All that is broken

Back to Work

"Hi Michael, This is Jackson calling in to let you know that I am going to be covering for Rebeccah for her closing shift tonight... yes sir... I have been cleared to come back... but sir... yes sir... I understand... I will be extra careful... mhmm okay... I will come in early to fill those out for you... okay sir, see you at four... bye." Jackie hung up the phone and texted Rebeccah.  He grabbed his sweater and grabbed his keys. He headed out and locked both locks.

    Jackie walked over to the Dobermans' residence and knocked on the door. Mrs. Doberman opened the door and smiled when she saw it was Jackie. "Would you like to come in honey?"

    "Unfortunately, I have some errands to run before I go to work tonight but I did want to let you know that my mother wants to have you and your husband over for dinner at her house this coming Saturday if you both would like. She is aware of your husband's disease and has a special meal planned."

    "Oh my! Your mother is the sweetest! I will let Gerald know. What time did you want us over?" she asked as she grabbed her phone from her pocket.

    "I think she said 4 pm but I will let you know tonight ma'am."

    "Okay hun,"she tapped her phone. "Would she mind if I brought a dessert?"

    "Of course not! You know my mother loves them." he laughed. "Warning you Mrs. Doberman, my mom is going to try to drag you into her restaurant business."

    She laughed. "And you know I probably would take it. It's better than being on my own selling every farmer's markets. Especially if you mom is the one buying them all for herself. God knows if I could eat like that little woman I would be a human bowling ball."

    Jackie laughed.

    "Here you go Jackie," she handed him a tupperware box, "I made these fresh this morning and was going to give them to Gerald to take to the station, but the old crones don't need them."

    "Thank you ma'am. I will enjoy these on my lunch break." and with that he thanked her once again and waved goodbye to her as he ran down the stairs.

    He placed the box on the roof and unlocked his car. He looked at his car, disgusted by how dirty it had gotten. "This what happens when you live at the beach." he sighed to himself. He checked his phone for the time. It read 1:26 pm. "I guess I have time for a wash."

    Jackie rushed into the building. "The line at the carwash was so damn long, what the hell." He had decided to wash the car right before going to work, so he had taken his time shopping and getting his prescriptions, causing the time to be 3 o'clock when he got to the line for the car wash. This car wash was in a different town, ten minutes by freeway to the hotel but today was Friday so there was traffic. Everything that could go wrong went wrong.

    Jackie looked up at the last second before colliding with a fellow server who was serving a couple their drinks in the foyer of the hotel. "Sorry Miel!" he shouted, this time keeping his head up.

    "Jackie, it is almost 4:10! How are you this late. You are never this late for anything. " Michael said as Jackie swung the door to his office wide open. Jackie walked over to a chair and collapsed. "You know Micheal, you can plan everything to the t but the universe only mocks and laughs and ruins everything." he stopped and looked to Micheal for pity.

    Micheal turned his back so that way he couldn't be swayed by the puppy dog eyes. "You know Jackie. You are lucky you set the time and not me or this would be a write up."

    "Oh you suck." He reached for the paper work on the desk. "You have a pen?"

    Michael grabbed a pen from the drawer. "Jackie..."