The BIT

Chapter 2
Morning

2: Morning

The day started on a rough note. I didn’t get back to my apartment until after 2:00 am. The alarm went off at 6:00 am and I practically threw the clock off the stand as I thumped the button to shut the loud alarm off. I sat up, slipped off the bed and wandered into the kitchen, throwing the switch on the automatic coffee brewer. My head was still buzzing from the dancing and drinking I had done the night before. Coffee was just the thing I needed.

Swallowing the hot liquid brought my mind to focus on the activities I would have work on today. I shuffled off to the bathroom, doing my daily routine of shaving and showering. I noticed I had not taken off the wrist-band from the club. I stared at it. The BIT blazoned in gold across the blue band. I attempted to take it off, but was not having any success. I tried to cut it off, but the scissors could not cut through it for some reason. I tried to slip it off my wrist, but my hand would not squeeze through the band. “Screw it; I’ll just cover it up with my shirt sleeve.” I thought as I was not having any success.

I quickly got dressed, picking out a sharp looking suit for the meeting. The suit felt a little odd, like it didn’t fit quite right. That strange, cause the suit was a tailored to my size. I shrugged it off, buttoning the jacket, “maybe I lost a little weight, which is not bad” I thought and then grabbed my keys and headed out the door.

The meeting wrapped up at 7:30 pm. I was exhausted from all of the running around, working to make my boss, look good. My mind was also still thinking about the evening before at the club.

At times I think I struggled to stay focused on the matter at hand. But at the end of day, Sharon commented on how well I performed, and that we would have never accomplished all we did without my help. I felt good, and thanked her for the compliment. “Anything to help!” I piped in.

“You’ll make someone happy, with your willingness to be a team player! In school I bet you were a teacher’s favorite!” Sharon continued with some small talk. “So are you going to do anything special tonight?"

I shook my head. "Going to get some sleep, it’s been a long week."

"But you should go out and celebrate, it’s Halloween."

"Halloween’s for babies!" I quipped.

“Really?” Sharon queried. “I always thought Halloween was for everyone, at least the way some of the employees around here have been acting. Talking about what they are dressing up as, and where they are heading for the night’s festivities.”

“Tell me about it. I wish they would focus on their jobs.” I replied back.

“I agree. But I can tell that at least you are dedicated to your job, maybe that energy band works.”

“What?” I replied.

“Well, I noticed the band on your wrist.”

“Ah…. Yes. I am sorry, I tried to take it off this morning but I didn’t want to be late…” I stuttered, trying to hide the band under the sleeve of my shirt.

“What does BIT stand for?”

“Oh… a little bit of this and a little bit of that… or at least that’s what I was told.” I replied. “Actually it’s from a new club I went to… called the BIT Generation. Kind of a cool club.”

“Oh.”

“I hope I didn’t mess up on anything for you today… I thought that perhaps I lost focus…” I stammered.

Sharon interrupted my thought process, moving a little bit closer to me. “Larry, I know I am the new ‘kid’ on the block, and I have been hard on you for the past two weeks, but that is only because I have been told good things about you… that you are reliable and your attention to details. Today’s meeting was a success because of the extra work you put in.”

“That’s what I am here for.”

“I know. And I thank you for your dedication to the project.” Sharon smiled.

“So is there anything that you need to have completed for Monday morning?” I asked.

“No, I believe that any reports that may be needed for next week can wait until we return after the weekend.”

“Okay” I muttered in surprise. I was expecting a ton of work as a follow-up to the meeting.

“May I make a recommendation? Go out, have some fun tonight, you earned it. Let loose, pretend you are a kid again. I hear the town is going to be bustling with parties tonight. Halloween only comes once a year, and it’s not always for kids.” Sharon commented, and then added, “Your work will not be forgotten or unrewarded.” Then she moved away, turning and walking towards her office.

I made a mental note of her words, and proceeded towards the office door. “I’ll take it into consideration. Though I still think sleep is my best bet.”

“Well… have a good weekend!” Sharon commented as she grabbed her coat and brief case and headed towards the elevator.

“Will do. You too!” I said, waving a good-bye.

I quickly walked the few blocks to my apartment building. I picked up my mail and proceeded up the elevator to my apartment.

Skimming through the pile of mail in my hands, I found a plain envelope, with only my name and apartment number on it. I flipped the envelope over to see if there was a return address, but it was blank, but sealed. I unlocked my apartment door and entered. Kicking off my shoes, which came off rather easily, I threw the envelope onto sofa and wandered over to the kitchen. I grabbed a cold bottle from the refrigerator, then threw myself onto the sofa and clicked on the television.

Sitting there watching the tube, my eyes scanned my surroundings and landed on the envelope I had threw down minutes earlier. I picked it up again, and examined it again. “Strange” I thought to myself. “How did this get into my mailbox without a complete address?” I was about to open the envelope when my phone rang. Dropping the mysterious envelope, I picked up the phone.

“Hello, this is Larry.” I answered, not recognizing the number on the caller-id.

“Hi Larry, this is Amber… we met last night at the club.”

“Amber, yeah… how could I forget? Thanks for a great evening!”

“I had fun too!” Amber voice floated through the ear piece. “Did you get my note?”

“Note?” I queried.

“I dropped it off at your apartment after work. I asked the manager of your building if he could deliver it to you. It was in an envelope.”

I glanced over at the plain envelope and picked it up. “I just got in, I think I have it right here.” I commented.

“Oh, good. I was hoping that you think about it.”

“Just hang on a moment.” I replied, as I slid a finger under the flap of the envelope, opening and extracting a folded piece of paper tucked into it.

A twinge ran through my finger as the paper cut into my skin slightly. “Damn… ” I exclaimed, putting the finger in my mouth to stem the flow of blood that trickled out of the cut.

“Well…” answered the voice on the other end of the phone receiver.

“Sorry, I just got a paper cut. It’s nothing serious, just annoying.” I quickly answered back. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Oh, I thought you were giving me a reply to the content of the note.” Amber answered sullenly.

“Oh, no… just a cut. It’s nothing.” I quickly tried to change the subject, “Hey, last night was great. I really want to thank you for the very enjoyable evening!”

“I had fun too.” Amber seemed to cheer up a little.

“I thought it was a blast. It’s funny that I hadn’t seen the club before.” I turned the paper over in my hand as I talked.

The paper had a parchment texture to it, but the note was simple. “Party at the BIT. Costume encouraged. Play all you want. Please give me a call.” I glanced at the telephone number on the note… and then to the phone caller-id. It was Amber’s number.

“I just read your note.” I quickly replied. “Sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”

“Then you’ll come?”

“Well, I don’t have any plans for tonight….”

“Just come on over. I’m already here.”

I could hear music in the background. Visions of last night began to revisit my memory of dancing and drinking.

“Well… I don’t have anything in the way of a costume. I’d be out of place.” I stammered.

“Don’t let that stop you. I want to play with you tonight.”

“But I really don’t have a costume…”

“I’ll take care of finding a costume for you, just come on over. Baby, I want you.” Amber purred in a scintillating way.

Visions of possible sexual endeavors crept into my mind.

“Baby, I’ll make it worth your while!”

Now how could I resist such a response? The animal in me was awakening.

“Give me a few minutes. I throw something together and…”

“Don’t worry… I’ll find something for you. I have seen several guys come in tonight without costumes, but the management came up with a simple fix for them.” Amber pleaded. “Please baby… come over now.” Her timber of her voice made me melt.

“Okay, I need to release some steam, a long day. Give me about ten minutes. I’ll be there okay? Save a brew for me.”

“Thanks baby, that is great!” Amber cheered.

“Then I’ll see you in ten.” I replied.

“Ten! Bye!’ Then the phone clicked dead.

“Well so much for a quiet evening.” I thought to myself. But I wasn’t disappointed, I enjoyed last night, as the memories floated back into my mind.

“Maybe Halloween isn’t for babies after all!” I hummed to myself as I put my shoes back on and grabbed my keys.

 

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