Instant Gratification ..

'If it was anyone else, l would have sacked them. You can't just not turn up for work. This is a business. If there's any more episodes like this, you're out. Do you understand?'

Yes. Ok. Stop with the lecture, Mr Perfect-life. Some of us haven't got the same advantages the likes of you have.

Davy felt the usual stab of anxiety rip right through his back, neck, shoulders and like an arrow, hit his pounding, thumping heart.

Inhaling deeply, breathe in slowly.

Out, slower.

He felt two emotions fighting inside him. Competing with each other, almost. The anger was almost more than the humiliation, but not quite.

Walking out of the building and into a very busy, sunny street, Davy decided to pull himself together, shake it out, maybe even conform. After all, he needed this job to get those credit card bills down. He mustn't think about that now. Oh well. He kicked at a carton lying on the pavement. What did someone with a loving family and huge house know about troubles? Huh ..

He had precisely no one. No family to speak of. Some drunken bum was his dad, but Davy hadn't even met him. His mum was living with Crazy Eddie. This particular man she'd hooked up with years ago. But c'mon now. STOP. We're not going down the poor me road. Not today.

He was now experiencing a complete change of emotions. The palpitations eased to be replaced by utter desolation. Sadness flooded through him, and tears welled up making it impossible to see, so he blink blinked them away, pretending to sneeze. 'This hayfever is always such a pain in the bright sunshine', he offered to the passers by.

Davy marched and walked-out the A to Z of his feelings, heading to the shopping mall. Once inside, he was soon giddy touching the aftershaves, spraying the most expensive onto wrists and skin. He knew he shouldn't, but after trying on (just to see how it would look) the most fabulous jacket and jeans, he was talked into opening yet another store card. 'May as well get shoes, shirt and accessorize the outfit while I'm here' he said to the smiling and very glamorous shop girl.

Leaving the mall, Davy felt on top of the world. He had an hour to get back to his little flat, dump his purchases and head for his night shift. Can't be late, or it's curtains for sure. No time to eat. Maybe later.

He jumped in a cab that had slowed down at the crossing. He hoped the driver took cards. He did. Excellent. Relax for the duration of the journey. Look at all those people rushing to get somewhere, and l'm in a taxi. Ha ha. Plebs or what.

Davy was a man seduced by a lifestyle he could not afford, but with all these fancy carrier bags, he wasn't hopping on any bus, no way.

Arriving at the home he rented, Davy saw the bundles of bills sitting behind the door. Fuck. What date was it. End of the month. That's ridiculous how time flies.

Picking up the brown envelopes marked 'Urgent', he opened his 'to do' drawer and shoved them in. It wasn't easy to close. Must sort out later, he thought.

After a quick change into his work clothes, Davy cycled to work and clocked in with thirty seconds to spare.

If he kept up the minimum payments, borrowing some from another card, he should manage his rent this month.

Life felt good.

For the moment ..