“Sir, do you hear me? I want to know the balance on my credit card!”

Del’s head was pounding. His pain was compounded by the ridiculous microphone he had to wear when he answered phone calls.

Del said, “Sorry sir, we’re having computer problems.”

“You sound stupid and drunk! I want to know my balance. You have it wrong.”

Del looked at his computer screen. The screen and pictures looked fuzzy as if somebody placed a veil over his eyes. He felt vomit rising from his stomach.

His phone headset felt heavy. He swayed in his seat. Del clamped down on his jaw and turned away from his desk. He took off his phone gear and stumbled toward the restroom. His coworkers gawked at him. Del ran into the nearest bathroom stall and vomited into the toilet. He felt better, but when he tried to stand his stomach screamed with intense pain. He bent down again and spewed another blast of vomit.

He knelt on the porcelain floor and waited until his stomach pains abated. Del could have called out sick today, but he was already in trouble for calling out sick last week. He placed his hand on the rim and then flushed the toilet.

“Hey Del, are you ok in there?”

“Yes,” he said. He couldn’t recognize the voice. Shakily, he stood. Standing in the restroom was John, his best friend.

Del said, “I had a rough night.”

John looked downwards. “I’m sorry Del. But I was instructed to take you to  Larry.”

“Larry is here? I thought he was in a manager’s meeting today?”

“No, he’s back. He saw you running into the bathroom.”

Shit Del thought. “I should get back to my phone call. I was talking to somebody.”

“I took care of it,” John said. “It’ll be fine. You better clean yourself up.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Del nodded. He knew he had too many drinks last night when he awoke in an alcohol haze and next to him was a sleeping bar waitress he knew. Before he came to work, he drove home and changed.

John said, “We need to talk afterwards.”

“Yes,” Del said. He moved to the nearest sink and turned on the faucet. Looking into the mirror, he saw his sandy brown hair was all in disarray. His chin was unshaven.

John said, “What happened to you last night? You got the high score in the game and then you disappeared.”

“I was drunk when I did that and then I left to the Bottoms Up bar,” he said. “I don’t quite remember anything after that.”

Del splashed water on his face and then grabbed a few paper towels. His mouth tasted like ash and cigarettes.

John looked at him with concern. “You finally got the divorce papers.”

“Yes, I got the divorce papers yesterday. All I need to do and sign them and it will be over.”

John said, “I always thought you would be with her.”

“I thought so too. But she was seeing somebody else. I don’t know who but I will find out.”

***

Del stood in front of Larry’s office door. He knocked. He heard his boss say to come inside. Del grabbed the handle and opened it. He was surprised to find Carol, the HR manager, inside. Larry sat behind his desk and Carol was sitting next to him.

Larry said, “Please sit Del. We have something to discuss with you.”

His boss was short and fat with a paunch that overextended his pants. Del never like Larry not because he was a bad manager but because he was just one of those bosses who liked to bully people. Del walked into the room and sat on the chair across from him. Larry looked at him with a little distaste.

Larry sat back in his chair and looked at Carol. Del’s stomach made a loud gurgling sound. He hoped he wouldn’t barf on Larry’s desk.

Larry cleared his throat. “Del, you have always been a good employee. We have overlooked a few things since you started here at Century Capital Cards.”

Del was getting nauseous. He was getting fired. He had been with this company for almost a decade and he blew it because he came to work with a bad hangover. He waited.

“But your friend, John, told us of your recent personal problems and we think we’ll only suspend you for two weeks,” Larry said.

Del said, “I’m sorry. It has been rough. Thank you.”

He stood and walked out of the office before they could say anything to him. Del went to his desk and turned off his computer and grabbed his car keys and was about to walk out toward the exit when his friend John came toward him

“What happened? Are you fired?”

“No, thank God, because of you I still have a job. I’m suspended probably without pay for two weeks.”

John said, “Hey are you playing Strike Blast tonight? You did awesome last night.”

Del said, “I don’t feel good. I’m still hung over. But I might later.”