Get a Job

A couple days ago, I was killing time in the big city. It was hot and humid; some would say sultry. When I began my walk I looked pretty good- for me anyway. My clothes were clean, my hair neat, my face sporting only a couple days growth of a beard. An hour into my walk, though, I looked shabby. My baby had thrown up on me, my shirt was soaked and hanging like, well, like a wet shirt. And I was beginning to tremble and feel dizzy, a result of low blood sugar. I was unprepared for that, and began to panic that I was not going to find sugar soon enough to avoid calamity. Then I remembered that I was around the corner from a Jamba Juice (or something like it). I arrived to find a long line and a crowded store. I decided to park the baby stroller outside. I waited, panicking and shaking, for my turn. I came very near to begging my way to the front of the line but, even in that state, found I was unable to. When I finally made it, and placed my order, I discovered that I had no way to pay- the store did not accept credit cards and had no ATM, and I was out of cash. Probably I could have stated my case to the clerk, and she would have allowed me to drink my juice and return with payment. But I was not thinking clearly, so instead I turned to the man behind me and asked if he could cover my drink (friends will know how desperate I was at this point). I already knew that he was a jerk. Earlier I had overheard him on his phone, abusing someone I guessed was a telemarketer, "This is a fucking cell phone.  Don't ever call this number again!"  He glared at me for a few seconds after my request, before finally saying, "Get a job or drink water."  His glare had forewarned me that his answer was not going to be pleasant but his anger still surprised me.  A boost of adrenaline gave me the strength to respond, "You know what? I will. I'm going to get a job as a telemarketer. Talk to you later."  I turned around and was about to tell the clerk my problem when a kind soul came up next to me and paid for my juice. She even added a tip.  I thanked her, took my juice outside, and began to recover.