Upon waking up, I began to think that last night’s events were just a dream, but upon seeing Pride sitting cross-legged beside my bed made me painfully aware that this was my new reality. “Good to see you awake boy, now it’s time to get ready.”

Walking over to my closet, I look for my barista outfit, but notice that everything was neat and organized. “Where’s my uniform?”

“Oh the green one? I put it up near the top, your closet was in shambles so I took the liberty of reorganizing everything. You should really be more organized with your items.” Taking my outfit out of the neat closet I got my wallet, keys, phone, and headed out the door.

“Did my shoes really need organization?”

“Boy, as I said before, you need to take pride in where you live, otherwise it shows you have no respect for it in the first place.” Sighing I walked out the door and began my walk to the starbucks.

Glancing behind me I notice that Pride took to following me. It seems that nobody else can notice him seeing as how he’s floating over the crowd without attracting any onlookers. Arriving at the starbucks I check in with the absent-minded manager Chelsea, sitting in the employee room with her legs stretched onto the table, eyes glued to her phone. I jump as I turn around and see Pride hovering around Chelsea, seemingly inspecting her. “This, is your manager? She’s so unkempt, does she even bother how her employees see her?”

“No, she doesn’t since she can fire us on a moments notice and all of us need the job.” I whisper so that she doesn’t notice. Glancing back I notice Pride crossing his arms with a disapproving glare at Chelsea, I chuckle at the sight. Chelsea glances up at me and I hurry back to the counter.

“So what is it exactly is it that you do here? I don’t see any alcohol behind you so what do you serve?”

“Wait what was the last year you guys helped someone out?”

“I think the year was 1942.”

I guess they didn’t really have cafes like this back then. Curious about their past life, I asked “So what was your last contractor like?"

It seemed difficult for Pride to remember, but then he straightened his tie, “Well he was a young lad under the name of John Eckert. A talented man he was. It took him a fair amount of time to make up his mind over his wish. Eventually he settled upon: ‘I want to begin a technological revolution.’ As we still had some power left, we granted his wish, and then back into the book we went.” A quick check on my phone left me with a sense of awe. These sins brought upon the world’s first computer.

Just then I heard the door-bell jingle and put on my service-face “Hello welcome to starbucks, what would you like?” It was your standard overly hipster college student, with the stereotypical beard and beanie that he thinks makes him look cool, and not like a homeless person.

Then began the standard chorus of hmmms and ummms I hear nearly every day. “Can I get the venti pumpkin spice latte, but with soy milk instead of regular milk?”

“Yes sir, that will be a sixty cent upcharge."

“Yeah, yeah, here’s my card”

I swipe his card and hand it back to him, when I hear Pride question “What is this thing called soy milk?”

“Well it’s a recent health-craze where people use milk made from beans instead of regular milk as it’s marginally healthier.”

“Wouldn’t it be simpler to just exercise instead of paying more money for something that’s slightly healthier?”

“Well not everybody has the time to exercise to so most people just have healthier diets.” Pride began to object but then sat in the air in a thinking position.

Just then my co-worker John came in a sweat, late again. “Sorry man, there was this wild party last night and you would not believe how fucking hungover I am.” I could as his breath still reeked of alcohol.

“My goodness, just what is it with the people around you? Both of your coworkers seem to have no manners or respect for their public appearance.”

I shrug as I reply “They each live their own lives, I don’t really have a say in what they do.”

This just seemed to upset Pride even more, mumbling to himself “You should not be living around such bad influences.” I chuckle remembering that I’m the one living according to the seven deadly sins. The day went on as Pride continued his disapproving glare whenever a dishevelled customer walked through the doors. While me and John finished up our 8 hour shifts it seemed that Pride left at some point.

As I left the store and began my walk home, it seemed almost a little lonely with Pride not nearby. Shrugging it off as some psychological phooey I continued my walk to my apartment. It was then that I saw Pride floating in the air with a laptop. “Wait how do you guys know how to use technology? I thought your last contract was in 1942.”

“Boy, just because we lived inside the book did not mean we didn’t adapt to the times.”

“But didn’t you say that you didn’t know what soy-milk was”

“Just because we could adapt to the times doesn’t mean we’re aware of every minute detail.” Not knowing how to respond I changed into my night uniform, set my alarm for my next shift and got into bed.

Upon waking up I was mortified to see the sun had risen up. “Good morning boy, it seems you’re quite confused, but I discussed with Sloth and came to the decision that you would quit your night job, meanwhile I also had you quit your job at that star bucks.”

I couldn’t believe it, these people who just came into my life two days ago had already ruined it. “You did WHAT? My future depended on those jobs, how could you do this?”

“Now you listen here boy, we’ve lived longer than you imagine and you best believe that we know how society works. Do you know who we are? We live throughout every human being, we know how they operate. Regardless you shouldn’t even worry, you have a big day today and should eat first, Gluttony has prepared breakfast and is out getting some more ingredients.”

I begrudgingly get out of bed and see a wide spread of delicious looking food upon the table. My hunger won over my anger and I begin to eat, it was all delicious. “Wait, how did Gluttony get these ingredients? I don’t remember having nearly any of this in the fridge, and it didn’t seem like you guys could be seen.”

“Boy, what you see before you is our incorporeal forms, you see us as human-like creatures that generally represent our sin yes? We don’t really have an actual appearance, and our forms differ from person to person. Right now Gluttony is out shopping in a corporeal form appears as a normal human being for this era, clothes and all.”

“Wait so who’s paying for the food?”

“That would be you boy, but I suppose you would get mad over this. In response, I’ve worked out with Greed several interviews to get you a more proper job” I freeze up as I remember the horrible office job that forced my dad into his coma. “Boy? You seem tense… Oh, pardon, you must have thought of your father’s job. Well worry not, I took that into account with Sloth so it won’t ruin your mental wellbeing.”

“That’s a relief, so when do the interviews start?"

“About half an hour from now. I’ve already picked out a suit, pants, and shoes for you and I worked over with Envy a good resume for you. Now since you’re finished eating let’s get you dressed and well groomed for your first interview.” Lust helped me get a new hairstyle and it seemed she had a new cologne for me, I really hope I still have some money left after their spending spree, hopefully Greed kept my wallet in check.

As I walked down the city streets I couldn’t help but notice that I was attracting the glances of some people as I walked past. It felt amazing to be a center of attention, even though I didn’t really deserve it. The first interview was at a software analyst firm. I was asked about how I worked in a team environment, how I worked with or without a deadline, whether I would work at home or at an office, and so many other questions that it nearly made my head spin. Thankfully during the interview I was given my answers through Pride, who seemed to know exactly how to boost my reputation. “Thank you Joseph, we’ll be sure to contact you on whether or not you will get the position.”

“Thank you, have a good day” says Pride as I repeat it. I walk out with an odd sense of pride, somewhat that I managed to get through the interview, but somehow not since I merely repeated what Pride had told me to say. The next interview was for a mail and file clerk with the same interview routine as before. Next was for a data entry position, the next for a lobby ambassador, and lastly as a stockbroker trainee.

Mentally drained from the pressure during the interviews, it was finally time to head home. Upon the table laid another splendid meal and my stomach growled in anticipation. After the meal I was concerned and asked Pride “When do you think I will get a response?”

“Who knows, you might not even get one, we still have two more days of interviews ahead of us.” I stared at him blankly, I don’t know if I could handle two more days completely like this one. “I see the concern written on your face boy, but there is no time like the present, we have to get your name out there so you can get a proper job as soon as possible.”

“What was wrong with the jobs I had before? I was living just fine before you sins came into it!” I shouted

“Boy are you aware that you would have died from overwork the way you were living?”

“what?” I said under my breath.

“Boy you were living each day struggling with sleep and stress over the medical bills of your father. You can ask Sloth himself, he knows best about stress and proper rest.” I look over to my bed and see Sloth sitting up, giving me a lulling nod. “Boy you have asked us to help with your life and that is exactly what we are doing, and we will not finish until your wish is fulfilled. So stick out your chest and bear with it until you yourself understand that your life is fulfilled.” I begin to try and argue but realize that he was right, my funds were already decreasing over time and perhaps I was becoming more stressed. “All you need to be aware of boy is that you need to suffer before you can succeed, now go and sleep so you are well rested for tomorrow and the day after.” I slouched to my bed and stared at the ceiling thinking about what a turning point today was as I slowly drifted into sleep.