Dead Work

Ok, so Luke inspired me to finish chpt 1 and put it up, hopefully with the view that it will push me to finish more. Comments and critism most welcome.


Its 2014, the world financial crisis has gone beyond crisis and the Depression into Super-crisis. Countries have retreated behind their borders to look after their own and food stamps and rationing is imminent. McDonalds still holds out as a provider of low cost food, but most multi-national corporations have faded in to giant empty office blocks, testament to greed and “good times” that may or may not return. Zac is a young man who wanted to be an accountant like his accountant parents, but in a world with no money, what’s a budding accountant to do?

Chpt1.
It was possibly the plainest office you could imagine, with every skerrick of personality sucked out of it like it had been designed by Ikea 20 years ago. No, 30 years ago. Zac sighed to himself quietly as his potential new boss John looked over his amazingly short resume again. There was only so much you could pad out a resume when you're 18 and Zac hadn’t felt like he could add anything more. Being the employee of the month at McDonalds looked like a pitiful best achievement and he knew it.

“Best employee at Maccas eh?”

Groan. Zac nodded, unable to put into words the “i’m 18 and iv studied full time up until now and id rather be at university, but im a solid realible guy!” he wanted to say. Plus, Uni was for people with money.

“This doesn’t seem like a people job, but if and when you meet the deceased’s family that would come in handy. Nothing like the harsh reality of McDonalds clientele to ready you for emotional storms.”

Zac blinked. McDonalds. A good thing. Right.

There were a whole list of words he’d have to get used to if he got the job, like it wasn’t a body or a corpse, it was the deceased. People were bereaved, you mourned, and it wasn’t even a funeral in most cases, it was a celebration of somebody’s life. None of this occurred to Zac when his parents explained to him that “food on the table” was the aim now that the planet had finally gone bust and a full third of people in America had lost their jobs by 2012. By 2014 people realised that the financial system of the world was beyond repair and the World Bank, out of money and ideas, disbanded.
Both his parents had lost their jobs, his mum a few years ago and his dad just a few weeks ago. Food on the table was becoming more of an imperative.

“You put here under hobbies reading and hiking. Anything else?”

“Not...really.” Zac replied.

“Books... what sort of books?” John was squinting at him, trying to deduce something from his face.

“Uh, anything really. Comics, novels, autobiographies. Anything the local library still has worth reading.”

“Sci-fi? Horror? Fantasy...?” John left those hanging in the air like something nasty or wrong.
Sensing John’s feelings towards the area Zac couldn’t help moderating his answer. He needed the job’ even if he didn’t particularly want it.

“Well, anything really...im not partial to it. Infact, i can’t remember the last time i read something like that.” Lord of the Rings, waiting for the bus to the interview. 15 minutes ago.

“Good....good.” John visibly relaxed, as if one of his bigger fears had just be dispelled. “Just checking, no reason.”

Great, the guy had weird tendancies about books . What other personality glitches were waiting to be unveiled .. . hell, the guy dug graves for a living. Would he end up like that after a few years? Maybe weeks...

Putting his hands together on the table, John sat forward, his face becoming even more sober. This was it.

“What....what made you choose this line of work?” He stared intently into Zac's eyes with that suspicious-of-everything-young look that only people over the age of 60 can manage

“Um...well. There isn’t anything else is there?” It was out before he’d even thought it through. Why did people clean toilets for Christ sake? They needed cleaning and somebody paid that person to do it. Nuff said. Pay e-check in your e-mail. Food on the table. Then the horrible honesty of the statement hit home and Zac’s pale face got paler. “And, and im interested in...”

Zac faded out. He knew hed blown it, what a stupid thing to say. And now he just wanted to get out of there.

“Hah! Good, you’ll do. You start Monday, lots to teach, but not much to it. 3 days and 2 nights a week.”

Zac’s head spun. “I...”

John: ”Hired. As long as your not one of those nut jobs, Goths, Emo –revivalists or death-junkies your hired.”

Zac: “ Um, great! I mean, im not..any of those things. Great! Thanks.”

Zac was now an apprentice grave digger. Food on the table...