Spider-Man: Sandstorm

Chapter 2: Back to Basics pt. 3

      He opens then closes the door behind him and sits down. He looks around the office and remembers all the times he sat in the same chair as a teenager, listening to Jameson calling his photos crap and slandering his alternate identities name.
     "I'm sure you're wondering why I called you in here." Jameson says, staring at Peter.
     "Nothing's ever a wonder with you, Mr. Jameson."
     "As I'm sure you noticed everything is a little scrambled today," Jonah goes on, "that's because I need the article of that Spider-Menace fighting Wilson Fisk to go up immediately."

     "Isn't that the case with all your papers?"

     "This one is special, Parker. Spider-Man finally did something right, and it's clear he took my advice. He stopped the city's biggest crime lord because he obviously reads my paper."

     "So this is extra important cause you were right about something?" Peter asks, already thinking of how much money he could make from this.

     "Precisely," Jonah says, a large smile growing under his thick mustache.

    "Well you're in luck, Mr. Jameson," Peter says, pulling out the photos of Spider-Man and Fisk. "I have these for you." He hands them over to Jonah.

     Jonah laughs and pats Peter on the shoulder. "I knew I could count on you, son." He looks through the photos, inspecting them individually.
"Hold on a second," he says squinting at the photos, "this looks outdated."

      "Uhh..." Peter quickly tries to think of an excuse, "my camera's quality has gotten really bad over the months... part of why I really need the money."

      Jonah looks at Peter suspiciously and thinks for a moment. He puts the photos down and looks back up at Peter.
     "Well you've never led me astray before, Parker."
Peter smiles.

    Jonah pulls out his checkbook and begins to write. "I'll give you 100 for each."
      Peter looks at him dumbfounded and quickly butts in, "but Mr. Jameson there's only 5 pictures and that's barely half of what rent costs nowadays. Can you please just consider giving a little more?"

      Jonah looks up from his checkbook. "Listen, Parker, I out of everyone would know how hard times can be, I mean there was a point when all I had were the clothes on my back and the intelligence in my brain, couldn't even afford clean underwear."

     Peter looks at him, a little grossed out.

      Jonah goes on, "but 100 is my best offer, I'm not made out of money, and neither is this industry, it's made out of cardboard at this point. I mean I built this paper with my bare hands from the ground up."

     Peter looks at him again in a questioning way. "Can you just please throw me a bone. Or I can take those right back." He points at the photos.

     Jonah looks at them, then at Peter. He weighs his options for a moment then comes to a consensus. "FINE, BEST I CAN DO IS 200 EACH."

     "Works for me!" Peter says while he reaches over to shake Jonah's hand. "Pleasure doing business with you as usual, Jonah."

     Jonah hands him the written check and he takes it to Betty to be cashed. "I can tell you missed him," she says while handing Peter his money.
    "That obvious?" Peter responds, grabbing the money out of Betty's hand, "see ya around Betty."

     "See ya, Pete."

     Peter takes the elevator back down to the lobby and walks up to the coffee stand.
    
      "I'll have one medium caramel macchiato," he says, a condescending tone in his voice, his Spider-Man is showing.

        The same woman from before takes his money and gives him his coffee. Peter then walks outside.
       I feel like I'm on a cloud, he thinks, and this is just the top of the rainbow.

     He's about to take a sip before he notices a homeless man sitting outside the Bugle. He walks up to him,
    
      "Stan? That you?"
    
       The man looks up and his face lightens up. He stands and hugs Peter.

      "Peter? What a surprise! How are you? How's your Aunt?"
       Peter laughs and hugs Stan back, "I'm fine, May's fine but... why aren't you at the homeless shelter? It's freezing out here."

     "Oh it's just that... Well, I came out looking for a job, but luck hasn't really been on my side today."

      "Hey, that's great!" Peter tells him, "that's great for you, just keep trying and don't stay out too long." Peter hands him the coffee that he just bought. "And here," he says, "for the cold."

      Stan smiles and pats Peter's back. "Thank you, Peter. You go off now, I'll get back to looking."

     "Alright, stay safe Stan."

      Peter goes back towards the Bugle to get a coffee for the last time. He walks through the doors and looks toward the coffee stand.

SORRY, WE'RE CLOSED.

Peter stands there in silence.

Come on, Man.