As I opened my eyes, I groaned. It was just after six in the morning, and I knew that nobody else would be up yet except for maybe the landlord. She typically got up earlier than all of us, since our shifts didn’t really start until ten. But today was different. I had candidates to interview for a position.
I rolled out of the cot and stretched, crossing the room towards my bathroom. I washed and dressed, going back into my bedroom to stand next to my clock. Which, I should clarify, would be a pocket watch to normal people.
Today was also, by some weird coincidence, the anniversary of my taking the job I currently had. One year ago, I had been let go by the company that I had devoted nearly thirty years to. It had come right out of nowhere, and the shock was compounded when I got home to find my wife in bed with our neighbor. After the argument that followed, in which she had told me she wanted a divorce, I left our home and walked, trying to clear my head. I had stopped at a diner, and sat at the counter, drinking bad coffee and trying to figure out what to do next. I was 50 years old, and had a daughter, Vanessa, in college. It wasn’t going to be easy trying to find a job at my age, even if I was in good shape and looked ten years younger than I was.
It was then that I met Joy. She was the owner of the diner, and she finally sat down and asked me what was wrong. I told her about my day and how I had nowhere to go.
She felt sorry for me, and told me I could stay there in a booth for the night. She got up to head back to the kitchen and stopped, turning back. “I may have a job for you,” she said, with a slight smile. “It will not be easy work, and if you take the job, your entire life is going to change forever.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of that at the time, but I didn’t really think about it for very long. “What kind of job are we talking about?”
She came back to where I was sitting and held her hand out to me. “Follow me,” she said, and she led me across the diner to a large square box.
I hadn’t noticed the box when I had come in, but looking at it now I was impressed by its design. It was sleek and shiny, with a clear glass top that looked in on a turntable for playing CD’s. Off to the side, there were two round platforms, attached to a pulley system, as well as a miniature table and chairs in a far corner. It was here that my eyes remained, seeing a group of tiny people sitting there. They looked up and waved at Joy, greeting her happily.
I took a step back. “What in the heck is that?”
She stepped back beside me. “They are people, and they would be your co-workers if you take the job.” She placed her hand on the top of the machine. “This is the Jukeotron: a very special kind of jukebox, but it needs workers to run it. I unfortunately am in need of a manager inside: someone who can keep things running smoothly.” She took my hand in hers. “The way it sounds to me, you managed a whole crew at your old job. This should be simple for you. They will do what you tell them if they know you are my choice for new manager. They don’t want to upset me.”
I was shook up by the thoughts that went through my head at her words. “Well, won’t it be hard to manage them from out here?”
She giggled. “That’s why you will have to be in there silly.”
I was speechless at that, as she led me back to the booth. She sat down and motioned me to sit down across from her. “It’s simple really. If you agree to work for me, you will be given quarters inside the Jukeotron. Free room and board, plus $1,500 a week, to a beneficiary of your choice.” She smiled. “I would guess that said beneficiary would be your daughter. However, I have no way to reverse the shrinking. Once you shrink, you stay that way for the rest of your life. Leaving is not recommended, but allowed, so long as you have a grown surrogate to take care of you when you are outside of the Jukeotron.” She made to stand up. “I do not blame you if you are not interested. It’s not a job for…”
“I’ll do it,” I had said. I had barely needed to think about it. My daughter would be able to use the money I made for her schooling as well as whatever life would throw at her. “What do I need to do?”
What followed was something I would never forget. She had led me into a back room where she had handed me a glass of an emerald colored liquid. “Are you sure this is what you want?” she asked me. “Once it is done, it can’t be undone.”
I nodded and drank.
I wish I could remember all that had happened after that. My life is blank for a few hours after that. I just remember waking up the next morning on Joy’s nightstand, at my new height of two inches tall. She smiled at me as she helped me pick out some clothes from a vast selection before taking me to the Jukeotron and introducing me to my new work crew.
I shook the memories away, and combed my hair. I left my room and climbed the staircase up to the work floor. Once there I continued up to the glass ceiling, where Joy stood watching. “Looking dapper today, aren’t we?” she said with a smile, as she unlocked the cover of the machine so I could climb out. I crawled up on her hand as she locked the cover again. “The candidate has been sitting in that booth for the last twenty minutes,” she said, turning towards the lone occupied table in the diner. “I told him you’d be along soon. Are you ready to go over there?”
I nodded as she carried me over, setting me on the table. “I’ll get you both some coffee.”
Nick had been directly under me at the company, and had ascended to my job after my termination. If he was here for an interview, my guess was he had also been let go.
“I can’t get over how small you are,” Nick said, looking me up and down. “How’s the family?”
I laughed, and sat down on a wrapped roll of silverware. “Vanessa is coming in for breakfast before she heads to her morning classes. We like to do that at least once a week.”
He chuckled. “It’s great that you guys still get along. I’m sure when she first found out she was pretty shocked.”
“You can say that again,” I said, thinking back to when she had first seen me at my new diminished stature. “She was pretty shook up, but she got used to it after a while. Our life isn’t normal, but I think we are closer now than we ever were before.” I cleared my throat. “So, I’m sure Joy has filled you in on some of the details of what we are looking for. We need someone to replace Old Jake.”
Old Jake had been crushed by a disk two days ago. It had shaken all of us up (Joy, who cared for all of us deeply, had taken it the hardest.), but life went on. Seeing as we were short-handed, I had pitched in with the lifting. It took four of us to carry the disks from platform to turntable, and we were barely getting by.
Nick straightened. “I’m willing to do the work,” he said with a boyish grin, reminding me just how young he still was. He was barely 30, with a wife and child at home. I liked him and knew he would be a great asset to us, but I couldn’t give him this job.
“Nick,” I said, pausing while Joy served us coffee, mine in a miniscule mug, “This job is great, but you would be leaving your family. You have a son who needs you.”
“I need a job, Chief,” he replied, purposely using my old company nickname. “I told them about the whole thing. My wife didn’t like it, but she understands. It’s good money that they can do a lot with.”
I stood and walked across the table, placing my hand on his finger. “Nick, your family should come first. Your wife still loves you, unlike mine. Your son is still a baby, unlike my daughter.” I shrugged slightly. “I have maybe twenty good years of life left in me, you have twice that.”
He wiped his eyes with a sigh. “So, it’s a ‘no’ on the job?”
I smiled. “Tell you what: Go home and make love to your wife. If you think you can go without that, you come back here and we’ll talk.”
He laughed and sat back, silent for a moment. “Do you ever miss a woman’s touch?”
I laughed as well. “Let’s just say that Joy takes really good care of us,” I replied with a wink. “We all look forward to our evenings with her.”
He smiled at that and stood up, extending a finger. “I know it’s hard to shake my hand at your size, but maybe my finger will do?”
I shook the offered finger. “Be sure to keep in touch, Nick. I’d love to hear how the job search turns out.”
He nodded as he stood up. “I’ll swing by in a couple of weeks and let you know how it is going.” He waved farewell as he left.
Joy came over and sat down where he had been sitting, placing some large papers in front of me. “Was he not the person for the job?”
I pondered it for a moment. “He would work well, but he wouldn’t be happy here.” I looked up at her bright blue eyes and smiled. “He would never feel fulfilled with us, at least not at this time.”
She smiled. “Easy tiger. I know tonight is our night, but you don’t need to get excited yet; you have a full day of work ahead, as well as two more interviews later.” She stood up, looking at the clock. “Vanessa should be here soon. The usual?”
“Yeah,” I replied with a smile, as I started to peruse the applications in front of me. “Send her over when she gets here.” I read through the applications, smiling to myself. It had taken me some time to find my purpose in life, but I was happier now than I’d ever been. And I knew that one of these applicants would work out; they would feel fulfilled.
We all are just pieces in a machine; we all have a part to play.