A Week With My Roommates

Kaiser Rolls & Bridge Tolls

TUESDAY:

I woke up without my brother practically rupturing an organ for once, it's unbelievable.

As I walked into the kitchen I felt uneasy. The apartment was quiet, too quiet. Just as I was about to go see if Monique and CC were alright I heard the loud and rapid thudding of feet coming down the hall. It took me a few seconds to realize I was standing in the line of fire and nearly fell as I tried to run across the linoleum tile floor, my feet slipping and getting almost nowhere like a dog trying to run away from the vet.

"CALISTO!" My brother shouted, sounding worried as he ran into the countertop "WE'RE LATE FOR WORK!"

I looked at the clock and nearly choked. It was 9:20, we were supposed to be at work over an hour ago.

"Get dressed, get your shoes on and get to the car." I said loudly so my brother would listen. In a flash of feathers he was gone down the hall to her ready.

I wasn't worried about Monique being late since she was her own boss.

She worked at her boutique a few blocks over, selling and making dresses and other things. She made the most beautiful clothing, but she never made any for CC and I because I would lose it and anything with CC doesn't last more than five seconds.

Within five minutes CC was running down the hall with the car keys in his mouth. "I'll drive," he said.

"No you won't. Last time I let you drive you totaled the car and yourself" I said abruptly, noting the hospital bills we have yet to pay.

"But I-" he started whining

"No buts!" I interrupted. "Give." I ordered, holding out my hand as he gave me the keys.

"Let's go!" I yelled, grabbing two kaiser rolls for us to eat on the way there and walked out the door.

"Please deposit another 25 cents" I read the light up sign at the old bridge toll. "Damn it," I whispered under my breath, I didn't have another quarter.

After about ten minutes of sitting there, hitting my head against the steering wheel and listening to the angry shouts of people behind us, someone walked up and threw a quarter into the metal basket.

As the toll hate opened up I sped away, nearly making CC choke on the kaiser roll.

After fifteen minutes of reckless driving we arrived at rec. center where we worked. I was a lifeguard and CC worked at the snack bar.

Our bosses weren't as mad as we thought they would be, it turns out they were late themselves. Although not as extremely as us.

I went to the locker room to get changed into my uniform, red swim trunks, and a tank top with the word "lifeguard" written across it in all caps.

I walked to the pool, climbed up the lifeguard chair and sat down.

I took a deep breath through my nose, inhaling the chlorine scented air.

Finally some time away from them.