Serenity Page #2

This is my first short story and it comes from personal struggles and experience.

• Fiction
• Short story
• Drama

								

Bill’s legs trembled as he held on to the table to elevate him up and to maintain his weak and ever increasing wobbly body. Evangelo, as Bill now came to realize his name, quickly darted to the back of the restaurant and locked the door and flipped over the Closed sign. Bill had not even thought of this. “Hey pal its..” but his sentence was cut short by the ringing of the old cordless telephone behind the counter. “One minute” he exclaimed. Bill knew he had to act quickly as the timing was perfect as he glanced out the window and planned his escape. The street was barren as he looked at the clock on the wall. This made sense as it was 7:48 pm and everyone was safely at home with their families settling into the usual night time routine.
Bill looked back at the open register having placed the $60 from the young family on top of the tray. “Hey sweetheart how’s it going?” Evangelo said into the receiver“good day at school?” Bill froze in his steps, he was obviously talking to his child. “Yeah I am just going to hit an 8 o’clock meeting and I will be home right after, I have your favourite- grandma’s lasagna that I will bring home, not many takers today.” Evangelo listened patiently as his daughter responded. He glanced at Bill and covered the receiver “I will be right with you bud.” 
Bill suddenly was overcome with sickness and then a rapid feeling of sorrow and retribution. He could just quickly grab the cash, that would certainly help him buy a gift card and a small bottle to get him through the night and to be able to settle. “Yes I know sweetheart 200 days today you are always the best at keeping an eye on me you are my guardian angel” and quickly burst out laughing, a sound that seemed foreign and strange to Bill. “Ok gotta fly love you CC.”, an obvious nickname for her.
He glanced over at Bill whose eyes began to water. “Sorry bud that’s my daughter always checking up on me but she is my life line you know? Hey is everything ok you look nauseas.” What in Gods name was he feeling.He certainly had sunk to moral lows many times before especially when he was desperate but this feeling had evaporated as if he had been cleansed of fear and apprehension. He knew this was only his good nature getting the best of him but this was his only hope of getting his sweet little girl back into his arms. He reached for the gun again but felt a tightness in his hands as if the weight could not be released from his pocket. 
He tried to speak but found that nothing could fight through this eerie feeling that had entered him. “Is it ok if I close early tonight, need to do a couple of things.” Bill looked up with trepidation at Evangelo and said stammering “I um..I am not sure what to do.” “Hey no worries my friend” said Evangelo “just have a seat, I got time.” Bill uncocked the gun and released its grip back into his pocket. All he could think about was that little girl of his and that of Evangelo. He simply had no sense of what was holding him back. Bill wiped his eyes with his thumb and index finger and suddenly blurted the words “I don’t know what to do here please turn me in.” “Huh?” said Evangelo “what do you mean guy?” Bill did not know what to say but this was his only way of restoring himself to sanity “I have no money to pay – I don’t know what to say.” “Hey no worries this one is on me I am in a good mood it always happens when I talk to my Clara. It’s all good do you need something to take home you only ate a bagel I have lots of lasagna and my daughter probably wants takeout, no doubt. She gets sick of the 12 hour café leftovers that I bring her and her mom every night.” “No no no please I am ok you have been very kind” Bill replied and he truly meant it, he had never felt such generosity and friendship in many years. “Thanks again the bagel was all I needed.” “Ok well have a good night and if you ever need some food just drop by at this time and I will see what I can bag up for you.” 
Bill made one final gesture of appreciation to Evangelo who returned to wiping the counter. He buttoned up his beaten up blazer and turned towards the door and with much greater determination pulled on the heavy doors and journeyed onto Kingston Road. 
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