I’m Someone Else

“How much do you make in a month?” William kept asking.

“F-Five hundred,” he answered sheepishly. He spends more in a day than I make in a month, probably. They can afford these special red wines, so they must be really wealthy.

Thomas looked at William. I see he’s going to help Howard.

“How long have you been working as a mechanic?” William whipped out some Kings of Denmark and handed Howard one. He also took one and started puffing.

“Four years.”

William nodded. “Then you must be experienced. Quit your job and come to work at Prosperity Avenue’s car dealership. We need an after-sales director. I’ll tell the guys about this, and you can start tomorrow.”

Howard was flummoxed. Prosperity Avenue’s car dealership? There’s only one dealership there, and they sell Mercedes-Benzs! I’m actually working in a car dealership now? And not just some mechanic, but an after-sales director? The offer came all of a sudden, and Howard was still processing it. And he still had no idea that William owned that dealership.

William took Howard’s confusion as dissatisfaction, so he added, “It’s just your starting position. You have a bright future ahead of you, so don’t complain. This position pays thirty-five hundred dollars a month. Work your way up, and you might become the shopkeep. And that pays about fifty-six thousand a year.”

“Oh, no, I’m not complaining!” Howard quickly raised his glass for a toast.

sevenfold. I’m very happy about that. What did Izzy say to me? Oh right, ‘talk to me when you make twenty-eight hundred a month.’ Bet she would never dream of me reaching and surpassing that goal in minutes. This is

because she makes twenty-eight hundred a month, but now I make seven hundred

doubt William at all. After all, someone who could splurge tens of thousands on wine wouldn’t fool

was nothing big

friend is our friend. Don’t

door open, and in came a bunch of angry

here alive, Thomas!”

gonna kill him. I got Nate here with me,

did that to

him, Nate!” Wallace

he exclaimed, “Holy

heard that voice

What Thomas did to him left a scar, but then he realized there was no need to retreat. He

all people I can bump into, he’s the one? He thought he was just going to get rid of a

guy just came back to this city, and this is the first time we’ve seen

with him!” Nate raised his bandaged hands. “He broke my damn fingers, goddammit! I’ve been looking for him! Never thought

day. I can’t believe I ran into him again. He did this to my fingers, and I’ll make him pay for that!

this out on him.