As the fiscal year was winding down, Carl realized that his sandwich shop might not break even for the first time since opening. He had even made a nominal profit his first year in business. A more health conscience public and a rough overall economy were his proverbial rock and a hard place.
He tried a marketing campaign on social media, but the coupons had an error and he ended up losing money every time someone redeemed one. He tried having an in-store even but his brother got so drunk he embarrassed himself and Carl. That event was deemed a disaster. He even tried taking the healthy approach to sandwich making but that, too, fell flat.
One slow afternoon, Carl was googling small business consultants when his ne’er-do-well friend form high school, Dustin, barged in.
“Hey man! How you doing? It’s been a while. Shop’s looking good. Got any water?” Dustin said in what seemed like one breath and with incredible speed.
“Hi, Dustin” Carl replied, “You can grab a water from the fridge”
Dustin paced around the empty tables in a curious manner to get to the beverages. “Thanks man. Hey, it’s lunchtime, why so empty?” he then drained the bottle of water and let out a loud “Ahhhhh”
Carl sighed, “Everyone’s on the low carb kick and if you take the bread away, what is a sandwich?” he asked rhetorically.
“Uhhh, a shitty salad?” Dustin earnestly answered, getting a chuckle from Carl.
“You’re a little extra fidgety today, what the hell you on this time?” Carl asked.
“A little bit of this, a little bit of that” Dustin smirked.
“You haven’t changed a bit” Carl laughed.
Dustin startled Carl when he exclaimed with all the animation he could muster “I can save your store and make some cash too!!!”
“Dustin, if it’s illegal I don’t…”
“Just hear me out!”
To be continued…..
By Ryan 
Oh, this can’t be good… I’ve been both Carl AND Dustin.
“this can’t be good…” You know if it’s coming from me, it sure won’t! Hahahaha thanks for reading it! Stay tuned
You know I will, brother.