Chapter 1 - Shifts

Michael has to gather the courage to ask his boss for a raise.

Michael woke up to the sound of his alarm clock ringing. It was 7:15 AM, and he had to get ready for work. He groaned, rolling out of his bed and shutting off the alarm. He walked into his bathroom, hopping in the shower for a few minutes. While he was in there, he thought for a bit. He wasn’t really being paid enough at his jo b with his day shift. He was only being paid $4.25 an hour, minimum wage. He worked from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, meaning he made $42.50 a day, and $297.50 a week. A total month, which would be $1,190, was just enough to pay bills and buy food, but that was it.

Sighing, he hopped out of the shower, getting dressed in his uniform. It was a light grey uniform shirt, with black dress pants. He had a badge, signaling the fact that was the guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. There was a hat, too, but he wasn’t required to wear it, so he decided against it. He brushed his short, poofy hair out. As he walked back into his room, he glanced at his Foxy mask. He remembered that thing… A few years ago, he used to wear it all the time. He used to scare his little brother with it… Until one day, he took it too far. He shuddered at the thought.

Walking out of his bedroom, he went into the kitchen and made himself a cup of coffee. He was always exhausted when he worked, and coffee was the only thing keeping him awake. After chugging an entire cup of coffee, he washed the mug and put it back up in the cabinet. It was sad how empty these cabinets were. They were filled with one or two of each thing; Plates, bowls, cups, mugs, and containers. He had to frequently wash them because he had so few. He sighed, shaking his head. He was so poor, and he couldn’t do anything about it.

After getting completely ready, and getting the bad thoughts out of his head the best he could, Mike walked out the door. He didn’t have a car, so thankfully, the pizzeria was only about a 10-15 minute walk. He mumbles quietly as he strolled down the sidewalk. He was trying to figure out how to ask for a raise, without seeming like he was really poor. Kicking up some rocks on the way, he continued to think. He thought about buying his boss something and then asking,  but it would seem like bribery. 

He even thought about maybe just begging, but that would definitely make it seem like he was poor. Even though he was actually poor, he didn’t like to admit it to other people. It makes him feel weak. He shook his head. He might just have to straight-up ask for a raise, just like that. Hopefully, his boss said yes to him, otherwise, he just might not be able to pay the bills for this month. He cringed at the thought of being turned down.

Arriving at the pizzeria, Mike stared at the sign in the front. It was Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica, with big bold letters underneath reading “Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza”. After staring at the sign for a while, he walked over to the doors, opening them and walking inside the pizzeria.

Glancing at the time, 7:37 AM, Mike walked over to the manager’s office, walking around all the tables and the stage. While, yes, his father did own the company, since he got arrested, there was a new manager for a while. Mike wasn’t old enough to be the manager quite yet, nor was he skilled enough to be.

He opened the manager’s door, smiling as bright as he could, and said, “Good morning, boss!”

“Morning, Michael.”, The manager nodded at him, keeping a straight face. Mike gulped, walking up to his boss’s desk, and sits in the chair.

“So, uhm… I assume I should get to the point?”

“Yes. I don’t have all day, I have paperwork to do.”

“Yeah, uh… I was just wondering. I’ve been doing good at work lately, and I was thinking… Could I have a raise?”

The manager thought for a moment, “If you’re looking for more money, no, I cannot give you a raise. However, I can let you take over the night shift and the day shift.”

Mike’s eyes widened, “How long does the night shift last?”

“From 12:00 AM to 6:00 AM.”

Mike thought for a moment. If he took the night shift as well, then he would only have 2 hours before the morning shift to himself, and six hours in between the shifts. He nodded, looking up at the manager, “I’ll do it.”

The manager nodded, “You start tonight.”

Mike’s face beamed, and he jumped up from his chair. He hopped out of the manager’s office, smiling. If he combines both shifts, that’s two times the money he was earning before! So, now, he won’t have to worry about bills and such as much as he was before. And now, he could buy more things he needs other than food. He had been using cheap hair and body products for his showers, and they didn’t make him feel great, so he was excited to get some better ones.

Once he had enough experience, Mike would take over the pizzeria, and become the new manager, making more money than ever. He really could not wait until the day that happened. Don’t get him wrong, he doesn’t hate his boss, but he really could use the salary of a manager.

Honestly, Mike’s life had been horrible so far. His entire family was now dead. Could life get any worse? Well, so far it has gotten better, but it wasn’t great. He was living on his own now, which he has wanted ever since his brother died. His father was always angry at him since that day. Since he accidentally killed his brother…

Shaking away the thought, he walked around the pizzeria, waiting for it to be open. Mike glanced at the time. It was now 7:54. He sighed, sitting down in his seat, waiting for the children to come pouring into the pizzeria.

After a few minutes of waiting, it finally opened. Mike smiled as all the happy kids ran into the building, laughing and running up to get pizza and to see the animatronics. He was sitting and watching when he noticed one kid was getting too close to the animatronics, “Hey, kiddo, back away from Freddy, okay?”

When the kid wouldn’t listen, Mike got up and grabbed his arm, “I said to back away from Freddy, kiddo.”, The kid cried and started throwing a fit, punching Mike in the arm multiple times. He sighed, pulling the kid to his mother, “Please tell your son to stay away from the animatronics.”

The mother nodded and started lecturing her son, who was still throwing a fit. Mike walked away from the situation, going to sit back in his chair. As he began to sit down, his manager called him to his office.

“Michael,” He started, “Are you sure you want to take the night shift?”

“Of course! I need- Err… Want the money. More money could be helpful.”

“Well, okay… But, are you sure it won’t be too much trouble?”
“Yes, of course, I’ll be fine!”

“Make sure in between you take naps.”
“I will, I promise, boss.”

“Alright… Well, Mike, that’s all I needed. Get back to work.”

Michael nodded, smiling, “Thank you, boss.”                          

Reviews

[Vertigo Cat1111]

A very well-written, interesting beginning! It makes me want to see what happens next, definitely. I'd love to see your interpretation and how everything will play out. Your descriptions and wording are detailed and free-flowing to read, but they're not too long or overdrawn as well! I'm excited about the next chapter, I always love seeing a writer's new story and reading it, and I think you could pull in many people with this!

[TrulyDeviousAngel]

Thank you!