Two

It was only 15:00, an hour before Jim's shift was due to finish.

Hank was on his way out, he had some errands to run.

"Don't you dare leave here even a minute before your shift is over" said Hank sternly holding a finger up to Jim "and make sure the next bartender gets here on time. Understood?"

"Understood" said Jim in a monotone. Hank didn't break his gaze for a few seconds as he went for the door, trying to read some hidden meaning in Jim's face. He opened the door and left the bar.

The warning was completely unnecessary. Jim knew better than to clock out early. Also, he couldn't help when the next bartender would arrive.

Jim put up with the unnecessary lack of confidence Hank showed towards him. He was just there for a paycheck, he told himself.

When 16:00 came, he got changed and left the bar.

He didn't own his ow ncar yet, so he would get a lift from his step-mother Lorriane most days.

His mom had passed away many hears a go. His dad had re-married a couple of years a go. Jim thought his Lorriane, his step-mom was a bit of a gold digger. Although he thouhgt Lorriane geniunely wanted to be with his dad, she undoubtedly enjoyed the "housewife without children" lifestyle. His dad made more than enough to support her and pay for her whims, and she readily accepted his generosity.

Lorriane arrived in the car his dad had bought for her and Jim got in. He liked to sit in the backseat.

"Hey" Jim said softly when he got in.

"Heyyyy" said his step mom in her usual overly-effusive tone "How was your shift?"

"It was okay... a waitress got fired for no reason, but other than that it was okay" said Jim.

"Really?" inquired Lorriane "what did she do?"

"She took a break when she wasn't supposed to, boss got angry" said Jim.

"Oh wow... she really shouldn't be doing that. Perhaps she didn't take her job seriously" said Lorriane. Jim thought it was ironic for her to say that. Even though Lorriane was in her 40s, Jim wasn't sure she had ever worked for a living.

"I guess" said Jim, not wanting to continue the conversation. He wanted to forget about the tension of work.

"I was thinking tonight we could all go out to a restaurant, your dad's been working a lot lately, would be nice" said Lorriane.

"Yeah, I guess, why not" said Jim.

"Oh good, that's great! I'll give him a call to tell him you're onboard" said Lorriane with excitement. Jim could never tell if Lorriane feigned her excitement to be more agreeable or she was really that giddy all of the time.

Lorriane called her husband.

"Hey! How are you?" said Lorriane in a higher pitch, speaking into her phone "So Jim's on board for tonight! I thought we could do steak, or maybe Italian, they've opened this new place and, oh my god, we have to..."

She went quiet for a few seconds, letting Jim's dad speak on the other side of the line.

"What... again?" said Lorriane, sounding less upbeat. She sighed. "Well are they ever going to give you a break... I feel like I haven't seen you..."

She went quiet for a few more seconds, listening to her husband's explanation.

"But... it just doesn't seem fair... like... ugh" she said in a frustrated tone "Fine... fine... get back to your work... but this isn't fair". She hung up.

"Can you beleive it?" said Lorriane turning to Jim "they made him stay late again... I can't beleive it, it's not fair"

"I think this is their busy season, it's the end of the quarter" said Jim.

"Yes but why does it always have to be him? Don't they rotate or something?" said Lorriane. Her words betrayed her complete lack of awareness of how a workplace functioned.

"I don't know, I guess not" said Jim.

"I'm going to have to call his boss or something, ask him why he's overworking him so much. I don't get it. I want an explanation from him" she said.

"It's an office, not kindergarten, speaking to the boss won't make a difference" thought Jim. But he remained silent.

They pulled into the house. The plan to go to the restaurant was off, so Jim just went to his room.

Lorriane was still frustrated. She had to speak with her husband's boss.