The phone rang three times, and then he picked up. “Hey, man,” he said.
“Hey, Joe.” I tried not to sound as depressed as I felt.
“Tough fight tonight, huh?” he said, and I just wanted to break down at that point.
“Yeah.” I didn’t know how to really say the next part, so I just went for it. “I got myself in a mess, man.”
“What do you mean? What kind of a mess?” he asked.
“You know Markie, right?”
I heard him exhale sharply. “Don’t tell me you got yourself into some shit with him.”
“I did man. I feel
so dumb. I bet on myself, and he gave me a loan. I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do. I’m so scared about what’s going to happen. I don’t have that kind of cash. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone to him in the first place,” I said quickly. I was rambling, but I didn’t care. I only hoped Joe wouldn’t think less of me because of my mistakes.
“How much do you owe?”
“Ten grand,” I half mumbled into the phone. My pride was taking yet another hit.
“What did you say?” he asked.
“Ten grand,” I said more clearly this time.
I heard him suck in through his teeth “Yikes. I don’t know dude. That’s a lot of dough to have to owe to him. You got anything you can sell?”
I started pacing the room. “No. I already pawned the things I could to pay some of the medical bills. I’m screwed.”
“What was wrong tonight?”
“I don’t know. My head just wasn’t in it,” I said.
“You need to figure out what was bothering you and start from there. That might help you figure something out. Sorry I can’t be much help.”
“It’s okay, man. Thanks for talking to me.” We got off the phone, and I climbed into bed. I was done with that day, with that week, with everything. I just wanted to sleep and forget about everything for a little while.
I woke up, and the sun was high in the sky. When I looked at my phone, I saw it was ten. I never slept this late, but neither did Margie. I got out of bed and found her in front of the T.V. She was late for preschool, and at this point, I wasn’t even sure if I should take her in.
“I didn’t want to wake you, Daddy,” she said.
I gave her a hug. “Thanks, sweetie, but it’s my responsibility to be up with you. Would you like some bacon and eggs?”
She nodded her head, and I made her a late breakfast. I felt bad—just another thing to add to my growing guilt.
I ate breakfast with her. Though I mostly picked at my food. I was growing worried about the phone call I was going to have to make. The more I tried to forget about it and concentrate on my food and Margie, the more nervous I felt.
“I need to make a phone call really quick,” I said to Margie and then went into my room to call Markie. I needed to get it out of the way. I had an idea, and I was just praying he would be okay with what I had to offer him.
“Justin. Just the man I wanted to talk to,” Markie said into the phone.
“Hey. I want to make another bet.”
Markie scoffed. “Really? You think you’re really in the position to make more bets?”
I didn’t let him get any other wise cracks in. “If I can win my next four fights, you wipe the loan clean. You’ll make that money back through each of the fights.”
“What’s in it for me?”