I LOSE MY JOB!?

I barely make it in ten feet from the door when I heard that bone-chilling voice.

"Ahab! Stop right there where the hell have you been!?" It was none other than my manager Raquel. I stopped in my tracks. Her resonating voice was so loud it drew all of the customers attention to me. Raquel stepped right in front of me, hands on her hips to know she means business, blocking me from the employee break room; away from my locker, away from my clothes.

"Raquel, I can explain..."

"Do you even know how long you have been gone? The line had gotten so long I had to have Macy cover your shift." As if on cue, Macy emerged from behind the counter to swagger over to my side.

"Oh it was no trouble boss," Macy placed a hand on my shoulder and edged it close to the strings of my cape. "I am sure our buddy Ahab here just couldn't bare to stay cooped up for too long." She snickered. I frowned.

"Well than he should have requested a break then! And what the fuck are you wearing Ahab?"

"Why tell when he can show?" With lightning fast reflexes, Macy whisked off my cape after skillfully untying the strings, leaving me in just my red stretchy shorts. Macy feigned disappointment at my appearance. "Oh my Ahab, I hardly think that is workplace attire." All the women in the cafe gasped at the spectacle; the shiny half-naked man trying to feebly hide his chest.

Even Raquel went bug-eyed for a moment. "I-I am sorry Ahab, but whatever this is..." she gestured toward my new look. "I cannot have it in the workplace, I'm afraid I am going to have to let you go."

"Wait! Raquel! This is not my fault! First I tore my pants and then..."

"That's enough Ahab! Do you even realize how hard Macy had to work just to cover a shift for two people?" Macy grinned and I glared in her direction. She was practically the whole reason I was in this mess! "Go to your locker Ahab and pack up, there is no way I can let you continue your last shift looking like that. Though I'm betting it would attract a lot more customers." Raquel wiggled her eyebrows.

Macy raised a hand to her forehead in a salute. "I already packed his things ma'am. I stuffed them in a box and left it outside." WHAT!? So that box I saw outside had my clothes in it?!

"Well I guess that saves time then," Raquel gave me a sad smile. "I am so sorry Ahab, as a friend this breaks my heart but as a manager I have to think of the cafe's reputation. No matter how much everybody seemed to be enjoying the view," she gestured all around us. The ladies in the cafe were unmistakably ogling me and my luminous abs. "Human Resources is gonna kill me if I keep on an employee who ditches in the middle of work and comes back looking all porn star."

There was nothing I could do to argue with that. Raquel may not have all the facts but I did not want her to get in trouble because of this, she really was a great boss and a good person. Macy twirled up my cape like a towel and used it like a whip to strike me on the ass. With a final yelp to Aroma Therapy, I went outside to collect my belongings.