Matt drummed his fingers nervously on the steering wheel of the Buick, waiting to merge with the after-work traffic snaking past the entrance to the trailer park on the main road. He’d finally spotted a small opening behind an approaching pickup truck when Janice banged open the door of her manager’s trailer and stalked toward the car.
When she got close she made the roll-your-window-down gesture. Matt fumbled with the controls until he found the right one.
Janice planted her feet in front of the driver’s-side door, smacking her gum and holding a cigarette. “What the hell is this, kid?”
“What do you mean?”
“You got money for a car now but not the rent?”
“What?”
“Rent was due Friday. Last Friday. Now you’re driving around in this?” Janice waved her cigarette up and down the length of the Buick.
“Shit.” Matt smacked his palm on top of the steering wheel. “I forgot, really. Things have been…it’s been crazy, you know?”
“Things are crazy for everyone, kid. Always. You wouldn’t believe the stuff I hear when the first a the month rolls around. I still need that money.”
“This isn’t even my car. I swear.”
“Doesn’t matter. I was gonna stop by your place today anyway. You got the rent or not?”
The feeling hit Matt again, like there was a weight on top of his chest and it just kept pressing down, getting heavier and heavier. It took a physical effort to get breath into his body, to squeeze the air past that invisible weight and into his lungs. He got that feeling almost every day lately.
Janice stopped her smacking long enough to blow a long stream of smoke. “Look, don’t make me go through the same threats I have to use with some a these clowns.” She jerked her head in the direction of a row of trailers. “You’re a smart kid, you know what happens if I don’t get that money. Right?”
The air leaked from Matt in a long sigh, leaving him feeling deflated. He dug into his pocket and pulled out the stack of bills. After he counted what he owed Janice there wasn’t much left.
“Thanks, kid. Take it easy.” Janice turned and walked back to her trailer.
Matt stared at the few remaining bills in his palm.
The familiar noises of the trailer park pulled him out of it. Slamming doors, barking dogs. He glanced in the rearview mirror at trailer #6, then pushed the nose of the Buick toward the traffic on the main road, trying to find a way in.