Necrophage

Intro to Thom

Thursday,  July 14th

11 days Pre-Message

7:00 AM Local time (Chicago)

"What do you mean you don't know where my paycheck is Bill, I mean come on this is Friday morning and I need my money!" Thom cried out, "Take it easy Thom, the paycheck should have been on the truck, I am sure they will be here around 11am." Bill, the store manager replied, "After all it isn't like you have to work tonight."

"That's my point, I am off until Monday night and Gwen and I have plans, I don't have time to dick around here and wait for it, I am frickin tired."

"Don't worry it will be here soon, tell ya what want me to call you when they come in?"

"Okay I guess that will have to do."

Thom walked out of the Walmart store where he has worked at for five years.  The ‘truck’ thing seemed to have been happening more and more each month. Last month, it was a few days before he even got his check. Determined not to let this spoil his day, he quickly walked outside and waited for Reggie. It was a rather warm day already and Thom had been looking forward to this getaway with Gwen for a while now. He jumped into his car and turned on the radio hoping to forget about what just happened. While he was waiting for Reggie to come out (his bff since high-school and co-worker on the night shift), he decided to give her a call.

“Hey hun it’s me, what ya doing?"

“Well, besides sleeping, not a damn thing. Honey, you know I said I wanted to sleep in, why are you calling me so early?”, Gwen bitched.

“I’m sorry babe, I know. I am just so damn pissed at my boss right now, my paycheck wasn't on the truck this morning.”

“Thom, it’s okay Hun, I can take care of our expenses for the trip,” Gwen replied, “I mean Hell, you pay all the time and it’s no problem to do this.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that but that’s not the point, I hate how....”

“The point is, “Gwen interrupted, “ I am not letting anything mess with this vacation, we both need time alone and we are going no matter what.”

“I know okay but..”

“But nothing mister, we are going and the only ‘butt’ you have to worry about is mine!” Gwen teased.

“Okay,” Thom laughed, “let’s do this. What time do you want me to pick you up?”

“Let me sleep in for a bit and why don’t you come over around noon?”

“Sounds like a plan, I will see you soon. Bye babe, luv ya”

“Love you too, sweetheart.”

Thom hung up his phone and turned on the radio, hoping to find something upbeat on the radio. Where the hell is Reggie? he thought as he looked around, I don't have time to fuck around.  As he was about to call him he looked in the rear view mirror and saw Reggie walking to the car. About damn time! he thought as he started the car. 

“Hey man shake a leg if you want a ride, you lazy ass!” Thom yelled, “You know I have things to do!”

“Okay, okay keeps you pants on man, I’m coming!” Reggie yelled back.

                                                “About time you got here, what the Hell took you so long?”

“Relax man, it’s all good, check out the tape CD that I burned last night,” Reggie said, “this will add a bit of soul to my brother”

Thom looked at the handwritten markings on the CD. In bold letters was written “100 Disco club hits of the 70’s, 80’s & 90’s. Reggie quickly ejected the CD in the player and put in his CD and pushed play. A moment later the song “Let it whip” was playing.

“Seriously? Are you kidding me?” Thom asked, “Dude, were you even alive when that song came out?”

“Shit man, you are one the talk, how old exactly is this hoopty of yours?” Reggie said kiddingly, “Besides. it’s smooth as silk man just listen to the beats and drive on James!”

“I swear my life is in Hell.” Thom muttered as they drove off.

Thom and Reggie rode away ii silence, Reggie tapping his hand on the side of the door to the beat as Thom determined to make today be a good day. Thom wanted to ask his best friend about tonight but was too tired and annoyed to do so. The entire trip was uneventful until about 5 min away from Reggie's house. In the middle a song suddenly stopped and asked, “Hey man what’s going on tonight are we still on or are you wussing out on me again? “

Well I have to head home then go to Gwen’s house for a lil ‘boom boom’ then cath some sleep but yeah, I think so. Remember man, we are going to need are rest for the rode trip.”