"Hey, Paul. How are you?"
"Oh, I'm doing just fine."
"Good, good."
"And yourself? How's school?"
"School's going okay. Less than a month until the semester ends. I'm tired, but doing good."
"That's good to hear. How much longer are they keeping you at the hospital?"
"Well, this isn't, like, 'for sure', or anything, but, my boss told me that there has been some talk of budget cuts from the people upstairs, and that usually means that they clear out all the temps. I haven't heard anything specific, yet, but. . "
"Well, we only have eight people over there now, which isn't much at all. Two people got let go just yesterday. They came in and told them to get their time-sheets signed and not to come in today. Luckily we found them other positions real quick, but it was just good timing."
"Yeah, they probably won't keep me after Christmas, but I think I need to find something else anyway."
"Oh yeah, why's that?"
"Well, ever since classes started I had to cut back to only twenty hours a week. I'm doing alright, but it's been kinda tight. I need to get a night job--like waitering or bartending or something--so that I can work more than just twenty hours a week."
"Sounds like you need to get a sugar-daddy--take care of you."
"Uh. ."
"Or a sugar-momma, I guess."
"Heh. Green is green right? It don't matter none."
"HAHAAAhAHA!! Yes, well, you could maybe work at one of these hotels. I have a friend, who's my age, that was a night manager. He liked it alright, but sometimes the porters didn't show up and he had to, you know, one of these tour buses comes in at one a.m., and if there aren't any porters, then he has to go out and unload all the luggage himself, and then go back around the desk to check everyone in. He didn't have to do it often, but one time it was all cold and rainy and he had to unload the luggage and he caught pneumonia."
"S'that so?"
"Oh yeah. Course it didn't happen often--that the porters wouldn't show up--but every once in a while."
"Well, heh, I'm a healthy, young lad. I'm sure I could handle it. I ain't proud."
"Oh, you presume that pride increases with age?"
"Doesn't it?"
"Oh, no. Only remorse and regret."
"Oh god."
Both men laugh heartily.
"Hooo. .. well, I'll see you next week, then, Paul."
"Okay, Erik, take care."