MAY 12, 2021

800 Word Story ~ Perspective

For this month’s 800 Word Story, Bill and I decided to do something a little differently.

Instead of writing jointly, we’ve each written our own story using the same prompt. Each story is 800 words and neither of us knows what the other has written. I’m so curious to read Bill’s story.

I hope you are as well!

Below is my take on the prompt in a story entitled: Perspective

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Prompt: Tom lost 25 bucks at the races.

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Perspective

Mike parks his silver BMW in the underground garage. Except for a handful of other vehicles, the place is deserted. He gets out of his car and walks less than ten steps to the private elevator that takes him up to his office. Monday morning, a year after his staff was last here, nothing has changed. They continue to work from home, and he comes in a few hours a week to check on things. At least, that’s what he tells his wife. There isn’t anything to check really, except maybe his sanity. The office is home to his company and has been for thirty years. His baby, he likes to call it because he gave it life, then raised it from nothing to where it proudly sits today—valued at over six hundred million dollars.

A good investment needs a good babysitter, so that’s what Mike does. There’s little else for him to do, and he needs to get out of the house anyway. Even as empty nesters in a mansion big enough for three families, he still can’t avoid his wife. He desperately wants to fly somewhere—anywhere, just get the hell out of town for a while … only he can’t. If any of his kids found out he’d left their mom alone, they’d be furious with him. He isn’t going anywhere. The only refuge he has right now is thirty-six stories high in this downtown glass tower.

Mike sits at his desk. He can’t wait until this nonsense is over—the virus, the lockdowns, the inability to do all the things he loves. He turns on his computer and stares at the screen. His assets have gone up three million since yesterday. He picks up the phone and calls his broker.

“Neil, sell shares of Goldcorp, enough to net me 200K.”

Mike ends the call. He leans back in his chair and smiles, his thoughts drift to his next purchase.

Porsche. The only question is fire-engine red or black?

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With the hazard pay Tom receives as a cashier at the supermarket, he places a few online bets each week. Even though he works extra shifts and is more than willing to pick up hours if someone gives them up, he still can’t make ends meet. Online gambling is a risk, but it’s also a potential source of income, and he has no other alternatives. He’s already working two other jobs.

Most sports are included, as are races of all kinds—cars, dogs, horses, even reindeer—the world of online gambling is expanding at an exponential rate. The first time he tried it, Tom lost 25 bucks at the races. Prior to the pandemic, he had never even heard of online betting. Now, he needs it to help pay the bills.

Tom got better or perhaps just luckier. His biggest take to date was a hundred dollars. That was a very good week. He was able to pick up extra meat for the family, a jar of Nivea cream for his wife, and a box of ice-cream treats for the kids. If only he could win more, he would buy another computer. Virtual learning with three kids at home—impossible with one clunky desktop! The district school board had promised to give them a laptop, but he couldn’t depend on them. There were too many families worse off than his still waiting for one.

Tom’s wife Laura stays at home with the kids now. She’s laid off from her job as an esthetician, so she’s taken to homeschooling their youngest while the other two take turns with their classes. Laura is a rock, but she’s breaking under the strain. The kids are climbing over each other in their tiny two-bedroom apartment. Not enough space, no access to outdoors, and add to that, they took in Tom’s mother at the start of the pandemic. No way did he want her staying in the nursing home. From all the horror stories they’ve since heard, they know they made the right decision, but it’s Laura who carries the heavy burden at home.

After working his second job as a food courier for three hours, Tom is exhausted. He comes home to find the house a mess, the kids screaming, and his wife in the kitchen doing the dishes. His mother is curled up on the couch, trying to take a nap.

“Good day?” Tom says to his wife. The kids gather around and try to grab the bag out of his hand. He pulls away from them.

Laura dries her hands on a dishtowel. “What’s in the bag?”

“I got lucky today,” he said.

A collective scream. “You got take out!”

“That’s right.” Tom grins from ear to ear. “The only question is McDonalds or A&W?”