The mirror

Short story-Fiction

The buzzer goes off; he scrounges around for his glasses to look. “Holy crap, I’m late,” Meet Tony Escobar, he works at a job where he’s being pushed around and under-appreciated. After pulling up for work, he remains there and stares up at the building. “Come on, you got this,” he says to himself. Not knowing what the day would bring, Tony finally leaves his car. He walks in, sees folders scattered everywhere on his desk, goes right over to them. “These are not mine,” Tony screeched. Everyone glanced his way and started snickering. He unhappily plops down in his chair and looks at the extra work. This isn’t fair, I completed most of my work yesterday; he says to himself. Clara walks up to him. “Mr. Bison, needs those files ASAP, here are some extra ones since your volunteering your help, he’s given you 15min,” “Huh,” “I just walked in,” Tony whispers. “I didn’t volunteer this,”

“Sometimes you have to take one for the team,” she says.

“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger,” Clara laughingly says while walking off.

He winced at Clara.

Tony labored on up to the last minute.

Knocking

“Come in,” his boss says.

“Good morning, Mr. Bison here are the files, and they’re in alphabetical order just as you like it,”

Tony nervously stands there while they’re being looked at. “Just hurry, why don’t you,” Mr. Bison’s eyes widened. “Excuse me,” he says. “S-sorry, I don’t know what came over me,” Tony says. “Just make sure it doesn’t happen again, or else,” says Mr. Bison. “It will not, Sir,” says Tony. Or else. What did he mean? Mr. Bison really knows how to put the fear in me, he says. Tony so shook and embarrassed by that whole incident, that it leaves his stomach feeling queasy. He rushes off to the restroom. While spattering water on his face, he thinks about what had happened in his boss’s office.

Those words came from my mouth, I said it but didn’t.

Why did I react in such a manner?

I c-could have gotten myself fired? He stands there looking in the mirror and sobs. “Boo-hoo, are you done yet?” Tony turns around to see who’s mocking him. No ones there. Am I losing my mind, he thinks to himself.

While standing there, the voice appeared again. “Hey, dipshit,” the voice says. “Who said that?” “Where are you?” Tony says. “Who said that–where are you” the voice repeated in a whiny tone. Rage pulsated through Tony’s veins. “Stop teasing me, show yourself,” “I’m in front of you,” the voice says “No, you’re not,” Tony says. The voice says. “Psst, hey,” Tony slowly looks up at the mirror and sees himself in a 1950s mafia attire. Tony asks. “Who are you?” “The one, and only, Tony Escobar, but my boys used to call me Rich,” “I haven’t heard that name in years,” Tonys says. “There’s no way,” “You can’t be me–I’m me.” It’s stress, yeah it has to be, I snapped out of nowhere at my boss Tony twitches and shakes his head in disbelief. He points directly at the mirror, yelling. “I’m Tony Escobar, you’re not. Get out of my head,” Knocks. “Is everything okay,” the employee says.

Tony clears his throat. “Yes, everything’s fine. I’ll be out in a second,” Am I going crazy, he thinks to himself. Tony looks at the mirror before he leaves the restroom. He leans in close. A force pulls Tony into the mirror. “What are you, a wise guy, ya think I’m stupid?” Rich says. “Guys, he thinks I’m stupid, you’re never getting rid of me,” Rich proclaims while holding his head. “Where am I,” Tony says. “Never mind, where you at, where’re your balls,” Rich says. Rich starts ruffing Tony up, pushes him up against the wall. “We were notorious at one time, everyone walks over you,” Rich shouts. “Do you have anything to say?” “You know what just remain silent,” The intercom comes on, Mr. Escobar could you please report to my office. Tony stands up, but Rich kicks him back. “Sit down,” Rich says.

He brushes his shoulders and transverse through the mirror.

Tony gets up and run to the mirror and try breaking it.

He couldn’t. Come back, I’m me, you’re not.

Tony watches Rich leave the bathroom.

Walks into Mr. Bison’s office. Have a seat, Mr.Escobar. “Nah, I think I’ll stand,” “I’ve been thinking about your outburst and the work you presented to me, was all unacceptable,” Mr. Bison says. “You’re fired,” the boss says. Rich pulls back the right side of his coat, leans over the desk, Mr. Bison sees a gun handle. “Come again,” Rich says.

He sees Mr. Bison checking out his steel.

“Just for show, it’s nothing to fear, just ole Lucy,”

Mr. Bison stands up and looks at Rich.

“Forget about what I just said, let’s start over your a phenomenal worker,” Mr. Bison says.

Rich sarcastically says. “Yeah–yeah,” and heads toward the exit.

“You’re looking dapper, Mr.Escobar,”

“Call me Rich,”

Everyone had left for the day.

Footsteps approach the bathroom, custodian walk-in to clean the mirror.

“Help let me out!” Tony says.

Thanks for reading.....Beautiful ones.