Opening the door at his so-called apartment, the smell hit him as quickly as it did the first time. Where am I supposed to sleep? That’s the question. Pulling the blanket off the twin bed, Daniel covered the couch with it and stretched out as much as he could. He quickly fell asleep but was wide awake at four in the morning. A bug was crawling up his arm, and a few more were on his chest. That does it! Daniel got up, threw on his jeans, and climbed in his pickup truck to search for a store. He’d be damned if he was going to live someplace that was full of God knows what kind of bugs.
The grocery store didn’t open until six. That was just fine, he’d wait. At five-thirty, a knock on his window brought him to high alert. Daniel saw that it was an older man. He rolled down his window halfway.
“Sir, you can’t sleep in the parking lot! Go on back home and get your sleep. This place is for shopping!”
Daniel read the sign. "Prairie Market." The man’s name tag was covered up by an apron.
“Is this your store?”
“Yep, my name’s Clyde. You must be new. Everyone knows who I am. I’ve lived in Prairie all my life, and this store was built and started by my father.” Clyde smiled with pride.
“My name’s John Williams. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Daniel reached out his hand and gave Clyde a strong handshake. “What time do you open? I just need to pick up a few things.”
“We open up at six, but you can come on in and get what ya need. Folks around here are pretty neighborly, but I can see you ran into someone who doesn’t quite fit that description.” Clyde laughed and showed a mouth with very few teeth.
Daniel put his hand to his eye. “Yeah, something like that.”
Clyde walked inside the store and Daniel followed close behind. He would definitely need a cart.
“If you’re gonna need more than what I carry here, you’ll have to head on out to Nashville. You can find some malls and whatnot.”
“Thanks, Clyde.” Daniel didn’t know what he was doing. He bought tons of frozen food that could be quickly heated up in the small oven. He didn’t have a microwave in the gross apartment. He didn’t use either back home. He dined out at restaurants, or one of the sexy women he slept with would cook for him. He also bought bottles of water, twelve cans of air freshener, bug spray, and candles in every strong scent he could find. Daniel stopped in the cleaning aisle and picked up several bottles of cleaner.
“That’ll be eighty-five dollars and forty-seven cents,” said Clyde.
“Eighty-five dollars?”
“Well, it’s not in woodchips. Yes, dollars.” Clyde eyed the young man suspiciously. He wasn’t going to be happy if he had to put this stuff back on the shelves and in the freezer.
Daniel gave the man the money, then quickly realized that even though he never had to worry about price tags, and didn’t even bother looking at them, he had absolutely no concept of saving money. It was just always there for him. He definitely was going to have to watch his funds. I can do this!
Driving into Nashville took up the rest of his gas. The pump was flowing as Daniel washed the bugs off of his windshield and headlights. He didn’t dare wash the whole truck. The dang thing would fall apart.
Fifty-seven dollars was spent in gas by the time Daniel was finished cleaning off the front of the truck and daydreaming about his car back home. Normally he just swiped one of his credit cards and was done with it. Conserving gas and paying attention to gas prices had never even occurred to him.
Inside of a department store, Daniel picked out a set of sheets, a pillow, blankets, a pot, pan, a dinnerware and glass set, and an elegant looking box of silverware. He didn’t read the brands and, once again, didn’t look at the price tags.
“That’ll be two hundred and fifty-four dollars,” said the older woman working the register.
“Uh...” Daniel checked his wallet. “Seems I’m a bit short. I’ll put the pot and pan back up.” He had never been so embarrassed in his life. Going to buy something and not having enough money! Daniel was beside himself.
“That’s okay, sugar. It happens to the best of us, and folks are hurtin’ right now. I’ll put them away for you.”
“No, I’ll do it, but thank you.”
Daniel turned, and there was Katherine digging in her purse. She pulled out two twenty dollar bills. “It’s pretty hard relocating. Here take this, it’ll come in handy. You’re John Williams. I’d recognize that black eye anyplace.” Katherine flashed her bright smile.
Oh my God! “Well, this is kind of embarrassing for me. I’ve never had this happen before. I didn’t bring enough cash and I haven’t set an account up yet.” I’m going to die…
“Here, Wanda. Take this and ring up his pot and pan.”
“Katherine, you’re such a sweet person,” said Wanda in her slow southern voice.
Daniel wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole. He was beyond pissed. His jaw couldn’t get much tighter. Of all people, it had to be Katherine.
“I’ll pay you back tonight.” Daniel wanted out of that store as fast as possible. When he got inside of his truck he made a call.
“Oh, hello, Daniel, how are you?”
“Are you listening, Carl? This isn’t funny! I need more money. How in the heck is someone supposed to live on three hundred and fifty dollars?!”
“Daniel, get a job if you want more money. A lot of people live on less, and some have none.”
“Where am I supposed to work, Carl? Tell me that! There isn’t one business out here.”
“Just because the business isn’t in a sky rise, doesn’t mean it’s not a business.”
“You aren’t going to help me one bit are you, Carl? What are you doing? Sitting by the pool and sipping cocktails?” Daniel spat his words with pure venom.
“It’s lemonade. But time is running out, Daniel. You need to have a job so you can meet your father’s requirements.”
Daniel hung up the phone, started the blasted truck, and made his way to the bar. He pulled over on the side of the road before reaching the parking lot. I don’t even have enough money for a beer! I can’t even come in this place until next week, especially when I owe the woman who lives here forty bucks. Damn it to hell!!
He turned his truck around and drove back to the apartment. He wondered if his father hired investigators to find the worst possible living conditions in existence. He decided he’d have to find a job if he was going to live in a better place. He certainly wouldn’t mind having Katherine come by.