Mic Check - Lina Jay (story books to read .TXT) 📗

“Yes ma’am. The prize is $250,000, more than enough to get us out of here.”

“What about Bernie?”

“I’ll ask him if I can take a few hours off so that I can try out.”

“I hope he lets you go.”

Bernie was his boss and a pain in Tony’s ass. He was unhappy with his life and he wanted everyone else to be unhappy. “I’ll work around it if he doesn’t.”

     “Okay, good luck baby. I’m going to bed,” she got up and left the living room. Tony hated his mother’s job. She worked at a motel cleaning everything from the rooms to the dishes. She worked hard and helped him with McKenzie. Tony was thankful for his mother. The one bedroom that they shared had been their home since Tony was born but he wanted more for his family.

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     “Come on Bernie! It’s a one in a lifetime opportunity,” Tony begged his boss once he got to work the next morning.

“And if I let you go then I’m going to have to let everyone else go and do what they want to do. I’m running a business here Tony, not a talent agency,” Bernie barked as he sat at his desk.

     “Damn, let him go already! I’ll cover for him,” Mario walked into Bernie’s office. “What the hell are you doing here Mario?” Bernie asked him. “I was here to pick up my check but I’m here to work Tony’s shift and pick up my check,” Mario said. “It’s your day off……here,” Bernie searched through envelopes for Mario’s check. “Take your check and get out of here.”

“What time is your shift over?” Mario asked Tony. “Six,” Tony told him.

     They both looked at Bernie waiting for his approval. “First and last time Tony, I mean it!” Bernie was furious. Tony was one of his best workers and he needed him today. “Thanks Bernie,” Tony turned and gave Mario dap for taking his shift. “My day off is tomorrow. I got you,” Tony told Mario as he walked out the door. “You owe me one.” Mario said.

     “No doubt,” Tony replied as he left Bernie’s office. Mario was covering his shift and his mother was getting off work early to pick up McKenzie. He was determined to give his all at the competition so that he could at least make it through the first round. Tony jumped into his 1976 cutlass supreme, said a prayer and drove to Jordan Auditorium.

Publication Date: 09-01-2020

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