Ka-ching

Late Night

Finally frustrated with the glitchy computer, Jay chucked the files in the tan bin beside him. This was the last time he was going to be given a newsletter about the flashing new cameras and set to work on the outdated computers.

He had no idea why the company still used these dysfunctional excuses for computers. To be truly honest the reason could be a form of punishment. What he did wrong was beyond him when everyone seethed when he stepped in the door.

Never mind that, he could finally go home and cuddle up with a good book, a nice warm cup of tea and his angle like parents bickering about whatever.

Taking a deep breath, Jay gathered his belongings and made his way out of the depths of archived files. It felt more like a prison then average work. Shelves stacked high above safety measures and collecting enough dust to make an army.

To put it bluntly, it was terrible. But what was he thinking when applying to a business that only cared about income. The only reason a below average worker like Jay would be wanted by a company run by the rich was his father. Now that he had gone dry after a night at the casino. He came back that morning claiming that he could no longer afford to keep me in college and Jay had to drop out of college.

The people at the front desk probably see him as inferior now that the large sum of money backing him up was gone. After that management kicked him downstairs and he's been working there ever since.

It's not bad, it keeps the house warm and food on the table, but that dream of becoming a world renowned author of the best books was gone like the winter snow melting in spring.

After hiking up the several flights of stairs, Jay pushed into the front lobby. He lowered his head as to not draw attention to himself. On his way out he past three coworkers of his talking about gambling later. Average.

"Now you see what's special about tonight is that the big three are coming. Boss says he can get us a game with one if we behave!" The trench coat said.

"Really?! Imagine the money we could get!" The tux one said.

"No I bet they'll put in real gold bars!" The fedora claimed.

"Haha I bet diamonds and-" the trench one met eyes with Jays pale blue ones.

"Yah I bet ever the basement dweller could have a chance," he finished while stepping in my path.

"You think?" The fedora asked the to be cut off.

"Of course not! Bad luck is what makes him up. After his fathers loss he'd be shamed for even stepping inside the casino walls!" Trench coat insulated.

"You speak like we haven't established this yet" Jay said while walking around to the door.

"Not a chance!" The tux yelled.

Jay slammed the glass door and fixed the warn dress shirt his mother gave him then made his way to the bus stop.

"Maybe I do and they don't know that," Jay wondered aloud to himself.

"No way" another man from the building said while walking past.

———

Jay fell on his bed face up, staring at the cracked ceiling. The words of a chance still echoed in his head.

If he got at least a few thousand dollars, his family would be set for the next year or so, and maybe some respect from his coworkers.

Jay sat there pondering for a few minutes when his mother called for dinner.

"How was work?" She asked while scooping mashed potatoes in a bowl.

"Same as always" Kay replied blatantly.

"They still tease you?" His mom asked, hurt lacing her voice.

"I'm sorry," Jays father piped up from across the table.

"Don't apologize, you've learned you lesson and we are all still alive aren't we?" His mom said.

"Dad, who are the big three?" Jay asked out of deep though.

"When did you hear about them Jay?" His dad asked, clearly more concerned then usual.

"Some people at work were talking about them. Something about gold bars and a game if they behaved," Jay said.

"It's better you don't Jay. It's better for all of us," he said while taking care of his plates.

"Why?" Jay pushed.

"Don't worry about it," his mother said while trying to shush him.

"Last time I didn't, you lost all of our money! Our real house, my dream, our reputation!" Jay yelled. Time froze.

"Look I-" Jay tried to reverse his outburst but was cut off.

"The big three are who I lost everything to. I tried for a sum bigger then what I had and got greedy. The three are not people to play with, or to even remotely know. It's better that way." His father concluded. With that Jays father made his way to the shared bedroom and locked the door.

"It's really that bad?" His mother just nodded.

That night, it took a lot of tea and reading to catch a wink of sleep. But the thought of getting everything he could have had refused to let Jay sleep.