Work...and Jobs

“Fucking Finally” he muttered, clocking out, after a particularly slow morning shift at the grocery store. Nodding in acknowledgment as his manager said good bye. Pulling his shirt over his head walking through the parking lot, the warm sun hit his skin for the first time and he walked to his car.

“Damn,” behind schedule, as usual, “and they wonder why I hate working there” Shoving his jeep into gear he rolled down his window, cranked up the music squeaking his tires, and revving up the RPM’s unnecessarily high swinging in front of the store, out of the parking lot, and onto the highway. Ignoring the 65 miles per hour speed limit, flooring it past the mid afternoon grandmas, slowing only long enough to avoid the speed trap two exits down. Letting the wind mess up his hair, and the smile spread across his face.

Whipping into the pool parking lot he changed in his car, ignoring the perturbed middle class mother who would probably complain to the Home Owners Association. Swapping khakis and a sun bleached navy polo, for red guard shorts, flip flops and a whistle. Leaping from the Jeep he jogged the forty yards to the gate, waited impatiently for someone to notice him there and then walked in.

Early, and a new record for the commute. Lifeguarding was his second job of the day, and by far the more enjoyable one. Sitting in the sun, talking to pretty girls, swimming when it was too hot, it was what he would be doing if he didn’t have anything else to do that day anyway. Why not get payed to be a pool rat.

Sitting on the stand, soaking in Ultra Violet light, Vitamin D pumping into his system, gently smiling as the children splashed each other. Looking into the horizon a storm could be seen rolling in, grinning from ear to ear, he listened for the first thunder clap, a Guard’s best friend.