This is take two of #221 because I accidentally wrote on one of the prompts that I had already done before on October 28th, 2012. I am tempted to go back and reread it to see what the difference in style and content are, and probably will post writing on this prompt. It is incredibly hot in Seattle today and I don’t do well in the heat. My children are playing, and each time they talk it is sort of a high pitched whiny voice biologically intended to make me scream. I am maintaining a thin veneer of calm while they play. I understand that they are also human and susceptible to the heat. The voice in my head is likely a slow whiny “why is it soooo hot out” and so I am sympathetic instead of angry. I am writing to maintain my sanity. Writing focuses me. Playing focuses them. Together we will get through this day and hopefully without all the yelling.
Write a scene in which a woman is fire after only a week on the job. Just a week earlier, the same person who is now firing her was very persuasive in convincing her to take the job.
(Two women are sitting in an office. There is a large fish tank in the back of the room with a bunch of hungry pirahnas swimming angrily about. A tall blonde woman, Kristine, is sitting behind the desk, her glasses pushed forward on her nose, looking at a stack of papers. Another small woman, Amanda, with dark short hair, wearing a red star trek shirt and jeans, is sitting on the other side of the desk her hands folled in her lap.)
Kristine: There is no easy way to say this, Amanda. None at all. I really like you, I do.
Amanda: This sounds ominous.
Kristine: We here at Big Bad Books like commitment. We do.
Amanda: I know. That is why I applied here. I am all about commitment. I was so excited by your ad, and our interview last week was incredible, unbelievable…it bordered on magical.
Kristine: Well that’s the thing, Amanda. I have all the paperwork you completed in the last week here in front of me…
Amanda:—is there something wrong? I was absolutely diligent in filling it out according to company policy.
Kristine: That might be where we disagree. The instructions were very clear. Each page was to be filled out in your own blood…it looks like, Amanda, that you’ve used…(shaking her head)…red pen.
Amanda: I didn’t think you were serious about that! I thought that was a joke. Like “our life’s blood goes into our work here at Big Bad Books” was a slogan, not an actual direction!
Kristine: I am afraid that when I said that last week and you heartily agreed…well that you made a verbal contract. We own your soul now, but sadly, you are still being let go.
Amanda:
Kristine: No one every listens to me! I stated very clearly that once you joined the company your soul would be ours.
Amanda: I also thought that was a joke…
Kristine: (takes out a pin and pokes her own finger and begins to write on a slip of pink paper) Here is your notice of termination. As in, please go down to the basement to have your life ended by our local death expert.
Amanda: Ghh. I am never answering a Craig’s List ad for “meaningful employment” again.
Kristine: At least you’re right about that…