One Two Punch - Chapter One: "In Debt"

Here is the promised first chapter of One Two Punch entitlted "In Debt." Just to let you know... the italicized parts are the main character's thoughts. Enjoy!

Chapter One: “In Debt”

Waking up on a cool, October Saturday morning, I wipe the sleep out of my eyes. Finally, the weekend. I look out my apartment window, gazing at the street. I wonder what to do today. As a 36 year old school teacher, on Saturdays there isn’t much to do except grade papers, especially if you don’t have a spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend. There’s nothing wrong with being single; I had just gotten out of a serious relationship. It feels like a new freedom to me, since I have so much more time on my hands.
After my routine breakfast and shower, I decide I better start grading the essays I had my students turn in yesterday. They were essays on World War II and what caused it. I turn on my old 32-inch television set to a random college basketball game, which turns out to be UCLA vs. Texas A&M. Stinking UCLA, with their ugly baby blue uniforms. If you haven’t figured it out, I’m a USC Spartan at heart. I bleed crimson red and gold. I went there on a basketball scholarship from the high school where I currently teach, Lakeview High. I’d have turned pro if it wasn’t for the MCL tear I had in my senior year. I was undrafted but signed by the Atlanta Hawks as a rookie free agent; however, my knee kept reinjuring itself, forcing me to quit basketball.
Grading the essays took me all the way to the afternoon. I go to receive my mail, and I receive quite a shock. My Visa bill is gigantic. I forgot I had just bought a new bed and mattress as well as some new clothes with it, and that on top of the notice from my superintendent bothered me. My super is nice; he lets me pay him a month’s rent almost whenever I want to, but I had so many months piled up now that it was starting to get a little hot under the collar.
I calculate the total from the Visa bill and all the month’s rent that I had missed, and I get almost $20,000. Yikes! How could this have happened? I spend the rest of the weekend worrying what I am going to do about it. My super in his notice had said he was fed up in waiting for me and needed the money by the end of this current month. How am I going to come up with $20,000 in just one month? Teachers certainly don’t make that much, and as for my savings, well it’s pretty much nothing.
I fling the bill and notice on my table and stare at them. How on earth am I going to pay for them? Hopefully, some opportunity will arise soon where I can make a lot of money and fast.