My Friday started out as any other Friday would with my wife kissing me on the cheek as she handed me a thermos full of sludge that she calls coffee and me heading out the door for another strenuous day of work. The only thing that made my day different was the fact that I didn't have to see my boss for two days and, of course, it was payday. With bills piling up and college tuition for my daughter looming its ugly head in a few months, my stress level was higher than usual. I had even forgotten that my paycheck would include a pay increase until my boss reminded me as he handed me my paycheck when I walked in the office.
However, even the possibility of a pay raise could not bring me out the worry I was feeling as my fingers fumbled with opening the envelope. That is, until I saw that my raise was double the money I was making previously! I felt eyes begin to fill with tears as I could not only pay the mortgage and car note, but also my daughter would be able to attend the college she had dreamed of attending since the age of twelve. I had struggled so hard to make ends meet for so many years and to finally be acknowledged for my work performance is a dream come true!
