chest.

“Hey! Watch it!” the poor guy whined.

“Get out,” he snapped.

“Rude!”

Mr. Dzik turned his head toward the man and the man scrambled away with his corndog.

“Mr. Dzik—” I started, prepared with a full eloquent speech inside my head.

“Dzik,” he glared and I suddenly lost my confidence.

Come on, Kimmy. You can do this.

“Can you give me more hours? I need the extra money. Something came up and it would really help get me out of a bind. Not that it matters to you but if you could help me out, I would greatly appreciate it. Please.”

I finally took a breath. Not at all what I prepared but close enough to get my desperation across.

“What kind of bind?” he grunted. He didn’t seem happy. Oh no. Please, please!

“I-Something happened that was out of my control and now I have to find a way to fix it. I spent the last paycheck on a couch for my apartment, you know, so I don’t have to sit on the floor anymore and I don’t think I’ll have enough to do this thing that I have to do…”

I sounded idiotic even to my own ears.

“So you want to… work more, is this what I’m hearing?”

I nodded frantically. “I appreciate you always giving me time off, please don’t think otherwise. I just need this so desperately, please. It would help me so much, Mr—er, Dzik.”

Giving him a bright smile, he frowned and grunted before turning and walking toward the back room.

“Hey! Can I get some service here?” came a woman’s voice behind me. “How rude! He saw me standing here this whole time!”

“I’ll help you. Just give me a second,” I told her. Quickly getting behind the counter, I got her order and rang her up. “Here’s a free lemonade. Sorry about that.”

“Thank you. You’re one of the only reasons why I keep coming back here. The other guy is a jerk.”

I laughed nervously and gave her a bright smile. “Thank you, come back soon!” I waved.

“What are you doing?” my boss barked behind me and I shrank in place.

“Helping out?” I squeaked, biting my lip and turning toward him.

“I told you to take the day off! Here,” he shoved an envelope toward me, making sure not to make any contact.

He was acting like a toddler. Why were boys so weird? I purposely touched his fingers as I took it from him and his nostrils flared but he didn’t look away.

“Take it and leave,” he said with finality.

“What about more hours?”

“Leave, Kimmy. Now!” he roared and I jumped and did as he commanded, not looking back until I made it to my bicycle. Gosh, he really was extra grumpy today. One would think helping him relieve himself the other day would make his mood better. Apparently not.

Or maybe he was so pent up, one wasn’t enough. Hmm. Good point, Kimmy. Don’t give up on the guy yet. He needs you.

Nodding my head to my own internal dialogue, I opened the envelope and pulled out my paycheck. I almost dropped it. My eyes blurred quickly from the tears as I brought my hand to my mouth.

I ran back inside, straight to The Good Char. Parting everyone around me, I made my way behind the counter and tackled my boss with a hug, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.

He tensed up and growled beside my ear but a few moments later, I felt his arms wrap around me too.

“Thank you, Mr. Dzik. Thank you so much. You didn’t have to,” I whispered, choking at the end.

“Everyone leave. The Good Char is closed for the rest of the day,” he bit out, never letting me go.

“What? I’ve been standing here for like?—”

Dzik lifted me and turned to face the man.

“Sorry. Sorry. I’m going,” the man mumbled and I giggled.

“What’s so funny?” he snarled at me, his hand rubbing my lower back softly.

“You, grumpy pants. You.”

He groaned and put me back on my feet. “Don’t make me tell you again, Kimmy. Leave. You’re off today. I don’t want to see you back and I definitely do not need any conversations about pants with you. Go!”

“Yes, sir!” I saluted, right before I jumped up and gave him a peck on the cheek.

Dzik gave me more than enough to cover my late bill and then some.

He had a heart of gold whether he wanted to admit it or not.

It was little moments like these where I knew I was no longer the naive girl I was.

Being around Dzik grounded me into reality and where I once saw the world through rose colored lenses, he helped remind me that it wasn’t always that way…

but he was there to catch me anyway when I didn’t know I was falling.

He growled as I skipped away, feeling light on my feet, knowing that my dream at being independent was at my fingertips.