Another Day In A Dead End Town

Tam sighed when her alarm went off. She had already been awake for the last two hours prior to it going off, however. She just didn't bother getting out of bed. It wasn't until her brother Chris came into her bedroom with his stuffed pig and a box of juice that she sat up. She hated it when people barged into her room, except for Chris. He knew when to leave her be, and only came in when he needed her.

"What's up, Bug?' Tam said as the young boy clambered into bed with her and hugged her.

"Dad..." Chris said.

Tam held the boy and nodded in understanding. "Alright... wait here..."

She got out of bed, tucking the boy in her place and went out to the kitchen where she found her father, Rick, rummaging through the fridge while cursing, and not doing a good job of keeping it under his breath.

"What're you looking for?" Tam asked.

"The fuck is my beer?" Rick muttered as he looked up and smiled at Tam. "Hey, Tammy-Tam. You see where that six pack of Pabst I got ran off to?"

"The beer is in the sink... the cans in the recycling." Tam said as she crossed her arms.

"You..." Rick stuttered in confusion. "You tossed my beer?"

"Yeah. It's seven in the morning, Rick. You're supposed to drink water, or milk, or orange juice. Not a six pack of Pabst!"

Rick shook his head. "I bought that beer Tammy..."

"I'll front you the money if that's what you care about."

Rick slammed the fridge door, rattling the kitchen. "I think you forget who owns this house..."

"Oh I'm painfully aware of who owns this house... Mr. Reynolm..." Reynolm was the nice old man who rented the house out to them.

Rick hissed. "I pay rent..."

"Half, I pay the other half." Tam pointed out. "And you forget who helps pay for the groceries, gas, and new clothes for Chris... You buy beer..."

Rick clearly wanted to shout her out, but realized he was on the losing ground. He grumbled and grabbed a soda from the fridge before snapping it open. "You remind me of your mother..."

That was a deep cut. Tam didn't let is show how much that comment had hurt. She just shook her head and started to prepare breakfast for herself and Chris. Then she got ready for work.

Vinny's Pizza Barn was a podunk local chain that had twelve stores up and down the state. The comically generic-yet-still stereotypical mustachioed Italian chef on the sign loomed over the store like a Sicillian Godzilla. Her assistant manager, Greg, greeted her with a friendly smile as she went to the employee lockers and put her backpack away.

"Hey, Tam. How're you doing?" Greg asked. Greg was a decent guy, friendly and good at his job.

"I'm fine." Tam said as she tried to hide the fact she was dying on the inside every time she walked into this store. "You?"

"Same old, same old." Greg said with a smile. "We already got a delivery for you."

That was a relief, having to be stuck here in the store was unbearable. She got her delivery ready and was quick to get into the delivery car and out of the parking lot.