The sun was beating down as the day reached its halfway point. It was another hard weekend at work, but I seldom complained because the money was decent most days. My name is Justice, and this is my life as I know it. I am a junior at Lakeview High School in a decent sized city, well suburb in Illinois. I am about 5'10" tall, and weigh about 170 lbs. I wouldn't consider myself an Adonis by any means, but I will admit that I am not bad to look at. I cycle about 20 miles everyday not to exercise, but to get to work and my friends' house everyday not to mention school. My family is lower middle class so my two sisters and I don't get to many extras in life, such as a car. That is why I am hard at work on this hot day trying to make some extra cash so I can finally buy a decent set of wheels.
Unfortunately, I did not go on many dates throughout my life, because I hardly had any extra time between school and work. I am not saying that I don't appreciate the fairer sex, because I definitely like looking. I am sure once I get my own wheels though that will all change. I will have dates every weekend. I mean, come on, what girl in her right mind wouldn't want a guy with a nice ride.
As I was buffing off another sports car owned by a forty-something, balding man, sweat started to bead off my forehead. It was almost noon, and the heat was really starting to kick on. I knew by 3:00 pm I would be roasting from the heat wave that struck early this week. It was only early May and it was already reaching the low 90s. This summer was sure going to be a hot one if this weather kept up.
As I finished the last detailing of the Corvette, I signaled to the owner that his car was finished. As he came over towards his ‘Vette I saw him reaching for his wallet. He quickly pulled out a bill, and stored it in his palm. I handed him his keys, and he quickly inspected his car. I made sure I spent extra time and effort on this car hoping for a big tip.
"Nice job, son," he said with a huge smile on his face. "If you keep up the hard work, you just might be driving one of these yourself one day."
"I sure hope so, sir," I quickly replied. "I will keep up the hard work."
The man shook my hand, and in doing so left me his tip. I quickly closed my hand around it as the other employees were looking in my direction all probably wondering how much I got for a tip. Every once in a while a big tipper with a nice ride would come to the car wash, and I was usually lucky enough to get them. This pissed off some of the other guys, because they never got any of the big twenty dollar tips. I smiled and waved as the man drove off not looking at the tip until he was out of site.
"How much did you rake in this time moneybags," shouted Lee, one of the other employees.
It was then that I first looked at the folded bill in my hand. The man had folded it so as I couldn't tell right away. As I quickly unfolded the bill I instantly recognized George Washington's face.
"One dollar…. That ass only gave me a buck tip after all that extra work," I shouted towards Lee. "What a cheap ass… man I feel used."
"Whatever, Justice, I know you are lying," Lee retorted.
"No, I am serious. That bum only gave me a buck," I professed, waving the dollar in the air to show Lee I wasn't lying.
"Finally, some justice for Justice," Lee chuckled.
"Man, that is not funny," I told Lee. "I don't laugh when you get bad tips, I actually feel sorry for you."
"Well look at it this way, Justice; you now know how we feel most of the time," Lee hollered as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Yeah, I guess… man that blows, but maybe the next one will be better. Still have a few more hours of cars to clean," I replied in Lee's direction.
"I keep telling myself that, and I am still waiting for those better tips," Lee mocked.
I went back to work as the next car pulled up. The day seemed to drag on because of the heat, but hot days usually pull in a lot of cars so the money was flowing in pretty steadily. By three in the afternoon I was pouring with sweat as I was detailing a car rim. As I finished that car, and sent another happy customer on the way I took off my shirt to wipe off my face. While doing so I heard another car pull into the car wash.
Looking at my watch I decided to take my break, and try to cool down. As I walked toward the waiting room, which was air conditioned I told Lee I was going to take my break.
"Thanks man… I owe you one," said Lee with a shit eating grin on his face.
"What is that smile all about," I asked in quizzically.
"You mean you didn't see…. I knew you wouldn't pass this up," Lee chuckled.
I looked around to what Lee was staring at, and quickly saw a fancy sports car. I couldn't make out the make or model of the car, but knew I could be giving up a big tip if I went on break that Lee could be picking up. I could take the break later, and work this car but I decided against it. I was burning up, and the day was just getting hotter.
I decided to let Lee get a crack at a nice tip, because not only was I hosed earlier but the prolific heat was getting to me. I kept my shirt off as I walked into the air conditioned waiting room. Normally, we are not supposed to take our breaks in the waiting room, but the owner wasn't here today to be watching our every move. That rule was quickly abandoned by the whole staff earlier, and I was no exception.
I used my massive dollar tip from earlier to buy myself a cold bottled water from one of the vending machines inside the waiting room. I quickly chugged the refreshing water as I stood in front of the air conditioner. I zoned out as the crisp cool air caressed my bare skin.
I was startled by the sound of the door closing, and realized I probably had to put my shirt back on. I looked over to see the most beautiful Asian beauty I had ever seen. She was about 5' 2" tall with curves that a sports car couldn't even hug. She had straight black hair with bright green, almond eyes. Her skin was the perfect tan to dark brown most girls struggle to get and maintain through tanning. She wore bright red lipstick that made her lips look so moist and delicious. She looked like she was at least a C cup, but maybe even a small D cup. As I snuck a few more glances in her direction I fumbled to put my shirt back on.