One More Day of Life

Part I

Gali's heart tightened as she listened to Shirley's words.

"You're fired."

She couldn't afford to lose this job. It was all she had. It was the only thing that kept her off the street. Without it, she didn't know what she would do. And it wasn't even her fault. Lynette had been out to get her from day one. She admitted that waitressing was not exactly her calling, but she needed this job....

"But -"

"I don't want to hear it, Gali. You already have too many reports on file. I'm sorry. Jerry will cash you out." She said before heading back to her office.

Shirley was the owner of the restaurant Gali had been working at for the last three months. She wasn't around much and so she had no idea what went on with her workers. Jerry was Gali's supervisor and had taken a liking to Gali early on, until she rejected his advances. From that point forward, he sided with Lynette any time there was conflict between them. Gali never understood the hostility from Lynette so she tried to ignore her and keep to herself, but Lynette wanted her out and today she had succeeded.

At 17, Gali didn't know how she would survive without a job. She didn't have any family support and the handful of friends she did have weren't any more well off than she was. She fought hard not to cry as she gathered her personal belongings. She grabbed her guitar case and put on her jacket before heading to get her money from Jerry. She searched for him and saw him welcoming a couple at the entrance of the restaurant. She walked towards him, not really caring about the policy to take breaks and leave your shift through the back door. She began walking towards them, and as she did, she recognized the couple. She had heard they often came to eat here, but she had never seen them personally until today. She couldn't help but smile. It wasn't every day she saw John Lennon and Yoko Ono. She intentionally slowed her pace so she would be able to cross paths with them as they walked in to take a seat. Yoko and John smiled at her as they walked to their table.

John and Yoko continued walking which prompted Gali to keep walking to meet with Jerry. Her expression was somber once again as she reached him.

"So...looks like Shirley finally decided to let you go." He said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out some cash.

"Yes. Now can I have my money so I can go?" Gali asked.

"Well...there's just one last thing we need to discuss..."

"What is it?"

"What are we going to do about the vase that you broke? It needs to get replaced."

Gali could not believe it. He was going to charge her for the stupid vase?

Gali sighed. "Fine...just take it out of the money you owe me."

"Oh Gali..." Jerry chuckled condescendingly. "You don't even have enough money here to pay for what it costs. It's a very expensive vase."

"Jerry...you know I don't have any money." Gali responded upset.

"So what are we going to do then?" He asked as he stuck the cash back in his pocket.

"I don't have any money. I already told you."

"Well Gali, the way I see it, I'm going to have to respond for the broken vase...so that's money that is going to have to come out of my own pocket...I was thinking you could pay me...another way...a non-monetary way." He said shrewdly.

"You're sick you know that. If you think I'd actually do what you're insinuating...." Gali said.

"Well you either pay me some way... or I call the police. You decide. You said it yourself. You have no money, right? So what's it going to be? You pay for the vase or you go to jail."