Panhandlers by Nic Schuck

Author:Nic Schuck
Format: epub

Alright Guy

“Hey, want to make some money today?” That was the first thing Rodney Helms said when Hank Ackerman answered the phone.

“Heard you were unemployed,” he then said.

“You heard right.” Nearly four months ago Hank lost his job as a high-school history teacher. He roofed houses for a couple weeks, but construction was down across the region and he hadn’t roofed a house in two weeks. The next job lined up was a week away. He flipped burgers on weekend nights, but couldn’t get any extra shifts.

“Got a job for you if you want. Easy money.”

“What is it?”

“Had to cut away an anchor in the storm last night. Need someone to get down in some scuba gear and find it. I’ve got the coordinates of where I left it. After we get the anchor, I’ve got some people coming to hangout on the boat. Need someone to play bartender. I’ll pay you seventy-five dollars for five hours of work.”

“I’ll do it.”

Hank’s wife, Rose, was at work and it was only nine-thirty in the morning, putting him home well in time to scoop out the litter box, wash the dishes, and have dinner ready. At the moment, keeping the house clean was pretty much his only responsibility.

Rodney sat at the outdoor bar and although he was older, he looked in much better shape than Hank.

“What is this?” Hank said. “Five or six already?” He was referring to the Bloody Mary Rodney was putting to his lips. He sat next to Rodney.

The fellow sitting on the other side of Rodney said, “Damn, he knows you, huh?” His name was Eric – tall, lanky, red hair. Eric started in high school by screen printing t-shirts in his parents’ garage and later started shaping surfboards. Now, he owned the premier surf shop in town.

Rodney’s dog, Cheeseburger, recently passed away, and he sold his grandmother’s house on the island so lived on his sailboat, a forty-foot Pearson named Sure Thang.

“How do you guys know each other?” Eric asked.

“We’ve known each other a long time,” Rodney said.

“Rodney got me my first job when I moved down here from Sullivan,” Hank said.

“That’s right. I was going back to Miami and trained you to be a deckhand to take my spot. Shit. Nearly forgot about that.”

“Rodney was good friends with my older brother, too.”

“How is Teddy? Haven’t heard from him in a while. He ever tell you that Puerto Rico story?” Rodney asked Hank.

“I’ve heard it,” Hank said.

“Poor guy just never seemed to catch a break. How is he?”

“I think he’s back in Sullivan. We don’t talk much anymore.”

Rodney leaned in and whispered to Hank, “It’s really only my third.” He held up his Bloody Mary and winked. “I’m not that big of a lush. But I did smoke a joint the size of my thumb. Get you a beer?”

“You paying? You said I can drink all I want.”

“You’re not on the clock yet.” Rodney winked at him.

“When do I get on the clock?”

“When the girls get here.”

“What about the anchor then?”

“As soon as I finish this we’ll go.

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