I know the video has nothing to do with Hump day, but I really think this song is something we should think about now and then. It does relate to the story so I decided to put it up there anyway. Yes it is hump day after all and time for another story. This one is about a guy who asks a fellow worker for a favor. Hope you like it.
The Favor by John W. Howell ©2014
Frank makes his way down the hall. He needs to see Ronny about a loan and Ronny’s cube is in the next section of the building. Ronny’s Section BB is about a stone’s throw from section AA where Frank works. He always thought it strange how the company labeled the various rooms of the office. You would think they could just call it section A, he thinks to himself the many times he traversed the hall. Ronny and Frank are friends as well as co-workers. Even though they don’t have the same boss they feel they have a co-worker bond in addition to the friendship.
Frank weaves around the various cubes walls until the maze ends up and Ronny’s place.
“Hey Ronny.”
“Crap Frank. You scared the hell out of me.”
“I’m sorry. Can you chat a minute?”
“Yeah sure. Move that shit of the chair and have a seat.”
“You sure you’re not busy?”
“Oh oh looks like you need some money.”
“How did you know?”
“Whenever you are polite, you need money.”
“Well I resemble that.”
“I’m sure. So how much do you need?”
“How much you got?”
“Come on Frank, quit kidding. How much?”
“Well I need twenty but will take five.”
“Oh sure, let me get a five.”
“Not five dollars Ronny. Five thousand.”
“W-What. Five thousand? What the hell for?”
“I really need twenty, but the five will keep me alive until next week.”
“Keep you alive. What are you saying?”
“Um, I borrowed so to speak twenty thousand from a guy and now I need to pay it back.”
“Why did you do that?”
“This guy said if I didn’t give him twenty thousand he was going to throw me off the Empire State Building.”
“Just like that? He demands twenty thousand. Why didn’t you go to the police?”
“Couldn’t. I paid a guy twenty thousand not to kill another guy.”
“Aw Frank. This is becoming way too complex. I don’t have twenty thousand to give you and how in god’s name did you get yourself into this mess.”
“Well the guy they were going to kill was a friend of mine and the killer said he would not do it for twenty thousand. So I burrowed the twenty from another guy who now wants it back or I go sailing off the Empire State building.”
“Good luck on this Frank. You should have never gotten involved in the first place. I can’t help you.”
“Of course there is another alternative.”
“Yeah what is that?”
“I could collect the twenty if I killed the guy myself.”
“Frank. Listen to me. You are a big boy and for some reason you are acting like a kid. Do you know why they wanted your friend killed?”
“Yeah. He was playing the market and came up short. He owes them a bunch of money and it looks like they won’t get it.”
“So you got yourself into the middle. Is this friend worth it?”
“I don’t know Ronny are you?”
“Me? What the hell you talking about? What are going to do with that gun?”
“Don’t you owe some guys a bunch of money?”
“No. Did they tell you I did?”
“Yes. They said they were going to kill you if I didn’t give them the twenty.”
“Shit I didn’t think it would come to this. Yeah I do owe them the money”
“So can I have the twenty?”
“I don’t have it.”
“I think you better come with me Frank. Very quietly.”
*
Did you ever do a favor for someone and they not appreciate it?
