YOU'RE FIRED
SCRATCH.
...
THE AUTHOR'S ROOM.
...
For once...
GAAFATAA
was nowhere to be seen.
...
Perhaps his vacation
had finally begun.
...
Perhaps THE AUTHOR
could finally work.
...
Unfortunately...
two others
were standing
in front of his desk.
...
THE TEMPTED.
...
THE ADVISOR.
...
They looked at each other.
...
THE ADVISOR smiled.
...
"Finally."
...
THE TEMPTED:
"What?"
...
"I can finally
put my talent
to use."
...
THE TEMPTED nodded.
...
"Same."
...
THE ADVISOR:
"What exactly
is your talent?"
...
THE TEMPTED looked
almost offended.
...
"Temptation."
...
"Obviously."
...
THE ADVISOR:
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"Right."
...
THE TEMPTED smiled.
...
"I'll finally
be able
to tempt people."
...
The Advisor
slowly looked
toward THE AUTHOR.
...
Then back
at The Tempted.
...
"Should I be worried?"
...
"Probably."
...
THE AUTHOR:
"Definitely."
...
The Tempted
ignored him.
...
Then something
occurred to him.
...
"Actually..."
...
He looked
at The Advisor.
...
"I have to tell you
something."
...
"What?"
...
"I can't change."
...
The Advisor blinked.
...
"What do you mean?"
...
"I'm The Tempted."
...
A pause.
...
"I have to be tempted."
...
THE ADVISOR:
"I thought you
tempted people."
...
THE TEMPTED:
"That too."
...
Silence.
...
THE ADVISOR:
"This job
hasn't even started
and I already
regret it."
...
THE TEMPTED:
"Speaking of which..."
...
He turned
toward THE AUTHOR.
...
"What is our job?"
...
THE AUTHOR:
"First..."
...
The Author put
his pen down.
...
"...neither of you
is employed yet."
...
Silence.
...
THE ADVISOR:
"What?"
...
THE TEMPTED:
"Then why are we here?"
...
"Because I'm considering
hiring you."
...
The two looked
at each other.
...
THE AUTHOR:
"It would be temporary."
...
"A limited position."
...
"Think of it
as substitute work."
...
THE ADVISOR:
"For who?"
...
The Author
didn't answer.
...
THE TEMPTED:
"GAAFATAA?"
...
Nothing.
...
THE ADVISOR:
"What exactly
would we be doing?"
...
Again...
nothing.
...
THE TEMPTED:
"Do we get vacation pay?"
...
The Author
slowly looked up.
...
"Why does everyone
suddenly know
what vacation pay is?"
...
THE ADVISOR:
"So we do?"
...
"That's not
what I said."
...
The Author sighed.
...
"Listen."
...
"You work temporarily."
...
"I watch
how you behave."
...
"If you cause problems..."
...
The Author pointed
toward the door.
...
"...you're fired."
...
The Tempted nodded.
...
THE AUTHOR:
"But..."
...
"If you actually
do your jobs well..."
...
The two leaned closer.
...
"...I may consider
giving you
full-time positions."
...
...
Silence.
...
THE ADVISOR smiled.
...
"Full-time."
...
THE TEMPTED:
"I like the sound
of that."
...
The Author
picked up his pen.
...
Then stopped.
...
A thought
entered his mind.
...
...
He looked
at The Advisor.
...
Then...
The Tempted.
...
Then back
at The Advisor.
...
Another thought.
...
Then another.
...
His expression changed.
...
THE ADVISOR:
"Is something wrong?"
...
THE AUTHOR:
"...Wait."
...
THE TEMPTED:
"What?"
...
The Author
sat completely still.
...
Then...
"No."
...
THE ADVISOR:
"No?"
...
"No."
...
The Author stood.
...
"Absolutely not."
...
The Tempted blinked.
...
THE TEMPTED:
"What happened?"
...
THE AUTHOR:
"Why didn't I
think about this
until now?"
...
The Advisor
and The Tempted
looked at each other.
...
THE ADVISOR:
"Think about what?"
...
The Author pointed
at both of them.
...
"No."
...
THE TEMPTED:
"We heard that part."
...
"Absolutely no."
...
THE ADVISOR:
"Can you explain—"
...
THE AUTHOR:
"You're both fired."
...
...
Silence.
...
THE ADVISOR:
"...What?"
...
THE TEMPTED:
"Wait."
...
The Author
returned to his desk.
...
"You're fired."
...
THE ADVISOR:
"WE DIDN'T EVEN
GET THE JOB."
...
THE TEMPTED:
"HOW CAN WE
GET FIRED?!"
...
THE AUTHOR:
"Out."
...
THE ADVISOR:
"We haven't even
started!"
...
"Exactly."
...
THE TEMPTED:
"I DIDN'T EVEN
TEMPT ANYONE YET!"
...
THE AUTHOR:
"That sentence
is making this decision
much easier."
...
THE ADVISOR:
"What did we do?!"
...
"Nothing."
...
THE ADVISOR:
"THEN WHY ARE
WE FIRED?!"
...
The Author
picked up his pen.
...
SCRATCH.
...
The door opened.
...
THE AUTHOR:
"Goodbye."
...
The Advisor stared.
...
The Tempted stared.
...
Then...
very slowly...
they walked
toward the door.
...
THE TEMPTED:
"So..."
...
The Advisor looked at him.
...
"What?"
...
"Do you think
we still get paid?"
...
THE ADVISOR:
"WE NEVER WORKED."
...
"That's not a no."
...
The door slammed.
...
Silence.
...
THE AUTHOR
looked at the door.
...
Then at his work.
...
Then...
for reasons
known only to him...
he looked slightly
concerned.
...
SCRATCH.
...
NAFSAN STORY
SPECIAL CHAPTER
THE TEMPTED
GOT A JOB.
...
FOR APPROXIMATELY
ZERO SECONDS.
...
THE ADVISOR
GOT A JOB.
...
FOR APPROXIMATELY
ZERO SECONDS.
...
THEY WERE HIRED.
...
THEY WERE NOT HIRED.
...
THEY WERE FIRED.
...
DO NOT ASK
HOW THAT WORKS.
...
GP.
...
READ
SAFSAN STORY
TO UNDERSTAND
NAFSAN STORY
BEFORE IT BEGINS.
...
NAFSAN STORY
HAS NOT BEGUN YET.
...
AND SOMEHOW...
PEOPLE ARE ALREADY
GETTING FIRED.
...
SCRATCH.
END.