“And why, exactly, do you want this job?” The fast-food manager asks from across the table.

Around the booth, other people were eating and children were playing. It was a boisterous scene, a passing scene for many people, but it would be a part of Taylor’s life if he got this job.

Taylor looks around before turning to the hiring manager and putting on a big smile. “This place was a big part of my childhood and I’d do anything to be part of McSmells– I mean McSmileys,” Taylor began to say, before letting out a series of loud coughs. “Family-friendly, *cough* *cough*, serving the community, *cough*, *cough*, *cough*,” Taylor tries to continue before finally giving up and just putting a smile on his face.

“Alright, kid; relax. All I ask is that you show up on time and look busy when the owners are around. Carefully listen to the training and you should be fine. Oh, and be nice to your coworkers; don’t make life hard on yourself,” The hiring managers says while gesturing with her hands for Taylor to calm down.

Taylor’s eyes open wide. “Do you mean I got the job?” He asks assuming he bombed this interview.

“Yeah, whatever. I’m not that picky, and you’re kind of cute,” She says before pulling out the contracts.

“What?” Taylor asks, thinking he misheard.

“Nothing. Sign here, here, and here…” She says, ignoring her slip.

…

...

“Fuck, so you’re working at McSmileys now? That’s depressing,” Daryl says from across the phone.

“Fuck you; money’s money,” Taylor responds, ignoring the insult.

“Whatever; Richie’s going away for college next week, so we’re going to get together one last time at the park tonight for some booze and a bonfire; just the boys. Are you coming? It could be the last time you see him in a while,” Daryl says, changing the subject.

“I’ll see you there,” Taylor replies absent-mindedly. “I’ll call you later tonight, but I gotta go. Peace,” he says, and after receiving Daryl’s confirmation, he hangs up the phone.

Taylor looks up at his ceiling as he lies on his bed. Richie’s going off to college, Conner’s off to trade school before going to work at his dad’s business, and lately, Daryl’s been busy with his side business, Taylor thinks to himself, beginning to feel somewhat depressed. Fuck; life is happening, Taylor thinks before anxiety began to build inside of him. Suddenly, a strong feeling of panic hits him and he begins to hyperventilate.

Taylor quickly sits down and begins to cultivate to calm his breathing. After a few rounds of the breathing exercises, his breathing evens out and he began to process his situation.

Do I really have time to be fucking around? He asks himself before sighing and ignoring the thoughts raging in his mind. Fuck it; I’ll take it slow. I’m still young, Taylor thinks before lying back on his bed and closing his eyes. For some reason, he felt really tired.

…

…

Late into the night, and a case of beer later.

Daryl and Conner were play fighting in the distance while Taylor and Richie were talking drunkenly about life.

“Fuck, I’ll miss you man,” Taylor says with heavy eyes and a swaying body.

Richie laughs. “I’ll miss you too bro. When I come back, you better be out of that fucking restaurant. I know you’re a baller Taylor, you just don’t know it yet,” Richie says with a hint of melancholy before raising his drink. “Come, cheers to fucking life! By the time I’m done with it, life will be calling me daddy!” Richie says with a raised bottle.

Even in his drunken state, Taylor could only smile bitterly. “Cheers,” he says before clanking his bottle against Richie’s and taking a large gulp of beer.