The Eye of the Beholder /Phan>•</

The Blue Fish

"Mr. Howell, you are a bit late today aren't you?" My boss, Mrs. Edna Retcher, said as I rushed through the double doors.

"Yes ma'am, and I am so so sorry! I completely understand if you want me to take some extra hours without pay today?"

"Ha! I have people lining up for your job. People who wouldn't be late..."

"Please, miss. I can't support my family without this job!"

"I am sorry Dan, but you have become quite lazy, and there is always something on your mind, when all that should be on your mind when you are here, is work."

"Please if you just give me one more chance–"

"No. This was your one more chance. Get out." My head looked toward the floor. How am I supposed to live, to buy things that I need?

I headed home, head still looking at the ground. I didn't know how was going to live. I opened the door to hear music. Something I hadn't heard when I got home for a long time.

"Phil?"

"Woah, you are back soon!" I couldn't tell him what had happened. He would think it was his fault.

"Yeah, I uh, told my boss how busy today was...she totally understood and sent me home!" I smiled.

"I am so sorry Dan! I feel so bad that I was the reason you got fired!"

"That obvious huh?"

"I like to think so."

We headed upstairs after I grabbed the newspaper. Pj is the "paper boy" so I get it for free.

"We will find you an even better job, okay?" Phil asked. His eyes were full of hope.

"Yeah."

We looked through the newspaper. One restaurant needed a chef. I can't cook. One place needed a delivery person. I can't drive. One place was hiring waiters. I can't talk to very many people, and wish me luck carrying more than two plates at a time.

Finally I found one. A dish washer. It was perfect. I didn't have to talk to people, it wasn't very many hours, the pay was relatively good. When I've worked there for a while, I could maybe ask for a raise.

"So that one?" Phil asked.

"Yes. It's perfect."

And so for the rest of the day we just relaxed, setting a timer for the interview the next day.

First we got out checkers. We played that for a while, Phil won. I hadn't played checkers in a long time. We were in the middle of Attack Kn Titans, again, when Phil suddenly paused the show.

"Hey, why did you pause it?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, but, I get the feeling..." He took a breath. "That you are lying to me."

I sighed. Why did Phil have to be so perfect?

"What makes you think that?"

"There is nothing in your cabinets, there is no room for your parents to sleep in, when do your parents even com home? And why do you care so much about your job? I can tell you don't like it."

I didn't know what to say. He has me pretty much figured out.

"Good observations." I responded.

"Just tell me!"

"My parents are dead."