On the Plus Side

Page 7

I hated shopping for clothes. Trying to find something decent to fit me was my idea of Hell. I’d gladly go through Hell if it meant my mom would forget the conversation we just had. The last thing I wanted was my mom trying any stupid match making schemes with a bunch of idiot men who’d rather be celibate than touch me. Of course, it worked.
I listened as she went over all the stores she wanted to visit and the things she wanted to buy. I followed her out of the café barely paying attention.
Today wasn’t my day. All the mushy love thoughts and the “no one wants me” whining was starting to get on my nerves. Aunt Flo’s definitely knocking at my door, and she brought the bitch triplets P, M, and S with her.
I stood in the first store we went to and daydreamt of a hot bubble bath, candles, and Christina Perri on low volume. All this shopping for expensive crap that would never fit, when all I really wanted was a nice hot bubble bath and a naughty threesome with Ben & Jerry’s. So much for that idea!
Three
The Proposition
I haven’t worn a tie since my grandfather’s funeral when I was fifteen. These bank officials damn well better appreciate that. I’d already spent most of the morning stuck in traffic all the way from Walterboro to downtown Charleston. It’s usually a thirty minute trip, if you take the interstate. Today it took me damn near an hour and a half.
I sat in the lobby and silently prayed that these bank boys would give us a shot at an extension. I just needed some extra time…anything that would keep me and my little family in our home. Maybe they could give us two more months on top of the ninety days? What’s two more months?
The devil on my shoulder stuffed negative thoughts into my brain. What if they refused? We’d have to start over fresh somehow. That’s not really a scary thought for me, except for that fact that poor dad wouldn’t know what to do with himself. The shop is all he’s ever known.
The minutes felt like hours and I found myself dazing in and out. I picked up a magazine and flipped through it without even looking at the pages. I felt like I was being watched so I looked around the room once more. I noticed a lady sitting across from me, an attractive lady actually. She was older, late forties maybe? Not really my type, but she was still kind of sexy in a cougar dominatrix kind of way.
She was openly staring back at me. Doing nothing to hide the fact that she was checking me out, her eyes moved from my eyes down to my crotch. The way she stared at me didn’t match her look. Legs crossed all prim and proper like, she smiled seductively at me. I smiled back. Hey, if she wanted to play, I could play, too. Then her face dropped and her smile was replaced with a sarcastically lifted brow and a pinched mouth.
I shook my head and looked away. I didn’t have time for an old tease.
Finally, after what felt like days, the lady behind the desk called me back. I stepped through the door of the bank manager’s office.
“Mr. Michaels, I presume?” The man behind the desk asked.
He stood and held out his hand, I shook it. My sweaty palm made a squishing noise when I squeezed it, giving away my nerves.
This has to work. It’s our last resort.
“My name is Mr. Schaefer. What can I help you with?”
I took my seat and started to fidget a little. This was the most important thing I’ve ever done and getting refused just wasn’t an option at this point.
“Well, Mr. Schaefer, I won’t waste your valuable time so I’m gonna get straight to the point. We owe this bank more money than we got and we only have ninety days to come up with that money. I’m here to ask you for more time, an extra sixty days, maybe?” I said quickly.
He picked up a small stack of papers and tapped them against the desk as he organized them.
“Mr. Michaels, I’m going to be completely honest with you. I’ve taken a good look at your file and there’s just nothing more we can do. I feel horrible about this, I really do, but if the balance isn’t paid in the next ninety days, we’re going to be forced to foreclose on all of your father’s properties, the business included. I’m deeply sorry. If there’s anything else I can help you with, you just let me know.”
“You’re tellin’ me there’s no other option?” I said loudly.
I knew the people in the waiting room could hear me, but I didn’t care. This was my life he was messing with. This was Jenny’s life he was messing with. Our home and our work, the way we survived.
“Mr. Schaefer, I appreciate the fact that this is your job and everything, but you gotta find another way!” I yelled. “There’s no way that we can come up with that kind of money that fast and I’ll be damned if you or any of these little stuck up bastards you got working here are gonna take our home.”