A New Job, A New Outlook

Sitting in traffic for the last five minutes his frustration grew. He took his annoyance out by slamming his palm against the steering wheel of his truck. It doesn't seem to be helping the situation, but the pain gave him something else to focus on. The traffic hasn't moved, and the reality of life has not changed. The pain in his hand was doing a good job distracting him. Another job lost due to nothing he did, and he was venting his frustration out on his truck and his body. That was a great idea to break the steering wheel and add that to your list of problems he was dealing with. Pulling his hand back he looked at it and wondered how his palm is going to feel tomorrow. But hitting something did make him feel a bit better. Bruising the palm of his hand is better than breaking his knuckles on someone's face.

He could pretend it was his dip shit boss's face. Slamming his fist into the passenger seat didn't help it didn't hurt at all. He wanted to make an impact on that stupid man's face. He was not a violent man, but he would make an exception for him. His lazy attitude cost twelve good men their jobs today. Oh, who knows maybe he was just biding his time so he could sell the place. He is sure that will make him plenty for the land alone. It's off a big highway with numerous shopping centers and fast-food places all around them.

Recalling the last few months, he counted his setbacks off with each hit. First, he had to move because some stalker girl kept hanging around his apartment. She wanted to keep seeing him after what he considered a bad one-night fling. He wasn't interested in a repeat performance. She was too needy for him, and she took to sitting at the front door of his apartment waiting for him to come home most nights. He was tired of having the same conversation just to go in his door. It drove him nuts to know she was outside waiting for another chance to talk to him. Why, he was no grand prize. Surely nothing to write home about. 

He can't stand women who expect more than he is willing to give. She was trying to get him to let her into his apartment and life. Not even on his horniest day was she going to wear him down. He tried to be nice and not hurt her feelings, but she wouldn't take the hint. Her obsession him was scary, and his only escape was moving or calling the police. He didn't want to do that to her, but he couldn't keep living like that. So, he opted for the less paperwork way, moving.

Second his truck broke down and he had to replace some computer parts, which cost him a pretty penny. He would have blamed her, but he knew she could not have opened the hood on his truck. He had a hard time opening it himself so no way she could have. 

Third, the crappy place he moved to, sprung a water leak a week after he moved in and when he woke, he stepped in water. That is a great way to start your day. A pipe in his up-stairs neighbor's apartment broke and flooded his floors overnight. Thank God, the building is sitting at such an angle that the water ran out the door without making too much of a mess. The only good thing about the soggy mess was it forced him to mop the floor and throw out soggy pizza boxes. The neighbors also moved, and no one has moved in. He lucked out. No stomping feet over his head. He had to wash the few clothes he left on the floor. It took three of his thickest towels to mop up the mess, but he felt it was worth it to be rid of his noisy neighbors. He figures it would cost too much to fix the pipes, so the old man had them move. He saw them two buildings over in a better location, so they made out Ok. 

He only had peel and stick tiles on those floors anyway. The carpet was long gone before he moved in. It looked like the tenant installed the tile themselves. They were probably disgusted by the nasty carpet in the apartment and ripped it out. The tile job was crooked with gaps, a total amateur job. He didn't care; he had no plans to stay there long. It had been a desperate jump for him, and he only signed a six-month lease with the old man who owns the place. He had to get away from that sad cow eyed stalker girl. 

Fourth, he lost his job. That really hurt, he liked that job. All of this in the last three months and it shows no signs of stopping. It may have been karma for the way he treated that girl. He wasn't sure, but damn he was not looking to be involved with anyone more than one night, especially not someone with those sad brown baby cow eyes. 

He couldn't take looking at them with her expecting more than he was willing to give. They reminded him of those sad stories of how they kill baby cows before their lives even start for an expensive tender cut of meat. Who wants to have sex while thinking of a dying baby cow? He hadn't been thinking beyond the fact that she had the build he liked and was willing the night he took her on. Another lesson learned. He was good for one night and nothing more. Unless she was perfect, but he knew she was not it. He knew he wouldn't find what he was looking for in a bar. Which was the only place he went to find women. So, he is doomed in his efforts at finding love. 

*

He sat in a long line behind a bunch of fancy cars in the middle of the morning rush hour traffic. He was just trying to make his way home. He was wondering what would happen next. Normally he went against the rush hour traffic no such luck at this time of day. 

His former boss was so nice this morning he had the whole crew wait thirty minutes for him at the start of the day to announce that he was closing. He passed him his last check and sent him on his way. After five years of hard work, always on time, never absent, never injured, all he got was a short check, no handshake, no thanks you're a great guy, nothing. 

He could have at least written a letter of recommendations for them to find another job. That was too much effort for that jerk. No wonder they were closing. He was the son to the father and son business and ruined it for everyone when the old man died. No wonder the old man had a heart attack six months ago knowing this jerk was taking over. He wonders what will happen to the three homes they have been working on. He guesses those people are out of luck. Just like he is. He probably took the deposits and will swindle them out of the houses. 

A real-estate agent was placing a sign in front of the place as he drove out. The land was probably worth more than the homes he could sell for the next ten years. Whatever, none of this helps him. Those people better sue quickly before the land sells, and he is gone.

*

As he sat for the third time at the same light losing his patience. As each second passed his frustration grew, slamming his fist in his old boss's face seemed doable. He looked over and watched the woman next to him in her fancy car. She was applying her eyeliner and talking on her cell phone. It was quite an animated conversation. The other lane of traffic moved forward and so did she. He just thought how dangerous it was when the turn lane moved forward. She rolled with the other vehicles and rear ended the car in front of her because she was not in a turn lane and hadn't been paying attention. Apparently if they could move, so could she. The phone call was more important than the reality of life.

He got a good laugh out of that shocked look on her face. She was lucky she didn't poke her eye out on impact the way she jerked forward. The woman she hit pulled her car up and blocked the whole frickin' street as if a major incident had happened wanting to keep the witnesses he assumed. They had to sit until the police came and wrote the eye liner woman a ticket. Which had to be an interesting trip in this traffic. At this point he has given up. He is not going to go home today, resting his forehead on the battered steering wheel he counted down what he was angry about. 

"Oh, hell no, they can't move their Mercedes before the cops show up," he mocked, thinking her husband must be a lawyer. Oh, that was sexist, she may be the lawyer she looked the part. No way was he going to get out and tell her to move her car. The way she flung her hands around as she talked, he could tell she was a pissed off woman. He was not dumb enough to become involved in their mess, so he sat in his truck biding his time watching the show out his window. It's not like he was in a big rush to go home. He just wants to pull the covers over his head and hide for a while. 

He seemed to be getting prejudiced against the rich after living in the area for the last few months. Their elitist attitude was hard to deal with. He liked the area in the beginning. It was close to the clubs he went to. That is how he saw the for-rent sign on the complex in the first place. A banner flopping in the breeze as they drove by caught his attention. He was out that night with his friends as they drove from one club to the next on the hunt and he memorized the phone number. 

He came back the next day and rented the apartment to get away from that stalker girl. He couldn't take it anymore, that was three months ago. It was supposed to be a hold over while he found a good place to rent. But he settled in and was comfortable. The rent was super cheap, leaving him more money to hunt, or save being half the price of his last place. 

At his old place, the landlord was trying to raise his rent again. They did it every year when his lease was up. He tried to be a stable person and stay in one place for years. But the apartment manager thought they had him by the 'Ying Yang' and raised his rent about a hundred and fifty dollars a month every year. If he managed to get a raise, they took it every time. He proved them wrong with his quick exit. Plus, the girl sitting on his stoop most days is what mainly forced the issue. 

He jumped ship, loading his belongings in his truck when the girl was not there. Poof he was gone before the first of the month. He wonders how many days she sat there expecting him to show up not knowing he had moved out. In some ways he feels bad, but she hadn't taken the hint. He was sure they rented it out fast, so she had to see someone else move in. 

This seems to be a pattern for life, and it was let's screw this man over. He would find a decent job, and the company would be run into the ground, and then he was out looking for a new one. This has happened to him twice. They were both of his best paying jobs, and they imploded on him. The problem wasn't him. He was just an hourly employee. If he was an embezzler or did shoddy work, he could blame it on himself, but he never touched the money nor interacted with the customers and he liked it that way. He was a worker not a salesman. He has never been known to be an entertaining conversationalist. 

Maybe if they let him handle the money they would still be in business. He was a good saver. He had to be to make it during the lean times. He was also a good worker, he was on time, and willing to try anything to the best of his ability. He knew his work was solid and he took pride in everything he did. 

"I was not at fault for their failure." He whispered, feeling better he had not brought this on all his friends at work. 

He shook hands with his fired co-workers and made sure he had their numbers before he left wishing them good luck. They had been the closest thing he had to a family these last five years. He was invited to birthday parties, weddings, and barbeques by most of them over the years. He had gone to them all, enjoying their families, and the time he spent with them. He helped anyway he could, even helped some move over the years.

He picked the newspaper back up so he could scan the Want Ads as the car wreck woman tried to plead her case to the officer who finally showed up. He knew most jobs were on the internet, but his computer died a slow death a few months back. His friends told him to stay off the girlie sites they claim they are full of viruses. Sure enough, his anti-virus software expired and before he paid the bill to renew, one got him. It ate up his memory or something because now all he gets is a blue screen when he turns it on. That was another proof of his bad luck. He needs to add that to his list. No job and no site to look at to take care of business. How much lower can one man go, he wondered as the cars were beginning to move. He put his truck in gear and pulled forward, finally making it through the intersection. An officer directed traffic to help with what looked to be the three-mile back-up behind them. 

He has done just about everything from sales, carpentry, wiring houses, to installing electronics. He even tried his hand at La Bare's a male strip club for two nights. His friend's dared him to try out when they saw the Amateur Night banner flying on the building one night when they had been out bar hopping. They heard it was a good way to find women. Judging by the line of them waiting to go in and watch the show, there should be plenty, it was the draw. "Again, a banner caught my attention like a two-year-old, I had to follow," he quipped and shook his head. 

They wanted some of those horny women waiting for the men to come off stage. Feeling confident with his six-drink incentive, he and a couple of his friends tried out. They picked him and another guy out of the group of men making fools of themselves on stage as the women screamed encouragement to shake that ass in borrowed speedos. 

He tried working there a couple of nights, but he was not into being groped. He couldn't take women running their hands over his thighs and not react, as he danced near the edge of the stage. Which you had to do to make money, dressed in tight tiny swim shorts. One night he could stand if he had enough to drink, but not night after night it was all too overwhelming. That is when his self-imposed limit of two beers a night was set. He knew he never would have become involved in that mess without the alcohol induced courage. Once he took the job, he felt obligated to show up. His friend bowed out at the offer. He had taken a lot of ribbing for that brain fart from his friends and co-workers for months. Shake it baby was called out until the laughter died down.

Memories of a girl or two made him smile, but only those two. The rest were 'two bags ugly', their only chance of getting a man to pay attention to them was to wave money in his face. Nope, he moved on from there too. Plus, it made it hard to go to work the next day being out so late. His mama didn't raise him like that. You do what you say you will do was her motto and he tried. At least they didn't go broke because he worked there. 

In fact, the job there was a boost to his ego. He has been told he was good looking, very handsome actually, but that was hard for him to believe. Women would watch him walk by and some of them even followed him, but he was a shy creature at heart. Their complements didn't penetrate the negative comments he heard all his life from his father. Those always seemed to block the positive comments. 

Dismissing the attention, most of the time, all they got was a shy smile from him as he moved on. One more reason he couldn't keep that job. He had a hard time not displaying his admiration for some of the pretty girls he danced for. That is not allowed on the stage. He would have to leave the stage leaving lots of money being waved in his direction to hide his admiration. In the short term it was not worth the money. He also noticed most of the men seemed gay which is how they could work there. Of course, the ladies didn't know, or they wouldn't come. He sure noticed they paid a lot of attention to him which embarrassed him to no end.

*

He needs to go home, pay his rent with his last check so he at least had a place to live for the next month as he looked for a new job. He hated living paycheck to paycheck, but he has depleted his savings the last few months with the truck repair and moving costs and on and on. His mind was swimming with what to do next going over the options in his head. 

Dallas was still booming as the rest of the country took a nosedive, so jobs aren't that hard to find with the President dragging the rest of the country down. It was spring and ninety-three degrees outside already. He knew he wanted an inside job this time. Summers in Texas are a bitch, fan or no fan, hot is hot and the winters are short, cold, and wet around here. He has never lived anywhere but the Dallas area his whole life. 

A Help Wanted sign caught his attention on the high-priced Home Theater store just blocks from his apartment. Boldly printed on the sign in the window was Installer. I could easily install systems for rich people with my electronics background, he thought. He ran the wires for five years in walls some architects thought was the best wall for a TV in those homes they built. Making his way through the lanes of traffic he took a side street through a neighborhood and looped back around and pulled in the side entrance of a big shopping strip. 

He has wanted to go in there just to see what they had to offer since he moved to this part of town. The little TV he had was enough for his small apartment, but he could dream of striking it rich someday. He could walk through the place envisioning what he would have in the mansion in his lottery win daydreams. 

He lucked out finding his apartment in this posh part of Dallas. It was one of the original apartments that remained in the area and the rent was super cheap. He is sure it's because the place needed to be torn down. He figures it would be soon, and some big high rise would pop up. 

'You can't have a view if you're not ten floors up,' he remembers some snotty woman saying that in the grocery store checkout line as she talked on her top-of-the-line cell phone with a blinged out case. She made his skin crawl, thinking she was all that. He likes his women classy, but she was over the top with her arrogance. He wonders what she was like to live with. OH, I can't do that, I might chip a nail. Nope, that was not his kind of woman. 

The old guy that owned the apartments was one of those types that didn't like changing anything. You could tell when he came for his rent payments each month in his old Caddie. He probably bought it new three centuries ago. Toby knew his kids were just waiting for him to kick the bucket. They will make a fortune off the land alone just like his old boss. 

It was a sprawling hundred-and forty-unit complex on prime real estate. Built back when they thought people deserved to have green space around them and enough room to not suffocate. Toby could tell by his shuffling gait he wasn't going to last much longer. He was there on the third of every month to collect his rents and you had better have dropped it in his drop box. He had a cinder block fortress with a metal door that had a small slot where you drop your rent. A money order by the third was the only form of payment he accepted. He is quick with a bright red eviction notice hanging on your door if the rent was late. 

That alone would embarrass most of the tenants to pay up quickly. He knew it would scare them. He has heard horror stories about how he comes after the late payers for rent and the cost of the eviction. He made sure it went against your rental history. Maybe it was a bluff, an urban myth he started to get his rent paid on time. 

*

Stepping through the front door of the theater store the A/C hit him and he smiled. Aah yes this is what I need. A chime rang out as he looked to find the source of the noise. He found on the top of the door hung shiny chimes to signal employees that they have a customer. He liked that it was a homey touch to the impressive place. The windows were covered with plywood with fancy painted signage telling you where you are on the back side. The walls were covered with huge TVs, and they had an array of recliners and chairs sitting in the middle. The chairs called to you to come in and sit down, enjoy the luxury and enjoy the entertainment. Well-done whoever owns this place, he thought. 

A girl at the customer service desk cleared her throat to get her co-worker's attention. In her assessment some movie star had just walked through the door. She stood to go help him. Toby smiled his, yes; I'm sexy smile, without knowing. He always thought it was just a friendly smile, and women tried to help him if they could. And he really needed some help right now, please hire me was what he needed from this smile.

"Hi, I saw your Help Wanted sign in the window. I just lost my job at Fields and Son, where I did electrical work. I ran the cables for the video lines too. The son must have been skimming off the top because they closed down right after the old man died," he said, as a joke. He was also sure she had no idea where that company was. He wanted her to know it was not his fault for his job loss.

The young lady laughed. "So, you're here for the job?" She asked, shocked he wasn't some movie star or some male model looking to buy. "Lord, he missed his calling" she thought, taking him all in. The closer he got the better he got. His eyes were blue the color of the summer sky and were lined with dark long lashes that set them off even more. She couldn't even compare him to other beautiful men she has seen. He was almost like a young Brad Pitt with darker more manly features. Kind of like that Timothy Olyphant she saw in a movie over the weekend. He was sumptuous. That was all she could come up with to describe him. But he was better than that. He was tall and masculine and had a swagger about him that drew you to him. Like a Hemsworth with dark features. His smile alone made her panties melt. Good Lord where have you been hiding, she internally questioned. 

"I have construction and electronic experience and I'm really good with my hands," Toby said, looking down at his hands he made fists flexing his muscles. The muscles rippled on his arms as the girls watched. He hadn't meant to make a suggestive statement, but the other girl looked at him when he said it with a come and get me smile. He realized his mistake and thought, (oh shit he will be hit with a sexual harassment suit even before he starts working here.) 

"I meant I'm good at assembling things," he restated, looking at the other girl to calm her down. Both were cute in an overly made-up way, but that was what was expected with the rich customers around here. He liked his women fresh faced, clean, naked, with meat on them, so neither one did it for him, plus he needs the job. 

*

He was raised in the small town of Lavon Texas east of Dallas. It was advertised as a quiet, lakeside community. He knew it as 'Hell'. They had an industrious police department and for years they set-up a speed trap on the main highway that ran through the outskirts of town. His dad was one of those hated police officers ticketing everyone for the slightest infraction, even some imagined infractions. The Attorney General of the state of Texas finally shut down their racket, and his father lost his job along with a half a dozen more officers. They had way too many for a small town of five thousand. 

Revenue went from many thousands a month to hundreds. He went job hunting and never came back. That was fine with Toby and his mother. The man was a jerk and mean as a junkyard dog. He took good 'old boy country cop' to the extreme and was an abusive ass at home also. Oh well, that was fifteen years ago, and even his mother was long gone. 

The curse of small-town life hit her, and she drank herself to death one warm summer's night. He found her passed out drunk on the living room floor. Not realizing she had gone too far that night, he put her to bed and left her to sleep it off as usual. This time she didn't wake up. 

He had been so happy that day, he had just graduated from high school and planned to find an actual job. She was cold and gray when he went to tell her he was leaving for the day. Needless to say, he didn't leave to find that job. 

*

They had him sit and fill out an application and wait for the owner to return from lunch. They were friendly and helpful as he dug around in his wallet to find all the information they asked for. He knew beyond a doubt they would run a background check. 

He was not concerned, he welcomed that. He hadn't even had a traffic ticket in the last fifteen years. 

The only one he has ever had was in Lavon. He was coming back from Wylie. It was a bigger small town twelve miles down the road. He was going sixty-four in a sixty zone, and they got him. The ticket was not so much of a problem. His dad fixed that; it is where he was stopped. 

Being a young new driver, his father had forbidden him to drive outside the city limits of the dinky town he lived in. At a slow cruise he could cover every street in ten minutes and see nothing interesting. The problem was the next town was bigger and far more exciting. A young lady caught his attention at the end of high school football season and phone calls weren't cutting it anymore. She was a sexy talker and seduced him to come to her. Taking a chance, he drove there and screwed up on the way home. He had a great time with her, but he thinks they were watching for him at his father's request. 

After months of him being grounded for the ticket and having no contact with her that whole time. She lost interest in him and found another boyfriend. Toby was left out in the cold when she informed him that she had moved on during a phone call. It took him six months to get over that girl or maybe he never has. He invested so much of his time and energy to work around his father's strict rules. He even took a few beatings to be able to see her and she moved on without a second thought. Maybe that is why he loves them and leaves them now. He sat looking at the picture of that sweet sixteen-year-old girl that devastated his life so many years ago. 

He kept it in his wallet as a reminder. If he started getting attached to someone, he would look at that ever-present picture when he reached for his money. Seeing that picture, he would move on. He used her as a constant reminder not to get hurt again.

*

"She is back," someone whispered. The blonde-haired girl behind the customer service desk and both young ladies stood to attention and smiled.

He looked up and watched as the owner walked into the showroom dressed to the nines. She looked to be around fifty, but with Botox and surgery she could be sixty or more. It is hard to tell with wealthy women these days. It's a good racket when all you do is pull out their charge cards and do a little snip, snip, poke, Toby mused as he watched her walk towards him. 

He needed to check his attitude at the door if he wanted this job. He knew it would be so convenient to go home. He is sure she was a beautiful woman thirty years ago. He turned in his chair to stand as she approached. Plastering his 'I'm sexy' smile on his face. The one that seems to work for him, he greeted her. 

Before he could speak one of the girls called out, "he is here for the job." She smiled to show her excitement at the prospects. 

"Yes Ma'am, I came in to ask about the job. I filled out the application already," he said, reaching out his hand to shake. Using a gentle hand, he could tell up close she was older than he initially thought. Way older and she was eyeing him with a critical eye, his smile was not working with her. 

She was a perfectly groomed businesswoman, he could tell she knew her stuff and the first thing she asked was, "do you use drugs? Because that is the first thing we will ascertain and then I'll do a background check. I can't have my people stealing from my customers. That is the quickest way to go out of business, so if you do you might as well walk out the door now," she stated quite loudly. She was not playing around here. 

Doing a quick scan of the place, to see who heard this dressing down he just received, he told her, "No, Ma'am, I don't use drugs, nor am I a thief. I was raised by a strict country police officer and learned very early not to steal. So, check away, it is not in my nature, I'm clean," Toby explained relieved no one was in the store. He was a little embarrassed at how loud the woman was, but he plastered that smile back on his face. He had her figured out quickly she was a hardnosed, no playing around kind of boss. That was fine he has dealt with worse. If she pays well, he can deal with her if she even offers him the job. 

"Good, glad to hear it so tell me more about yourself, and what makes you think you can do this job?" She asked and sat across from him at the customer service counter being friendlier. She wanted to hear his story; he was just too cute to ignore. 

"Well, my name is Toby McBride," and went on about his background of different jobs he has held and the length of time he held them. He wanted her to see he wasn't a jump around kind of guy. She seemed to relax as he spoke. She had a winner; he could do the job easily. He seemed to understand the difficulty of the installation. 

She has had so many young clueless men stop by and ask about the job that she wanted to pull her hair out. As she explained to them that installing their systems were more difficult than running wires along the floorboards and mounting a TV, their eyes would eventually glaze over. 

This guy seemed to understand the concept, so she needs to offer him more money to keep him on. If he checks out as he claims he will, he will need to start soon. Her last installer was pilfered by a competing company for a few dollars more an hour. She lost a good worker, and tomorrow was his last day. Toby would have to hit it hot and heavy when he starts. He looks like he could handle that. He was a Godsend coming in today. She had no idea what she was going to do next week without an installer. Turn away customers she assumes. Thank goodness it was the slow season. They only installed a few times a week but once school is out mothers will be looking to entertain their kids. 

Holding up her hand to stop him, she had heard enough. "Is your phone number on the application?" She asked, looking over the paperwork. 

"Yes Ma'am."

"Do you have a reliable vehicle?"

"Yes, Ma'am a fairly new truck," he told her, thinking he really didn't want to use his own truck for the job but if she pays mileage he would. "Yes, but I just live three blocks from here. I saw your sign on my way home."

"Good, I'm Louise Polanski the owner," she said, and walked over to a desk and pulled out a stapled pack of papers. "Here are the directions to the closest drug screening place. When that and the background check comes back, I will call you and we can discuss your pay. It should only take a few days."

*

Toby took the paperwork and looked it over; he knew the general vicinity of the place. "Ok, I'll buy a coke on the way. And thank you for considering me," he said, and made his way to the front of the store with a spring in his step. The merchandise was impressive, he noted as he walked past. All you need is money he thought as he exited the building. 

He was a little concerned he had not worked retail in years. He had one short stint with Sears, his first real job as a teen. It was a long drive from his friends to the closest Sears, but he found an apartment close that was cheap. Next, he installed stereos in cars and put the big speakers in the trunks, during the end of that craze. 

Whatever they wanted installed he did for years; they went bankrupt too. This place pays so much better than Sears. His last job he held for over five years, which made losing it all that much harder. He liked the people, and the money was good, enough to keep him comfortable. The workload had been just enough to keep him in good shape, but not sore from the day's work. What more could a man ask for? He built up this body by working out all day every day and he knows he is going to miss the exercise. 

"I bet he can sell lots of systems to the ladies that come in here," Liz the blonde told Mrs. Polanski as he walked out.

"You're absolutely right, they will eat him up," she said, and walked to her office. She would like to eat him up, Lord that was a good-looking man, and smart sounding. She has met so many that looked good, but every other word out of their mouths is, 'You know what I mean,' no she didn't and didn't want to know.

Walking into the drug screening place he sees the front was covered by three young women. He hoped they didn't have to come into the restroom with him. The red smiles coming from them made him hope even more. The appearance of an older man and a younger man shaking hands eased his discomfort. They were coming from the hallway in the back. 

He released his held breath; he hadn't realized he was holding. It's not that he was ashamed of his package. He just didn't like showing it to just anyone. As a matter of fact, he doesn't think a woman has ever seen him pee and he didn't plan to change that today. 

He walked to the counter and handed them his paperwork. Again, he received a red smile and the other two giggled lightly at his approach. Toby wondered if his fly was down and as he turned to go take a seat he checked. Nope, just silly girls fawning over him, he really didn't understand the reaction he received from girls or women. 

No, he is just some man taking a piss test to prove to some old woman that he isn't a druggy for an hourly wage job. Not too impressive to him. When he looks in the mirror, he sees the same boy who hid behind the garage when his father came home from work. He strives daily to be nothing like his father. He also strives to never see him again. So far, he has gone thirteen years and he hopes he is dead. 

The last time he saw his father was after his mother's funeral. He only came to claim the house and put him out. Such a loving father he was. He put his only child out with the clothes on his back right after they buried his mother. That's Ok, Toby let himself back in the next day and took all his stuff and the little money he and his mother stashed away to buy a new TV. 

He still has that old TV; he bought it as they planned. It is small but that is all he needs. He is not much of a TV watcher anyway. He mainly used it to check on the weather during the winter months. His last job was a good ten miles away from his old apartment and on the occasional icy morning in winter he would need to leave early. If he gets this job, he could walk the three blocks and still be on time, rain, or shine. 

His name was called by a masculine voice. Thank God, he stood. 

*

His phone rang three days later. He had been doing spring cleaning. Just a little more electricity to keep the sweat down and the place looked much better. He hadn't realized what a pig he was, until he looked under his bed and couch. Here he blamed the roach problem on his neighbors. 

He made a dash for the phone, hoping it was not his friend Marcus. He was a 'wanna be Don Juan' and used Toby to lure women to them. He was amazingly successful for not being that great looking once Toby lured them in. Some women found him charming and once Toby proved to be too shy to add much to the party then Marcus had their attention. He could spin a tale faster than anyone he knew. 

Usually Toby was not interested in the women he is attracted to, they are not his type. Marcus would point out some women and move in on them hopeful that Toby would draw them in. Their types were from one end of the spectrum to the other. He had been bugging him for days to go out, but Toby was not spending what little he had left for his friend to pick up someone. 

Looking at the name it was the Home Theater Store, and his heart sped up. "Hello, yes," Toby said, very happily.

"This is Mrs. Polanski," she said, getting right down to business, "your test and background checks came back good so if you're still interested, I would like to offer you the job." 

"Yes, I would be interested, thank you. You're keeping me from adding one more to the government's unemployment statistics. 

"Well, we all want to make The President look good," she said, with a snide laugh. "Ok if you would come in tomorrow and fill out the paperwork and we will discuss your pay and hours. Then you will be ready to start on Monday morning."

"That sounds perfect, what time tomorrow?" Toby asked. 

"Let's say 11:00 no need to make it too early."

"Ok, that sounds good," Toby told her, doing a little happy dance. His lights will stay on, and he will be able to eat next month. "Thank you, Mrs. Polanski, I will be there." He heard a faint bye as the call ended. 

He knows the place didn't open until ten so that gives her an hour to start her day. He wondered who was doing the installations now. He wondered if he would be starting to work the same day or just learn the ropes. Looking around his apartment, he decided to dress well and take work clothes with him in case she put him to work. "I guess I will find that out tomorrow," he quipped, and continued his happy dance.

He stopped short with his celebration moments later. "What if she only wants to pay minimum wage, he would be screwed. Damn rich people are such cheapskates," he whined out, and plopped down on the couch. "Shit, shit, shit," he grumped, as he looked around his apartment. He knows he can't afford this place, as cheap as it is, if he isn't paid at least ten an hour. He put twelve on the application not wanting to overwhelm her with the cost. He was hoping she will give raises; he is a good worker. She had to have seen that before she made the offer to hire him. He hadn't even thought about this being consumer driven pay.

He hasn't worked in retail in years. Yes, he talked to customers at Fields and Son often, but that was after the sale was made. They came to see how their houses were coming along and he would show them around. He would move or replace plugs on any wall if the sheetrock hadn't been hung for them. Same with the stereos it was handed to him to install. He slapped his knees and stood back up thinking the worst that could happen. If he must keep looking after wasting a few days waiting on this job oh well. He has another week before he must worry about making enough to pay the rent next month. He knew he could always get a job building homes or apartments, but he doesn't want to work out in the heat or cold. 

This job was so convenient for him is all he kept thinking about. It would be so nice to not have to fight traffic every day and even better to not have to work in the stifling heat that was coming. Tomorrow he will find out, taking his last beer from the refrigerator he popped the top and downed it. He will have to swing by the bank and pull money out of his dwindling savings to buy more beer and some food. He thought peering into the empty void of his cleaned-out refrigerator. "Hey, at least it is clean," he quipped before closing the door. He had thrown out dozens of molded cartons of leftovers in the trash. Normally he would swing by the grocery store on his way home but not in the last few days. He has cleared out his stock of food. 

He should have gone to college at night like everyone told him. "Learn a trade boy." Everyone told him 'You'll spend your life going job to job paycheck to paycheck with nothing substantial to offer a woman.' At this moment he had only one thing to offer a woman. Looking around his apartment it was decent, not impressive, but most women aren't after his money, he is sure they just want his body for a short time. That is all he allotted. He was not exactly exhilarating company being as shy as he is. His conversations aren't cerebral after growing up in a small town scared shitless of what his father might do to him next. Locked in rooms, closets, beaten, he was such a 'delightful' father. It was like he took his frustration about his job out on them. 

"Yeah, let me see what the hours are at this place and what I'll have to do. I have to do something different," he complained to the walls. There was no one else to complain to, he hadn't had a woman in this place ever. Lesson learned from 'stalker girl'.

He sat down to think how long it had been since he had a woman period. He sighed, 'too long,' his friend Marcus was a master of the pickup. Toby was not interested in the skinny women he goes after. They seem to only come after him for his looks. Maybe that was foolish of him to dismiss them because of their being too skinny. He sighed again and got busy looking for something to wear for tomorrow. He could wear the same jeans all week at his last job. He just had to change his shirts; it made his life easier. 

He realized that he might have to do his laundry while digging through his closet floor. That was the one thing he hadn't gotten to. He hadn't expected to be job hunting as his clean clothes dwindled this week. He knew things had slowed down at work, but it has often with this company. Something would always show up and they hit it hot and heavy and get it rolled out in record time. They all played the same game; Let's see how fast we can get this done. Now he knows they should have taken their time. 

Hey, he wasn't privy to the inner workings of the company. He did his job, and he did it well. No one ever came back to him complaining of shoddy workmanship. He thought that he needed to learn to be an auto mechanic. They always have work, he noticed. He looked at his hands, but the thought of them being grease encrusted, disgusted him. 

He remembered all the men working on his truck and their grease laden clothes and hands. Ok, maybe not a mechanic, but something steady. The sawdust coating him had been enough for him at his last job. He came home daily with a light dusting which he immediately showered off. He couldn't stand the feeling, but it came along with the job. That is now over he brooded. 

He went over all the different jobs he could think of as he stood in front of the washer waiting for his clothes to finish. Dismissing them one at a time for one reason or another he hopes this new job pays well. The woman from the apartment two doors down eyed him as she loaded the washer. He would swear she waited for him to walk by to do her wash. She would follow him a few minutes later almost every time he came in here. He knows she has the hots for him, he saw it in her red flushed face when he catches her looking at him. 

*

She flashes bright red when he smiles to acknowledge her with a head tilt. He knew if he approached her, she would bend over that washer and let him do whatever. But he also knew they were both too shy to broach the subject. So, he stands there, and she looks at him. She looks to be in her mid-twenties and a bit overweight, but he likes extra meat on their bones. Not gross with hanging fat, just thick with a little more cushion. He has never seen her with make-up on which is good too. She is clean faced with nice long dark reddish-brown hair down her back. The kind you could get lost in. 

He could have a good time crawling all over her if he could just work up the nerve to approach her. But then living in the same complex, would she become a pain he wondered. She may expect something more from him and begin to follow him everywhere. She was already a stalker following him here every time he came to do his wash. 

Nope, from every angle she looks like nothing but trouble. He didn't want to have to move not again, not because of some love starved girl. He quickly talks his way out of that thought and goes back to watching the red light on the washer, willing it to go to the next cycle faster. She was a bad idea, even with his friend jumping at the notion. It has been a long time, but he wouldn't chance it. So, the dance continues, and they both stay on their respective sides of the laundry room. Neither one was going to get what they wanted tonight. 

*

Dressed two steps up from his last trip to the store he went out the door. Toby parked his truck out front of the store at two minutes to eleven. He could see Mrs. Polanski was standing at the customer service counter and she seemed to be waiting for him. "Please don't screw me around woman. I will be a good worker if you pay me right," Toby said, under his breath as he pulled the door open and smiled. 

The place had three customers and the two girls he met the other day were busy discussing the option of each setup. He listened as he walked by the nice stadium chairs and recliners they had on display for sale in the middle of the floor. He visualized the fancy homes with huge rooms filled with all this video equipment that he will have to install and not make a mess in their homes. Money shot out of the tops of their heads as they pointed out what they liked. Putting his attention back on Mrs. Polanski she smiled as he approached. Extending his hand, they shook as she assessed his appearance. 

"I can dress better, I figured for today it wouldn't be needed," he told her, embarrassed he was not meeting up to her expectations already. 

"No, you're perfect, come on back and let's talk," she said, and waved to the girls announcing, "Liz and Alli I'll be in my office."

Again, he received red flushed cheeks from them and the woman standing with her husband planning to spend thousands of dollars to watch TV. He had the women's attention and wondered what was the attraction? When he looked in the mirror, he saw a lot of pain behind those blue eyes and hair that needed to be cut. 

Beyond that, he saw 'a nobody' as he was often told or worse by his father. 'A piece of dog shit,' was one of his favorites to call him with a quick kick to the ass when he didn't move as fast as he wanted him to. He loved to give him some tasks just to watch him jump to accomplish it as quickly as if he was a trained monkey. He hates that man to the core of his body. He swore he had his aim calibrated just right to make sure it goes right up his ass when he kicked him. 

She leads him to a nice office in the back side of the building. She had monitors on one wall that covered the entire showroom floor and two in what looked like in a storage area. They had his attention as he entered. He now knows he will be watched while working here at least. 

Oh, hell in their homes too, he was sure they would have surveillance cameras all over the place. Can't have the help stealing from you, you know. Oh well, this is the future, everyone is under surveillance Toby mused as he took a seat scanning the rest of her office.

"Ok, let's get down to business, I see you put down twelve an hour. Is that what you made at your last job?"

Ok, here it goes, she can't pay that. He glanced over to the monitors as one of the girls was writing up an order. "No, I was up to fifteen and change before I was let go," Toby said, getting ready to shake hands and leave. 

"Ok, that sounds better, what I need from you is a part time salesman and a part time installer. We move a lot of merchandise, but some of the people have their own maintenance people install the equipment. Elitist issues or paranoia, I'm not sure which, but that is fine if we still get the sale. I will give you seventeen an hour on the sales floor and twenty-two to install,"

Toby felt himself flush red at those numbers. "Sure, that would be great," he told her, wanting to do his happy dance just for her, but he contained himself.

"I can tell you're a little shy, but you can't be in sales, so step it up young man. You could be making some money at this place. You will receive five percent of each sale you make. That should be an incentive to sell," She told him, and watched his eyebrows rise as he tried to calculate how much he would make per sale. He wondered what the markup was on these systems. It had to be fifty percent for her to make a profit paying all three of them.

"We have women coming in here all the time buying for husbands or setting up new homes with systems. If you play it right, they will be putty in your hands and do anything just to see you smile," she knew because she would and she is not the twitter-patted type, but Lord she thinks he is handsome. And the sad thing is he doesn't seem to know how to use it. Or maybe it is a good thing for her. But she planned on teaching him how to work his looks for her profit. 

"Yes Ma'am, I understand, I just don't see the appeal."

"Maybe that is a good thing, keeps you humble," she teased, and he knew it. 

He was just glad she didn't come onto him, that he couldn't cope with. She was a tall, thin, graceful, much older woman, not his type. At his last job, the son's wife hit on him often. They would see her coming out on the assembly floor to talk to him. The other men would start laughing as he shook his head. Given the chance she would have stripped right there on the floor of the empty home shell they worked on. His job was to run the wires in the shell of the double wide they assembled. He was not an electrician, but they had one that signed off on his work. He could wire anything, and he was sure that is why Mrs. Polanski hired him at good pay to his relief. He didn't have to be a licensed electrician to run video cables. 

Maybe he should have done as the electrician told him and gone for his licenses. The man even brought him a book to study. At the time it held no appeal, he was content doing his job, why rock the boat. Besides Jones was an overweight slob who sat around most days eating and waiting for a house to inspect. Breathing heavy, grunting, and groaning as he looked around whatever he just finished. He couldn't see himself in that role. They had three assembly areas and could knock out a home in three days as it slowly rolled through the warehouse.

"Ok, sounds good. What is the dress code for me?"

"Dress shirt and black or tan slacks would be fine," she told him. That was what she had the other men wear who worked here before. But she quickly changed her mind. "What you have on now would be fine for installation. I will give you some polo shirts with our logo on them to wear, so nice jeans and the polo shirts will be fine." She sat back looking at him, she thought she should give him a shirt one size smaller to show off that body. If the shirt shows off his upper body the way he fills out his jeans, she thought, and quickly rethought the concept trying to pull her mind out of the gutter.

"Actually, let's have you wear nice jeans and a polo for the sales floor too. Keep the sales floor and the installation clothes separate so they all don't get messed up," she suggested. 

"I can do that," Toby said, seeing where she was going. She planned to use his looks for sales. That was a new concept for him. He needs to call her Miss Marcus; she was going to use him too. But at least he would be paid for his services, and at that amount he will smile as she does it.

She stood and walked over to a box in the corner of the office and began to dig through it. She found five medium shirts and tossed him one of them.

"If you would, try this on and see if it fits," she suggested.

Snatching it from the air as it flew towards him, he stood and looked for someplace to go. Did she expect him to change here? He wondered. That was a new ploy to get him shirtless. 

She smiled as he turned red. Lord, he is so sweet, "I'll turn my back if you want me to?" She offered.

"No, I've got it," he said and pulled his own polo knock-off, off and quickly slipped the new one over his head. He knew she was watching his every move. Could this be considered sexual harassment? They had training on this at his last job and he guesses if she doesn't demand sex, she is clear. Plus, he needs this job and the money is good. The best pay he has ever had. 

As she expected, he was perfect, as his body twisted to pull the shirt on. Nope, too small even for the sake of seeing his body she reluctantly decided.

"Ok, let's try a size larger," she said, as he pulled it off. 

A light tap at the door sounded and the dark hair girl popped the door open. Seeing Toby standing bare chested, she blushed and started to back away. Alli, figuring she wasn't supposed to see him shirtless, decides to back out of the room. Alli never realized Mrs. Polanski was bold enough to have him strip down in her office? She almost closed the door when Mrs. Polanski called out. "Alli, get back in here, we are just trying to find his shirt size. Lord you silly girl. I have sons older than him," she said, doing a quick CYA.

Alli stepped back in, "I have a sale and wanted you to approve my numbers." 

"Sure," she said, as she handed Toby a large shirt knowing they shrink some when washed. He clutched it to his chest as they completed their business. Alli walked off and they could see on the monitors that as she walked back to the sales floor, she fanned herself with the invoice 

"I check because she has been known to miss a few numbers when adding things up," Mrs. Polanski told him. "Oh, who knows, maybe she thinks seven and seven is twelve."

He figures she better check all his if they don't use a calculator. He slipped the shirt on; it was much better you could still see the muscles bulging around the arm holes. He flexed them and wondered if he was going to have to start working out now to keep them. Before those muscles were worked out every day pulling wire and climbing up into the rafters to do ceiling work. Realizing what he was doing, he put his arm down and smiled embarrassedly. 

She smirked thinking he was just too cute. "I think this will work. I'll give you five and let me know if you need more," she said as she rummaged in the box. She knew she had more, after all this was a new order that she just received. It was for multiple sized due to being unsure of who she would hire. 

The larges were for her old guy, the traitor, but she would have never had him out on the sales floor. Nope, Toby is perfect for the salesfloor she decided as he tucked his shirt in. He sucked in his stomach to do it and puffed out his chest in the process. She almost needed to change her panties, something she hadn't need to do in over forty years. But she would have if she was not so 'seasoned'. The one and only time she did was when she met her husband. He was a handsome loving man who died five years ago, leaving her to run this place. It had been his passion as a later in life job and it was working out well for her. 

She thinks he knew he was dying and set her up with this place. He had to know it was something she could handle. He also knew she wouldn't want to sit around as a retired woman. That was not her style. She had been a go-getter all her life. No rocking chairs, crocheting, or playing cards all day for this lady. She looked at this young man shaking her head at what a foolish woman she was. 

He turned his attention to the monitors. The place was filling up and he could see the girls were becoming concerned when a rough looking group of young punks that came in the door. They now have nine different customers scattered over the sales floor.

Mrs. Polanski noticed and quickly placed a folder for him on the desk then stepped out. Toby watched the security camera feed and played what object doesn't look like it belongs. He concentrated on these five guys roaming around the store. He knew by the way they were joking around and playing with the components they were not buying. They were scanning the room, looking for the opportunity to rob the place or at least cause trouble. 

He walked out of the office puffed up like a raging bull ready to start ripping those boys apart. As soon as the punks saw him step out into the showroom, they punched each other's arms, and laughed as they made their great escape, acting as if they planned to leave all along. Seeing Toby with his chest puffed up and muscles showing, Mrs. Polanski smiled. The boys scrambled out the door with Toby following. He stood at the door giving them a menacing look. They ran to an old pick up and drove away as he watched. 

The others smiled and went back to work, and even the customers were relieved as a nervous laughter filtered around the place. She had never been robbed but had a feeling it was coming today. Thank God for Toby. She knew these idiots wouldn't understand they had no cash here. Toby has paid for himself already and he hasn't even started working yet.

"Thank you," she said, and stepped back into her office. She was having him fill out paperwork now that the drama was over. He kept an eye on the monitors realizing they were sitting ducks without him and wondered how often that happened. He hated to think of them having to deal with that craziness without him. 

"We keep no cash here. Who pays for an eight-thousand-dollar theater system with cash? I mean really think boys," she complained, sounding very flustered. She looked around for something to do as he finished the paperwork. 

"I don't think they will be back," Toby assures her, she seemed a bit frazzled. "I'm glad I was here for you," he told her earnestly as he finished the paperwork. The only thing he had left was to grab his checkbook for the routing numbers to deposit his checks. 

All eyes were on him as he went out to his truck. At some point he wonders if they have ever seen a man. It sounded arrogant of him, but damn people, get over it. He will be around here all the time. Hell, yes at seventeen dollars an hour plus commission. Best pay ever. That realization put a spring in his step as he walked back in to finish the paperwork. 

Ten minutes later Mrs. Polanski was walking him around the place showing him the merchandise explaining how they interacted. She described the different systems he would install and how easily they can be installed, now that much of the stuff was wireless. He liked the sound of that, if they had electricity close by, he could easily do this. Finding studs to hang it on would be easy with another gadget she shows him. 

She had a panel truck, which meant he didn't have to use his truck, which added to his happiness. Waving goodbye to them all an hour later he had the weekend and then he would start working. She said he had given her as much of his free time as he needed.

*

His cell rang, as if Marcus had a camera on him that signaled to him that he was free. He saw the name and made a quick decision to go out tonight. Maybe he could try to be flirty and get some 'love' this weekend after all he did have a clean apartment. The chubby woman in the laundry room had set him off yesterday. So, he answered his phone with, "where to?"

Surprisingly, Marcus picked a club Toby had never been to before. Marcus went there last weekend and scored all on his own. He was looking to repeat the process even though the latest girl hadn't answered his calls this week, he lamented as they made plans for the night how much he wanted a repeat with that one. Toby was beginning to think this man was all talk and had no idea how to please a woman. Because as of yet he hasn't had one follow up for a second date. He probably doesn't even try to please them. He is pretty sure it is all about what he wants. Toby envisioned him as a hump, hump, and done. He was probably out the door before they knew what barely hit them. At least he tries to give them something to remember him by. He prefers a woman who is worked up and enjoying herself, not like a passenger, just along for the ride.

Toby must keep moving to get away from them. Going to their place was the only option now, but it had been a while since he has done any of that. His last fling had turned out to be a stalker and he didn't want a repeat. He hates hurting feelings, and he thought they understood it was for the night. That one was told how it was, but she wanted more. He would stick to wrong phone numbers and forget his clean apartment and go to her place or no place. Unless she is a good one, he was always on the lookout for the good one. If he finds the one, he will want to know how to find her again. He would hate to find her and not be wanted when he shows up at her door. That would suck he would hate to be rejected. 

He knew he was getting older and had to start looking at some point for 'the one'. He would love to see if he could find someone to make a life with. His new job and a decent woman would be a nice way to start a new life. Wanting a woman to share his life with, a life that is nothing like the one he grew up in.

Carrying his pile of teal work shirts into his apartment he deposited them on the couch. He would swing by the ATM on his way out, but for now he was going to kick back and... "Oh, hell I don't have any beer," he mumbled. He quickly changes his shirt back to his old one. He needed to go to the store and pick up a six pack for the weekend. The old lady may not appreciate him buying beer in her store logo shirt, so he changed. 

It was a hassle just getting to the cheaper store. You could find every high-end thing you don't need around here plus fancy fresh organic vegetables, and designer beer, that costs way too much and tastes like bear piss, in my opinion. Just give me a Miller Light. To find a plain grocery store to buy beer was a trip in the worst traffic, so you generally need to go for more than just beer. 

In about two more weeks the fancy college near him will let out and everything will calm down for the summer. That reminds him, those college girls won't be at the club, they have finals coming up. Not a problem for him, they always talk over his head anyways, but Marcus finds them easy for some reason. He knew nothing about the man's true background. It seems to change with each girl he talks with. He runs the gambit of PhD to construction worker. As he picks up his beer, he has almost talked himself out of going out tonight. 

A very pretty girl walked by as he selected his chips, she gave him a once over with a sexy smile. He felt a twitch down below as she walked on, and he changed his mind again. If he could just open his mouth and flirt, he would have it made. He hated that he needed at least two beers to loosen him up. He also knew he needed to do something or someone fun tonight. 

Thinking about the last time he was with a woman it had been cold out. Cold, so it has been a long time, longer than he thought. Sad thing was he could remember the weather, but not the girl before 'stalker girl'. He was racking his brain as he stood in line trying to remember her. She was a thinner one if he remembers correctly. Maybe that was the problem he liked a bit of meat to hold on to, and she did not have much extra. 

Too bad that one girl was such a stalker. She had the right build but not the looks. She had big brown eyes that dug into your soul. He should have known better from the start. She had followed him all over the club until he gave up and went home with her. He figures a pity poke would satisfy her. But no, she wanted more so the next time he went to that club she must have followed him home when he dismissed her. 

The one before her jiggled well and was up for anything but he dropped her too. Yes, she was a good one. He thought he remembered that much. He needed to find someone, that was apparent to him, if only just for the night. 

Toby's problem was he didn't think he wanted a family or obligations unless just the right one came along. He had seen what a family was. Nope, he was not looking to settle down, not even for a weekend, or was he. Then why was he looking for 'the one'. He shook his head as that sixteen-year-old girlfriend popped in his head. She was out of the picture he looked her up on, Facebook years ago and she was married with kids. She had gotten thick; that was the only good thing about those kids.

He checked his teeth to make sure they were clean. Nothing is a bigger turn off than food in your teeth. He had been blessed with straight teeth and white ones. Sure, he could have them whitened but he wasn't that vain. Standing in a towel he did a Schwarzenegger pose and grinned. Maybe he was handsome. 

"I mean, how many times do you have to be told you are," he asked that 'sexy face' of his. In the back of his mind, he heard his father call him 'a worthless son of a bitch'. 'A waste of oxygen' was also thrown around a lot. Hell, every put down he could think of was used on him and his mother over the years. It must have pissed him off every day when he came home to these people he couldn't stand to be around. 

 All Toby's other jobs he has had he worked alone keeping to himself. That kept the others from figuring out he was worthless. The guys on the building crew didn't care what he looked like until Mrs. Fields made an appearance then they teased him about being a pretty boy. But they teased everyone about anything. Another reason to work alone, he didn't have to deal with the bantering he would hear on the other build sites. He never learned that as a kid, it would have been back talking, and a backhanding would follow. The other men didn't like to pull the wire; they complained it was too much work. Toby liked it plus it has helped him build up some impressive muscles. Looking in the mirror, he was finally starting to see someone else, and he did look good.

He slipped on a pair of jeans with holes in the thigh. The wire he pulled all day would hit right there and most of his jeans have holes right below his left pocket. He may have to go buy some new ones for this job he thought looking at the holes. But hey the money is good, and he is out of the heat. Before he worked in a big warehouse with huge fans to help with the heat, but now he will have A/C all day long and heat in the winter. 

No, Dallas was not known for its cold winter, but they do have a few wet cold days here and it is hell to work during them. The more he thought about the new job the happier he became. He just hoped he could be friendly enough to sell those systems and the women who came there thought he was cute. He had the weekend before he was put through the test. 

Toby walked by laundry room girl's apartment and saw her watching him walk by. She had her drapes open, her TV going and seemed to be settled in for the night. He smiled and gave her a slight wave and walked into the night. He could turn around and tap on her door and save the forty dollars he has in his pocket for tonight. "She is probably a virgin," he grumbled as he got into his truck. He was not going to go there. Remembering why he was living in this dumpy place in the first place.