Clarance struggled to button his uniform. McTasty's had given him a pair that was just a size too small, giving him an uncomfortable pull on his crotch. He took a quick look in the mirror. Tight clothes, unshaven stubble, and dark circles under his eyes. Coupled with his bad smell, he had all the winning qualities of being a grill worker. Alas, he was running behind.
He stepped out of his dingy, smoke-stained apartment to his rusting Ford Focus. It was a decrepit old piece of shit. Still, it got him from A to B. He stuck the key in the ignition slot, and cranked it. He pushed in and out on the dashboard, and it finally fired up to the idea of going downtown. He pulled out of the lot, and sped off towards work. His car died just as he pulled right into the Employee Parking section. Clearly pissed and looking flustered, he slammed the door, and walked onto solid ground. The sky was wonderfully blue, and the golden sunlight showered the sky with warmth. Fresh air blew against his back.
After savouring the moment, he headed in. His manager Cindy stood at the counter, eyeing him as he shuffled into the room. She had always been a pretty thing, with curves that would make even the least enthusiastic race car driver in the world randy about a Dale Earndhart-style track. A wonderfully sticky smell of cheap perfume hung around her like a swarm of summer bees, and her watery blue eyes bore nails through his soul.
"You're late, Claw." she said, frowning. She bit her lip, as if she were unsure of herself. She took a deep breath. "I really hate to do this."
"You're sending me to the Automation Crew?" he replied. "Well, Jimmy got here before you. He got your spot." "Fuck. Alright, fine. Be a bitch about it."
She glared at him with an iciness reminiscent of what had dominated the relationship they once had. No matter, it went without saying that everyone fucks at McTasty's. He slunked off to the back room, and banged on a clean white door labeled "Automation".
"Fred, let me in. Cindy's being a cunt and sent me."
A bolt thundered on the other side of the door, and it swung open. Fred was a stubby redheaded little man, and wore a white smock. A cigar hung from his mouth.
"Of course she is, Claw. You've got to remember that she's your boss, though."
"True, Fred. True. Well, who do we have on the menu today?" Fred laughed. "Well, Jill got stuck running dishwasher. Todd's running assembly, and Alice is on the Bun machine. And then..."
"Don't tell me."
"Sorry, Claw. Looks like Janice is managing the boilers."
There was an awkward pause.
"Janice, as in, 300-pound-and-smells-like-fish Janice?" Clarence asked.