[ WP ] A pizza delivery boy is unwittingly sent to God 's apartment .

Edit: Sorry it's long and I'm late to the party but I liked this prompt. Any feedback is welcome. 
 
 The man stomped his foot hard against the brake pedal and his `` piece of shit'' Honda, as his friends liked to call it, came to a halt. The car was old and an ugly green, smoke coughed out of the exhaust when it started, more like if it started Jake thought as he stepped out onto the curb two hot pies held high. The apartment complex was a twisting gridlock of buildings four stories high. Tonight it was alive. Another reminder of Jakes own shitty existence. It was friday night and there seemed to be a multitude of parties coexisting in the complex, the range of people was quite a sight, a gang of weathered bikers downing beers and bull-shitting next to an after work business party and everything in between. Jake thought about what his friends might be doing tonight, images of laughter and good hearted debauchery only made him feel worse. Jake was a 22 year old college failure technically an adult but still a boy, living at home scrounging to hopefully afford a shitty one room apartment. 
 
 Jake pushed the thought aside and focused on his task for his meaningless job. 4381. Forty-three eighty-one, he mouthed over and over again. The apartments formed a maze that he wandered sullenly through the noise. Finally, he found it, 4381. He knocked twice and rang the bell. One moment, two, three, four, the door jared open. 
 
 `` You're late. I'm not paying for it.'' Her voice was flat and cold. She stood before jake in a pink robe that did nothing for her looks, short curly red hair and a round stumpy body. She reminded Jake of a pregnant hen. 
 
 `` M'am Pete's Pizza does n't have time guarantee and besides it's been 45 minuets on the phone I said an hour.'' 
 
 `` You were late! I'm not paying!'' She said with even more conviction and tried to snag the pizza's. Anger flushed inside of Jake as stepped back ripping the pizza's from her hands. 
 
 `` Then you're not eating them.'' His jaw was clenched so tight that it came out as a hiss. Something in his tone made the women back off and slam the door. 
 
 Jake turned and began walking back toward his shitty green Honda still seething. He'd sooner eat the pizza's himself or give them away before giving them to her, and to think he expected a tip for being early. Getting back was a lot easier than finding the apartment and he could see his car already. He was thinking about trying to sell the pies someone with the drunchies before heading back when someone stopped him. 
 
 `` Hey kid... You with the pizza's.'' his voice was rough but not unkind. He was sitting on the porch of a ground level apartment alone with a beer in his hand. The party had moved inside but he had stayed, his leather vest and unkempt beard marked him as a member of a bike gang. Jake was a little weary, lately it seemed God enjoyed seeing his day go from bad to worse. 
 
 `` Yah?'' 
 
 `` You look tense, why do n't you take a seat?'' 
 
 `` Thanks but I have other deliveries to make.'' 
 
 `` Oh come on, whats the harm? and I've got some buddies that pay good for a warm pie right about now.'' 
 
 Jake peered through the window and saw lumbering bearded men laughing and play fighting looking quite pleasantly drunk. 
 
 `` Well I guess I have a couple minuets.'' Jake hesitantly sat in the chair next to the man, he looked older than those inside. 
 
 `` Whats eating you kid?'' 
 
 `` Oh uh, this lady uh, well stiffed me on my delivery.'' he replied sheepishly. 
 
 `` Son, when you've been around as long as I have you can tell when the shit stinks. I do n't doubt Ms. Kladice stiffed because well she's kind of bitch, but whats got you down?'' 
 
 The bluntness took Jake by surprise, they were strangers after all, but the mans rough weathered voice was some how soothing and his gaze soft under his bushy eyebrows, his beard jiggled and danced when he talked and cleared his nose; the man who had frightened him at first glance now seemed almost comical, and despite himself he began to talk. Every word seemed to lift a weight to rinse clean some part of his grief and anger, he was starting to let go. 
 
 Suddenly Jake snapped back to reality and shot up from his seat, `` My deliveries'' but the grizzled biker calmly tugged his arm and he sat back down and looked at the man. Before Jake could protest the man spoke. 
 
 `` How many deliveries do you have left?'' 
 
 `` Five, they're getting cold in my car, then I'm to help close.'' Worry was spreading back into Jake. 
 
 `` Call your boss and tell him that you found a party willing to pay double for the pizza you have on hand.'' He smiled a toothy grin at Jake's blank face. Jake did as the man said and to his surprise his boss gave him the rest of the night off. Excitedly jake brought the old biker his stacks of pizza which the others grabbed at enthusiastically jostling and yelling, swarming the porch with life of the party. 
 
 The man beckoned Jake to sit and handed him a slice of pizza and a cold beer. Jake was introduced to all these big burly men that towered above him but now did n't seem the least bit menacing. Soon Jake was laughing and joking as if he'd known them for years. 
 
 The night was dwindling down and the remainder of the party had moved back inside leaving Jake, the old man, and empty bottles and pizza boxes. `` It's nice to see you smile.'' The words wafted through the air. Jake had hardly realized how much better he felt. The man prodded a bit more and in an instant Jake's mouth was churning out his concerns, they felt so distant now, and each time he spoke he felt lighter. 
 
 After what felt like an eternity Jake grew quiet. He'd shared it all, unburdened himself completely. All his insecurities and fears about his future seemed less daunting. The old man was the first to break the silence. 
 
 `` You're a good kid Jake and I understand your fears and frustrations but what do YOU want to do? You told me what your parents thought you should do and you told what your friends are moving onto, but what do you want to do?'' The words hung in air, Jake opened his mouth but did n't know what to say. Silence. `` Think on it. Search inward.'' More comfortable silence. Then Jake spoke up, `` Do you believe in God?'' He felt childish asking. The man chuckled, `` I suppose, do you?'' 
 `` I do n't know, I stopped going to church years ago. I guess I'm not fond of God who sends so many people to hell.'' The man let out a laugh, `` What do you mean?'' 
 `` They say,'if you do n't believe in this you go to hell', but then murders who believe go to heaven if they just apologize, I do n't know, I think I'd have a few choice words for that good. And the whole white robes long white beard looking down on everybody from a cloud in heaven, it just seems.... far fetched.'' 
 
 `` Jake there's only two things you need to know, first, follow your heart do what feels right, what feels good but for you not anyone else, second, help others when you can, little favors big favors it makes no difference, do this and you might find you enjoy it, all the rest of religion is just babble.'' He stood up from his chair and pulled out his wallet and placed a bill fold on the table. `` For the pizza.'' Then he started for the parking lot. `` Wait are you leaving?'' 
 `` Yes, I still have some work to do, it's not sunday yet.'' He winked and turned again. Jake was stunned, he could n't leave so abruptly he just could n't. `` You left too much, this is way more than even double the pizzas.'' He threw up a hand dismissing Jakes concern, but then turned to face him one last time. `` Oh and Jake, sometimes he is just an old man with a beard, but he's never looking down on you.'' 
 
 
 
 
 

