《Shades of Gray》6. A Job Re-Interview
Advertisement
"Well Mr. Calloway, it seems you have made a swift recovery," Dr. Locke said, marking on his clipboard. "You're free to leave."
"Great!" Graham smiled. He was dressed in his usual outfit of a blue jacket pulled over a dull purple-maroon shirt, with dark gray jeans and sneakers. Carmen had left him his duffle bag of stuff from his room at V.I.L.E. headquarters, and Graham had wondered briefly how she'd gotten it.
She's Carmen Sandiego, he eventually shrugged. She can do anything.
"Before you go, I have a few restrictions for you," Dr. Locke told him. "Don't overexert yourself for the next week or so, and do be careful around electricity. You seem to have a history with high-voltage accidents."
Graham chucked ruefully. "That I do," he reflected. "I'll be cautious, doctor, but I can't make any promises. I am an electrician, after all."
Dr. Locke sighed and shook his head, though he had a smile on his face. "Well, I'll have my fingers crossed that I won't see you here again." He pushed the door to the examination room open. "Goodbye, Mr. Calloway."
"Goodbye, Dr. Locke," Graham replied. He checked out of the hospital and located his car in the parking lot. Chief had even filled up the gas tank for him.
Well, here I go, with a fresh start on life, he thought, turning the keys in the ignition and hearing the car rumble to life. He shifted the car out of park, stepped on the gas, and began the drive home.
Later that afternoon, Graham sat in the chair inside the office of his old boss at the Sydney Opera House. Mr. Elwood had agreed to re-interview him, and hopefully he could get a job here. Graham knew Mr. Elwood well and had worked for him for quite some time, but he also knew the man was probably a little hesitant to hire Graham again. After all, he had initially quit his job to join V.I.L.E., and then returned after he had his memories wiped. He had gotten his old job back and worked there for a while before earning a job with a travelling theatre group. Only to disappear again for nearly eight months without any notice.
Advertisement
"So, Graham," Mr. Elwood said gruffly, peering at him. "You want your old job back, do you?"
"Honestly, sir, I'd take any position," Graham replied. "If you could use my skills here, I'd be grateful for the job."
"Graham, I know you're a respectful, talented, hardworking guy," Mr. Elwood told him. "But what I don't understand is how unpredictable you are. I can't have a worker that will disappear on a whim and then reappear whenever they feel like it."
"That's fair, sir," Graham nodded. "I've just been dealing with some..." he frowned, not sure what to say, "family issues, I guess, over the past two years."
Mr. Elwood narrowed his eyes. "I thought you were an orphan?"
"I am," Graham confirmed. "There was this group of people I was associated with that became a sort of second family to me. But they were leading me down the wrong path. At first, I turned a blind eye to their faults, but eventually I realized that I had to separate myself from them before they convinced me to do something I'd regret. Does that make sense?"
Mr. Elwood stared at him with a deep frown on his face. "You joined a gang?"
"No, no, no," Graham assured him hastily. But as he thought about it, V.I.L.E. wasn't really any better than a gang. "All I'm trying to say is I've been dealing with some personal issues. It's all resolved now, though."
"Well, it's not any business of mine to pry," Mr. Elwood replied, shaking his head. "Graham, I'm going to hire you. But I want you to promise me you won't disappear again. If you do, you won't find a job here when you decide to come back. Is that clear?"
Graham nodded fervently. "Yes, sir. You have my word."
"Good," Mr. Elwood said, satisfied. "You start tonight. The first day of tech week for Ernani is tonight, and you should be here before 6:00."
"Got it," Graham replied. "Thank you, sir."
Advertisement
- In Serial23 Chapters
Wood and Iron
A great tyrannical empire has fallen, its dark empress defeated. But peace remains elusive. The hero that had brought down the empire has vanished not long after their victory and what is left of the free western kingdoms reel from what they lost. They are left with empty thrones and eager claimants. The once mighty empire has shattered into pieces. It is a time of change, it is a time of political chaos. Not that Elise could care. All this eccentric wand maker cares about is her craft. In a world where everyone has magic, hers is perhaps the weakest of anyone alive. Yet despite this, she will end up dragged into the political struggles created in the aftermath of the Undying Empress's fall. Though weak in magic, she is among the best at making wands and staves. Strange and sometimes belligerent she holds many secrets. This is a story about the shape the world took when the empress fell, this is a story about the proprietor of a small magic focus shop called 'Wood and Iron'.
8 136 - In Serial47 Chapters
Alea Ludo
Troy Ambrose is a man that is no stranger to anguish and tragedy. The only solace he has left in his life is a small-time bar where he works as a bartender with his benefactor—Gideon Maynard. However, his life of solitude takes a drastic twist of fate when the IRS threatens to foreclose on the bar in a matter of two weeks unless he can accumulate three hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Ambrose swears to gather the money through any means necessary—no matter what the cost. Fortunately, his chance to save the bar presents itself in the form of a man by the name of Tanet—a mysterious individual that offers Ambrose one million dollars. To obtain the money, Ambrose must participate in a survival game inside of the facility of entertainment—Serendipity—where dreams and desires are realized by those that fight for them. However, he must face off against eleven other people. Only one can leave with the grand prize of one million dollars. In a game where money and lives are on the line, how far is everyone willing to go to win? (Cover Art is Provided by https://tiredjane.deviantart.com/) This piece of fiction is a participant of the WriTer's Pledge.
8 114 - In Serial22 Chapters
The Neuroalchemist (A "Songs of the Ancients" Short Story)
An amnesiac hunter and a rebellious healer are tied together to set off the strings of fate.(Second Tale in Songs of the Ancients)
8 63 - In Serial23 Chapters
Conflicts of Eriador stories
A gathering of unit descriptions turned into stories for a Lord of the Rings mod for Medieval 2 as well as the 'story of Pedhaer', one of the generals to be. Will grow as more units and generals are made. The stories are stand alone, but usually will connect with one another, short in nature and are meant to be accurately describe a unit while telling a short, inspiring tale about them.
8 113 - In Serial200 Chapters
Characters
A list of people you can use when casting your characters and photos of them.#5 in women#6 in plotideas#170 in bookhelp
8 216 - In Serial30 Chapters
Time Can't Heal This
I've always hated the saying "Time heals all wounds." Maybe in most cases that may be true. In my experience with life and pain however, time has only ever bled out the wound. The scars that the wounds left behind though, are often so deep that just looking at them becomes painful to the mind. Time only heals what you let go of. Sometimes letting go and moving on just doesn't feel possible; no matter how much time you let pass you by.These poems signify what time hasn't healed for me.
8 120

