Painting the Town Red (460 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 2 on 7 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by SweetCheebs (View user info) at 2006-12-23 19:37:17 EST
You can predict the way you'll be feeling on any given Christmas Eve. Depending on your lot in life it's not a hard thing to do. It's the easiest for the kids. Anxiousness takes over. How can you sleep when all you want to do is wake up? For adults it's different. If you're organized you sleep well, anticipating the day of the year when your family comes together to show their love (or hate) for each other. If you are like most people, you're scrambling to put together all the pieces you've gathered to give the next morning some semblance of order.
This year the thoughts running through my mind were of a new variety. I was celebrating Christmas away from home for the first time. The destination was Vegas, and my objective was clear. You see 2006 had not been kind to me. I was fired from my job and replaced by a 22 year old man from India in the name of corporate diversity. Unemployment was out of the question. My pride was far too swollen to take pity or handouts from anyone. Something had to be done soon, as my savings were dwindling and I couldn't stand to see Erika and the boys suffer any longer. I had scheduled an interview with a prospective employer for the 26th and the only available flight was on Christmas morning. Dumb luck I suppose, but I didn't care. I needed this job to hold my family together and I would do whatever I had to.
By the time the interview had begun my anxiousness had subsided. I had all the confidence and drive of a man fighting for his quality of life. If I didn't get this job it would be nobody's fault but my own, or so I thought. The interview went well. Frank, the head of HR at the firm was a jolly white haired fellow. The urge to call him Santa was barely avoidable. We had common interests and he seemed to really appreciate the skills and experience I would be bringing to the company. He told me that I was practically a shoe in for the position, and that I should get an answer by the end of the day. Score. I programmed his number into my phone and shook his hand. I had succeeded in my mission in my mind. Finally I could get some rest without the shadow of doubt clouding my thoughts.
My piece of mind was fleeting. As I exited Frank's office I noticed another man waiting, presumably for an interview. Normally this wouldn't have bothered me, but my recent situation had me inclined to worry. The man's name was Sanjeeb. He was from India. He was here for my job. He was here to ruin my life.
I gave him a nod and a smile as I strolled past him, my depraved thoughts unbeknownst to him. When he smiled back I had to feint a cough to hide the rage in my eyes.
That night at the hotel dragged on for what seemed like an eternity. Everything important in life depended on me getting this job. I pondered calling Frank myself a few times, but decided against it eventually. My mind was temporarily put to ease when Erika called. Her soothing voice had a way of sedating me. I told her about how great my interview went and she told me about how much fun the boys had at their grandparent's house. We were fortunate her parents were so generous. They provided all the gifts the boys could want and saved them from a ruined Christmas thanks to their bum of a father. I hated them for it. I should have provided the gifts. As we ended our conversation and exchanged goodbyes I noticed the time. It was already past 9 and the chances of me getting a call from Frank at this hour were slim. He did say he would let me know whether I got the job or not so I decided to get some rest, anticipating a call the following day.
As I tried to sleep that night, Sanjeeb's smile haunted my dreams. The alarm clock teased me, revealing the brevity of my slumber on the hour. At 5 am I decided I was fed up. I shut my eyes and waited for that wretched smile to appear. When it finally did I was prepared. I reached out and grabbed his neck, squeezing with all my tired strength. His smile turned to a look of panic, and as his life slowly faded away I felt something grow inside of me. It warmed me deep down like a glass of red wine. My fears and insecurities were washed away, replaced by renewed purpose.
When I rose from bed the next day around noon I immediately changed into my black suit. I put on my sunglasses and looked in the mirror. Something about me had changed. Not only in my mind, but my face as well. I pushed the sunglasses down on my nose, revealing the coldest stare imaginable. There was something in my eyes I had never seen before, something sinister and overwhelming. I pulled on the leather gloves Erika had given me before I got on the plane and headed towards the door. It was going to be a long day at work.
User Reviews
Submitted by ih8u2man (user info) at 2007-01-21 18:54:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sweet. WHATEVER YOU DO DO NOT...I REPEAT DO NOT DO A GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH FOR "XMAS FUCK YOU"!!!!!
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I forgot why and did it again.
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2006-12-25 02:43:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I might read it tomorrow. For now:
+2 no penis.
Submitted by Stogie (user info) at 2006-12-25 00:32:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Really liked this
Submitted by extacy_red (user info) at 2006-12-23 22:26:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Sepsis (user info) at 2006-12-23 22:00:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-12-23 20:13:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
It's strange how our deep-seated fears can disrupt our lives, even when those fears are
not based on anything real or substantial.
Submitted by ih8u2man (user info) at 2006-12-23 19:42:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sweet. WHATEVER YOU DO DO NOT...I REPEAT DO NOT DO A GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH FOR "XMAS FUCK YOU"!!!!!