Flash Fiction: Sick Day #fridayflash

This story is a work of fiction and for mature audiences only. Don't steal, create your own.

Rrrrrriiing. Rrrriiiinnngg.

"Top Notch Auto, this is Steve speaking."

"Uh, hello, hey Steve, it's me. Is, Carl around?"

"Yeah, just a sec."

"Wait, anybody else show up today?"

"Yeah, the whole crew's here. Kate. Jim. We just let Sally in a minute ago."

"Ah, shit. Really? Have you been outside Steve? It's a mess out there."

"I know. I need this job."

"But what good is a job if you're..."

"Lemme get Carl for you."

A click then hold music plays.

"This is Carl."

"Hey Carl, just letting you know I'm calling in sick today."

"It's Saturday, you get double points for this."

"I know."

"That means you've only got one point left before you get canned."

"I know."

"Don't you think you should just close the shop with the way things are?"

"The district manager got me up at 4am to tell me to get my ass up to work or I'm gone so here I am and you should be too."

"I won't be doing that Carl. It's flat out stupid."

"We've taken precautions and everything's holding up fine. Top Notch Auto sent us supplies for this occasion. They wouldn 't put us in harm's way."

"The only thing that Top Notch Auto cares about is having a warm body by the counter to peddle auto parts. Do you really think anyone will be buying spark plugs and wipers with the way things are right now?"

"You saw how much we made yesterday? Best ever. Plus, it's the holidays. People spend money and travel this time of the year."

"But yesterday, we also lost..."

"I was advised by the legal department not to speak about that matter. Besides, he should've been more careful."

"Have you got the TV on Carl? Turn it on for fuck's sake. It's real bad out there and it keeps getting worse! Even Metro Mart is closed today."

"Those Metro Mart employees are a bunch of pussies. Get your ass here today or you'll be canned. We've got inventory to do."

"I'm afraid I can't do that Carl." I walk over to the closet and grab my rifle behind the door.

"When this whole thing blows over I'm up for an interview for a district manager position. It's salaried and I get a company car."

"Good for you Carl. It doesn't change my decision." I turn the TV on at half mute. The emergency news ticker flashes a bright orange as it scrolls below the pallid-faced anchorman.

"I'm not really surprised, you've never been a team player. You don't value what Top Notch Auto stands for."

I walk towards the window and carefully brush past the curtains to get a quick glimpse outside.

"That's the problem with you, no ambition."

I open the window slightly and position my rifle as I tilt my head to hang on to the phone.

"There's something more important right now than all of that..."

"This seals the deal. You're done for."

"....Survival."  Click. Boom. One down. I'm getting better at this. There's three more zombies wandering this street.
"Carl, I gotta let you go. I just wanted to call in sick."

"I'm gonna put you down as no call no show."

"Fuck you Carl. By the way, there's a high concentration of this epidemic in your area. If I were you, I'd lock everything down and get ready because they're coming."

"If you think you're gonna get any recommendations from me, forget about it. Don't put me down as a referral because I ain't helping your ass out."

"Goodbye Carl." I toss the phone to the side and aim for zombie number two with the red plaid shirt on. Two more after that. Then time to get out of dodge.

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