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Tax Day, by Doug Bartlett

19/3/2021

15 Comments

 
Steven had been sitting for fourteen hoursbehind his large, oak dining room table which
was covered with three mountains of paperwork, a calculator, a stale cup of coffee, an ashtray brimming with cigarette butts and three pencils that recently had their erasers reduced to nubs.

Tomorrow was April 15th and he had to somehow finish his income taxes and get them in the mail or suffer a severe penalty. There was a glass of water nearby along with a half full bottle of aspirin which was near his blood pressure medicine. He took three more aspirins out of the bottle and immediately popped them in his mouth and downed them with a large gulp wishing he had something stronger than water.

Every year it was always the same. Why did he always wait until the last minute? He kept telling himself next year would be different, but it never was.

His head was throbbing,his neck was sore and his back ached.

“ When will those pills kick in? “ he thought.

He was exhausted and famished but knew he couldn’t stop to rest or eat as time was running out and he wasn’t even halfway done.

He grabbed a small pile of papers and looking through bloodshot eyes began adding up the totals on the bottom of the receipts. He was almost finished with that when he realized he had made a mistake and had to start all over again. This happened more than once. His exhaustion was taking its toll.

He was not only physically exhausted but was mentally exhausted as well. Fear began to set in as he thought if he made the slightest mistake the Internal Revenue Service would come down hard on him with draconian punishment. He absolutely hated this time of year.

His young son arrived home from school and as he entered the house he told his dad they were discussing why April 15th was called Tax Day and none of the kids seemed to know why.

“ Do you know why Dad ? ”

“ Because son, it is very taxing !!! “
​
15 Comments
Jim link
19/3/2021 03:21:55 pm

UGH!
Smile!

Jim

Reply
Doug
19/3/2021 04:26:23 pm

Yes, your choice of doing your taxes or getting a root canal.
Take care, Doug.

Reply
Mike B
19/3/2021 06:43:02 pm

Good Story Doug!!
Waiting to prepare for anything Important can be Very Taxing Indeed,
2 things for sure Death and Taxes...

Reply
Doug
19/3/2021 07:30:47 pm

Thanks Mike. I think doing taxes may lead to an early arrival of death.

Reply
Mike B
19/3/2021 08:03:22 pm

Yes that’s true, but being Prepared could make an Eternal Difference...

Chuck Anderson
19/3/2021 06:53:16 pm

Hey, if we didn't pay our taxes we couldn't have stimulus checks.

Reply
Doug
19/3/2021 07:32:34 pm

Good point Chuck. I would still rather have the economy open up,

Reply
Mike U
19/3/2021 07:52:28 pm

Good thing it’s a voluntary system!

Reply
Doug
19/3/2021 08:02:55 pm

Only in America.

Reply
Mary Wallace
20/3/2021 11:41:53 pm

Really rhe entire system is rather taxing. Taxes are like homework- you always wait until the last minute. Good story Doug.

Reply
Doug
20/3/2021 11:53:43 pm

Good point Mary. Maybe our schooling is where we got our training for our procrastination. Thank you Mary.

Reply
Sue Clayton
21/3/2021 04:50:08 am

You said it, Doug. Nerves tremble worldwide as tax time approaches, unless you're one of the lucky rich ones who can afford an accountant to net you a huge refund.

Reply
Doug
21/3/2021 05:32:23 am

Thank you so much Sue for commenting. I appreciate it.

Reply
Candace Arthuria Williams
21/3/2021 08:30:18 pm

Two words, Doug. May seventeenth.

Phheww! (Okay, three.)

Reply
Doug
22/3/2021 12:27:03 am

andace, do you believe in second chances?

Reply



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