Scratching out a Living

[Not Espi]

The sound of the buzzer forced Dave to walk to the intercom and look at the monitor. It was his landlord again. He would spit in his face if he opened the door to the hall. Lucky for the landlord, at was enough to press a button under the intercom monitor and start talking.

'€˜What is it now?'€™- Dave asked.
The landlord looked into the camera. His semi-bald head reflected the ceiling lights and that kinda blurred the monitor image. '€˜Mister Mitchell, might I suggest you pay me for the next month tomorrow? Everyone does.'€™ He grinned oddly while saying that. '€˜The Room-owner Society is changing policy. People will now pay up forward. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.'€™

Dave could see the landlord'€™s stupid grin on the monitor. It almost made him open the door and bash his face into the opposite wall. He would have his two thugs somewhere outside the view though, and attacking him would surely mean an eviction. So you want a payment for 2 months this Monday?'€™ He asked, and turned off the monitor. He couldn'€™t stand the man'€™s face anymore.

'€˜That'€™s right, mister Mitchell. I'€™m expecting the payment tomorrow. You will be able to pay, right?'€™
'€˜Sure thing, Norton.'€™, replied Dave, and raised his middle finger towards the door. '€˜Bye.'€™ He turned off the intercom and went in the fridge to have a drink. Some chilled beer would do him good. He opened the fridge to grab one or two, but it was almost empty, and definitely out of beer.