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Hard Work Pays off in any Profession

Kristina England | Sayantan Halder

Brian wiped sweat from his brow. Another day in the desert.

He sat down and pulled out his water canister. After a hard slug, he put the canister down in the sand and scanned the horizon.

“Excuse me, sir, but may I be of assistance?”

Brian looked up at a short, pudgy man dressed in fatigues.

“Perhaps…”

“My name is Cutler,” the man said, reaching out his hand.

Brian stood up. He returned Cutler’s shake.

“So, what brings you out this far in the desert?”

“Well, you see, my army misplaced a drone.”

“Your army did…”

“Well, it may have been me… but that’s not the point. I’m here to collect it. That’s the point.”

“And how did you misplace it?”

“That’s not important.”

“Okay, so what makes you think it is here?”

“Well, I saw a short, pudgy man take it.”

Cutler smiled.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Give it back.”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“No!”

Brian shoved Cutler. Cutler shoved him back. They went on like this for hours, until both collapsed from heat stroke.

“Now give it back…” Brian panted.

“For the millionth time, I don’t have it.”

“You’re such a bad liar.”

“I’m not the one that lost the drone!”

“True.”

“Besides, you want my twin brother.”

“You don’t have a twin brother.”

“Yes, I do.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes, I do.”

And so they continued for what seemed like days.

Finally, Cutler got up and bid Brian farewell.

“I must be on my way.”

“Why?”

“I’ve got a drone to deliver to my boss.”

“Oh, okay then. I’ll catch up with you. I just need get a little shut eye,” Brian said, before nodding off under the midday sun.

Cutler laughed and shook his head.

“A man that falls asleep at the job will always fall asleep at the job.”


About Kristina England

Kristina England resides in Worcester, Massachusetts. Her writing is published or forthcoming at Crack the Spine, Extract(s), Gargoyle, The Hessler Street Fair Anthology, The Quotable, Yellow Mama, and other magazines. Find her on her blog.

Visit the author's page >


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