Drinking To Cope

An Outburst (Chapter 3)

"Claw, it's already 12 A.M, what are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, I lost track of time. Time zones aren't in my favor."

"It's okay, I believe in you. Just try not to over work yourself, you're our most valued member and we couldn't afford losing you. Don't tell the others, but you're the only one with experience that could completely overturn the mines here."

"Should I take that as a compliment?"

Claw put down his tool while walking towards Frank, who extended his paw to Claw, and who took it.

"You should it, your experience is untapped and your specialty is this. What I'm saying Claw, I know you don't understand this complicated talk, I'm just saying you're really good at mining copper- It's like you can smell it and know where to mine and what you're getting. You're really good at it and I don't want you to leave because from what I'm looking at, you're really good at it."

Claw grasped his paw harder.

"Thank you, and I do actually smell copper. It's a distinct smell that you don't get anywhere else but copper. Raw copper smells more pure and has a kind of sweet smell. It also has this shine that only copper has."

"So it is true, your last employer told me about that, but I didn't think it was true until you came here and showed me."

"No one thinks it's true until they see it for themselves".

They laughed together as Frank led Claw to the entrance.

"Here's your check, first of the month. I gave you a raise already because you seem incredibly talented and worked overtime by a large majority."

Frank started writing on an empty check.

"What's your full name?"

"K-L-Ø, the o with the line through it, yeah like that, a hypen, M-I-K-K-E-L, space, and E-R-I-K-S-E-N, that is Klø-Mikkel Eriksen."

"I thought Claw-Chan was your real name?"

"Claw-Chan is just a name the immigration agency gave to me to sound more American."

They laughed together loudly before Frank put the check in an envelope and gave it to Claw.

"I saw you didn't have a car, do you need to borrow one? I can give you a ride tomorrow to the dealership to get you one. Free of charge, gasoline on yours though. Just remember it's 'travel and company fee', alright?"

"I'd like that please."

Claw smiled brightly as they walked out having small talk about cars and similar things. Frank offered to drive Claw home, and he agreed.

...

"Right there is my apartment, thank you for the lift."

"No worried bud, I'll be here at 7:45 tomorrow to pick you up tomorrow. Bring fancy clothes, all you'll be doing is getting a car. You've already filled your quota for atleast 5 days."

"Takk, I mean, thank you!"

Claw exited the car and waved goodbye to Frank as he sped off, he sighed happily feeling the envelope in his paws. He put it in his bag and grabbed his phone, which was shut off due to reasons. He powered it on as he walked into the building. No one was at the receptionist desk, and the elevator seemed to be out of order by the sign on it. He decided he needed to walk to his room. Claw pocketed the phone and began walking the 5 flights. They went by quickly for Claw as he was just trying to hurry things up and head home.

As he was on the floor, he began searching for the key in his bag, but didn't find it. He groaned as he tried to open the door, and it was open.

"Faen, Astravyn leaving it open."