Hard Cash

Friday afternoon, the rush hour bus is jam-packed with commuters.

Everyone was feeling like sardines in a can.

People stood face-to-face, back-to-back.

A young woman was wearing a miniskirt was feeling particularly uncomfortable with her situation.

As if feeling discomfort, a construction worker behind her said, “Pardon me, miss, but that thing pressing into your back is my weekly pay … today they only paid us hard cash!”

“I don’t mind your hard cash,” replied the woman, “but how do you explain your pay increase since the last stop?”