“Who’s This?”

This is not a stand alone story. This is the Epilogue to my previous story, “Charles NOT in Charge.” I encourage you to read that story first if you haven’t done so already – as it continues the storyline and characters from last month. Psst… You’ll also get the ending of this one.

*

I awoke hungover.

My mouth tasted like a small animal had crapped in my mouth. My eyelids were glued shut.

The phone rang and rang.

I peeled my eyes open with two hands.

“This is Charles,” I croaked.

“Cha?” said an unknown caller.

“No, it’s Charles.”

“Cha?”

“No, man it’s Charles…C.h.a.r.l.e.s.   …there’s no “Cha ”living here.”

“Cha…Buckmin?”

“Close enough. Yeah, okay, I’m Cha.”

“This is Chan from Bellrz are Ringung.”

Shit, not these jokers again.

I placed the phone receiver against my grumbling stomach, closed my eyes and rubbed my pounding forehead. I was tempted to hang up the phone.

“Chan, I told Barry last month to close my account. I bought an answering machine – so I don’t need an answering service.”

“Oh, you still have messages.”

That’s when I remembered that I hadn’t changed the phone number on my headshots.

“Sigh. Okay what are they?” I said.

“Ah they say – Balance due, balance due, uh here’s another from Ginny say ‘rabbit died’ please call me as soon as…”

“Hold on, who’s Ginny?” I said breaking out into an ice cold sweat.

“My mistake, that message is for box one o’ five,” said Chan.

“Thank God. Anything else?”

“Last one say – Jacki Spears from Love Me, Love You wants you to come by studio today at ten am to discuss Casting on show.”

Glancing at the digital clock revealed I had fifteen minutes before my appointment. 

“Your account is overdue Cha, please pay us soon.”

“I’ll send ya a check!” I screamed, slamming down the phone.

*

One mad cab ride later to uptown. 

Jacki Spears head of Casting for Loving Me, Loving You met me at Reception. 

“Robert Dunkin’? So good of you to come in,” said Jacki with her right hand outstretched.

“No, sorry I’m not Rob Dunkin’…I’m  Charles Bucklin,” I said.

“Oh, dear, you must have gotten a message meant for someone else.”

I laughed.

“I’m so sorry about the miscommunication. But I might have something you’d be perfect for,” said Jacki.

“Cool! What ya got?”

“How about doing some Extra Work?”

FINIS