For Your Welfare
A cup of steaming
Earl Gray appeared beside Leigh’s console. She smiled up at Dan and continued
her prep. Her interview at Xanadu Systems was tomorrow.
“Don’t wear yourself out. You know
you’re ready.”
“Just this last thing,” Leigh
answered. “I need directions to the Huntington Quadrangle.”
“The car will know how to get
there,” laughed Dan. “Got your papers together?”
Leigh held up a folder. Funny how
despite all of the electronic exchange of information, paper copies were still
required. She thought of an interview as an audition. Her appearance must fit
the part. A hound’s tooth dress and black blazer conveyed sophisticated
professionalism. Hair and makeup just right. Silver hoop earrings. And a portfolio
of education, internships, climb-the-ladder jobs, and commendations from
supervisors sure to impress. Ten years since grad school had prepared her for
this next opportunity. The final challenge was the face to face with a panel of
interviewers. After the qualifying exam of course. Leigh was excited instead of
nervous. She knew her stuff.
Her dreams were filled with visions
of houses they had visited. This job would enable them to move up from their
two bedroom starter home, ‘the cottage’ as they liked to call it. Dan’s success
with the franchise he acquired four years before, one of the many ‘Chauffeur
Car Shops’ that catered to owners of driverless cars was their other income
source. Leigh thought about baby names for future reference.
The next morning at ten AM Leigh sat
for the one and a half hour written and computational test for her position.
After a brief rest she was brought by the HR rep to the conference room. Five
men and women alternated giving her questions designed as an exhaustive perusal
of her qualifications, attitudes, and experience. After the final handshakes
were complete she returned to the main entrance where her silvery blue car
waited for her. She was surprised to find a light lunch packed in the cooler
compartment. Dan’s thoughtfulness.
At home Leigh walked the dogs and
smiled as she reviewed different aspects of the ‘interrogation’. Dan joined
them in the garden when her cell rang. She put it on speaker.
“Leigh we’re happy to tell you that
you’ve got the job.” Leigh and Dan embraced and did a silent victory dance as
the voice continued. “We’ll need you to come in one more time to sign
paperwork. After that, all paychecks will be direct deposited into your account
on a biweekly basis. Congratulations. We’ll see you tomorrow in the contracts
department at nine thirty. Welcome aboard.”
“I never doubted you’d land this job
Baby! Now we can move ahead with all our plans.”
“Out to dinner first. Let’s start
celebrating. This is my dream job!”
Leigh and Dan Osbourne, a young professional
couple making their way in the world. After decades of a jobless population
struggling in the aftermath of global automation, a savvy government designed a
way to provide for the needs of the people. They compensated workers for jobs
they could not give, but maintained competition required for a sense of
autonomy and individuality. For their welfare, the masses were paid to stay at
home.
(531 words)
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