When I wake up I’m horrified to find that my skin is completely yellow! I look like a Simpson’s character. In fact everything around me looks yellow. Was it something I ate? My cousin is visiting and we went out to eat last night. He’s sleeping beside me, snoring loudly, and he looks yellow too. Why is everything yellow?!
Just then I hear loud knocks on my door. “Rent!” The landlady demands.
It’s the first of this month and rent is due. But I can’t open the door, not like this.
I shake my cousin and try to wake him. He continues snoring. I slap him, “Wake up! Wake up!”
“Wh-what?” He finally opens his eyes.
I give him an envelope with cash. “Open the door and pay the landlady.”
“Why are you wear-”
“Just pay her!”
He gets out of bed and opens the door. She complains that he smells. She’s always complaining. After he pays her he goes to the bathroom.
I just got a new job and today is my first day. I cannot go to work like this — with yellow vision. I need this job or I won’t be able to pay rent next month.
There is knocking on the door again. “You gave me a torn note!” The landlady yells.
My cousin can’t open the door, he is still in the bathroom.
I open the door just a little and slowly stick my arm out, hiding the rest of my body. “Give me the torn note and I’ll give you a new one.” I say.
“Open the door.” She pushes it open. “Why are you wearing those ugly sunglasses?”
And then it dawns on me… I fell asleep with a new pair of sunglasses yesterday. I had been trying them on.
I give the landlady a new note and shut the door.
Hopefully I won’t do anything dumb at work today.
Writer: Rohan Parekh
