AJ Niblock posted: "July 2023's short story of the month As a servant, Tammy was used to saying, "Yes, Ma'am," and "Of course, Miss." So, she was as surprised as anyone else when she said, "Go screw yourself, Lisa." Lisa was Tammy's boss, so that statement was going to end" Still Working on My Novel
As a servant, Tammy was used to saying, "Yes, Ma'am," and "Of course, Miss." So, she was as surprised as anyone else when she said, "Go screw yourself, Lisa."
Lisa was Tammy's boss, so that statement was going to end with her being fired.
As soon as she said it, she should have regretted it, but she didn't. She meant it. It was probably the first time since she'd worked for Lisa that she'd actually said what she meant.
It was long overdue. Tammy had worked as a servant her whole life, and she was used to a certain level of mistreatment. But Lisa was by far the worst person she'd ever worked for.
Tammy didn't ask questions or object, no matter the task, the time of day, or the lack of supplies provided. She was always paid well, but this was going too far.
The body of Lisa's ex-boyfriend was growing colder by the second, and the pool of blood was spreading. If they didn't act fast, they would need to hire someone to clean the rugs or buy all new ones.
"Seriously, Lisa. Why didn't you just hire someone to take care of this like you did the last time?" Tammy pointed at the body. "I do not get paid enough for this."
Lisa, not missing a beat, said, "If you want another dime from me, you will clean this up."
Tammy shook her head. She stood there with her arms folded over her chest, not making a move. She didn't answer Lisa's threat. Tammy started to tap her foot in annoyance. She watched as the blood spread a bit closer to the rug.
That rug was less than a year old, and Tammy had spent several months searching for it and then bidding on it because Lisa "had to have it." It was the same rug that some celebrity had in her New York loft.
"Tammy, come on," Lisa started to plead. "You know I'm good for it. Help me out here." She was also not moving to do anything to prevent the blood from reaching the rug.
"I want a raise," said Tammy. She still didn't make a move.
"You want to negotiate for a raise now? Do you really think this is a good time?" Lisa said. She scoffed and shook her head.
"Now is the perfect time," answered Tammy. "Usually when I want to discuss pay or vacation time or anything that benefits me, you're too busy, so now seems like the time to me." Tammy raised both eyebrows and waited for Lisa to refuse again.
"Fifty cents more an hour," said Lisa.
Tammy scoffed this time. "No way. I want a livable wage to start, not to mention some kind of bonus for dealing with this." Tammy pointed again at the body. "You better think fast because your rug is about to be ruined."
Lisa finally noticed the blood moving towards the rug. "Stop it!" Lisa jumped back like the blood was coming towards her.
"More pay. Bonus. Over time. Set schedule. There are so many things I want." Tammy kept tapping her foot but didn't move towards the rug, body, or blood.
Lisa wasn't listening. "Tammy! Not the time. Stop the blood or move the rug." Lisa jumped back again, as if that would help.
"I'm not helping. In fact, unless you agree to some changes, I'm leaving, and you can deal with this yourself," said Tammy.
"You wouldn't," said Lisa.
Tammy stepped towards the door. "I'm not kidding. Here are the specifics and unless you agree to all of them, I'm not helping. One, I want a salary of 50,000 a year with a set schedule of hours and days. Any time I work outside of those times, I will get overtime. I also want two weeks paid vacation that I'm allowed to take whenever I want, even during holidays when you are busier than normal. I should be allowed to have a life too. And I want paid medical. I can't afford to get sick, but if I do from dealing with your disgusting life, I should be taken care of." Tammy glared at Lisa. Tammy actually kind of hoped Lisa would refuse. Then at least, she would have a reason to be done with this crazy woman who made ridiculous demands and had her working too many hours for too little pay.
Lisa threw her hands up. "Fine. Yes, all of that, but we need to clean this up now."
"We?" Tammy asked sarcastically.
"No, you. Get to it," said Lisa as she waved her hand towards the body.
"Okay then," said Tammy. "Let me go get some cleaning supplies. But we'll need help moving the body. Any ideas?"
Lisa shook her head. "I'm going to make some calls. You handle this. Call whoever you want. Save your receipts." Lisa walked out of the room. She had her cell phone out of her pocket within two steps. She was already back in her own world where things just happened as she dictated to Tammy.
Tammy had no idea what to do with a dead body, but she knew someone who would help for the right price. As she walked to the kitchen, she pulled out her phone and called her brother.
"Tony, get over here now," Tammy said. "I need a body moved."
Most people might have had questions, but not Tony. "On my way," he said.
As he was wrapping the body in plastic, Tammy couldn't believe how easy it had been to get him to help. Tammy cleaned up the blood while her brother sealed the plastic with a heat gun to prevent anything from leaking out.
"Before I move another inch, how much is the crazy lady paying?" Tony asked.
Tammy shrugged as she kept mopping. "How much do you want?"
Tony paused for a second. "What does that mean?"
Tammy smiled and rested the mop. "Lisa said to get it cleaned up. All she wants is a receipt for it. So, print out a receipt and a phony bill and you're set."
Tony still didn't move. "I don't know how much to charge for something like this. It's my first time being called to move a body, sis. How much should I charge?"
Tammy shrugged. "How should I know?"
"Well, you seem fairly nonchalant about this whole ordeal. I was assuming you've done this kind of thing before. I was gonna ask once we were done, but how often has this sort of thing happened at work?" Tony asked.
Tammy shook her head. "This is the first time I've been made to clean up a body."
Tony knew she wasn't telling the whole truth. If there was a moment to press for information, this was it, but he decided he'd wait. She obviously led a much more interesting life than she let on. He assumed she spent her days running errands and catering to her boss, he had no idea that she was involved in drama like this.
Tammy watched as her brother studied her without saying anything. "Seriously, Tony, just figure something out. She has more money than is good for her. If I told you what she paid for that one rug alone, you would kill over." Tammy put the mop back in the bucket and wheeled it out of the room.
By the time she returned from the kitchen, Tony was gone. The room was clean. There was no sign that anything untoward had happened there. It looked Instagram ready, as it always did.
Tammy sighed as she took one more glance around to make sure she hadn't missed anything. In the laundry and kitchen there was more cleaning to be done. Some of the things she'd used to clean up the blood with would need to be thrown out, but that was a minor inconvenience.
As she was sorting through the mess, she got a text from her brother.
"All good. I got it from here. I'll send a bill tomorrow first thing."
Tammy shook her head. Her brother didn't even ask why they were going along with this. It was crazy, right? Shouldn't Tammy have walked away and found work somewhere else?
As she bagged the ruined mopped head, Tammy wondered why she was putting up with this. Lisa was easily the most challenging boss she'd ever had, but for some reason Tammy liked the work. She never knew what ridiculous thing she was going to be asked next. It kept her days interesting.
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