The work below is by Casey Dexter as part of our MA Creative Writers takeover.
Who says a story needs to be read top to bottom? Read from the top to bottom, and then bottom to top (paragraph by paragraph) for two different stories
Today was my lucky day.
The time was approximately 9:55 am. There was a bit of brown on my white shirt. I rolled my sleeve back and sucked in my breath.
I bought a coffee from some fake French-sounding place around the corner after finding a two-pound coin on the ground. I took one sip and promptly spilled it.
Calm down, man.
Staring at my phone screen, I did some deep breathing that those wacko therapists always tell you to do. This was the biggest interview of my life. If I nailed this, I would finally have a job, a career, something to complain about at the pub! I could not mess this up.
Not happening, not today!
The interviewer said do not arrive late! If anything, arrive extra early. Being on time isn’t exactly my thing, but I really wanted to put the effort in for the new boss-man. I also had a date later that I was feeling pretty excited about. I texted her to confirm the time.
Confirmed! A double whammy! God was clearly on my side. When it rains it pours, I guess…
A huge bus drove past the end of my driveway, its tires ploughing through a puddle, sending a tsunami-like wave of muck towards me. I closed my eyes and waited for the spray.
I ran my hands over my shirt, my pockets– there was nothing on me!
Before I left, I went to fetch the newspaper and locked myself out of my house.
It wasn’t a problem. I did panic for a minute though, but I was able to figure it out. And hey, I still looked good!
I was told to wear a black suit and a white shirt and a red tie. An interesting combination in my opinion. I wasn’t entirely sure I had those exact clothes in my wardrobe.
Resume in hand, I thought about what this job would be like—if my manager and I would talk football between calls, if I’d be able to go home early on Fridays. I guess that was all on the table now. Man, I just knew the role was meant to be mine.
I stood there, just outside the front door. Wishing, waiting, praying.
I was feeling really good.
A Very Unlucky Day
I was feeling really good.
I stood there, just outside the front door. Wishing, waiting, praying.
Resume in hand, I thought about what this job would be like—if my manager and I would talk football between calls, if I’d be able to go home early on Fridays. I guess that was all on the table now. Man, I just knew the role was meant to be mine.
I was told to wear a black suit and a white shirt and a red tie. An interesting combination in my opinion. I wasn’t entirely sure I had those exact clothes in my wardrobe.
It wasn’t a problem. I did panic for a minute though, but I was able to figure it out. And hey, I still looked good!
Before I left, I went to fetch the newspaper and locked myself out of my house.
I ran my hands over my shirt, my pockets– there was nothing on me!
A huge bus drove past the end of my driveway, its tires ploughing through a puddle, sending a tsunami-like wave of muck towards me. I closed my eyes and waited for the spray.
Confirmed! A double whammy! God was clearly on my side. When it rains it pours, I guess…
The interviewer said do not arrive late! If anything, arrive extra early. Being on time isn’t exactly my thing, but I really wanted to put the effort in for the new boss-man. I also had a date later that I was feeling pretty excited about. I texted her to confirm the time.
Not happening, not today!
Staring at my phone screen, I did some deep breathing that those wacko therapists always tell you to do. This was the biggest interview of my life. If I nailed this, I would finally have a job, a career, something to complain about at the pub! I could not mess this up.
Calm down, man.
I bought a coffee from some fake French-sounding place around the corner after finding a two- pound coin on the ground. I took one sip and promptly spilled it.
The time was approximately 9:55am. There was a bit of brown on my white shirt. I rolled my sleeve back and sucked in my breath.
Today was my lucky day.
