23 Comments
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Joe's avatar

That was a good laugh.

Karma for the win!

I have noticed that the guys I work with who at one point were caught up in the system, are afraid of management, as they don't wish to chance going through the process again.

Without hope, it's a pretty dark world.

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

I’ve been afraid of management at a few jobs and relationships

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Patris's avatar

With good reason imo

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

Yeah, I’ve had great bosses at family owned bars and restaurants and then a few years of corporate nonsense

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Patris's avatar

I understand that - completely

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Paul R's avatar

What a poignant story. You can try and pull yourself up by your own boot straps, but they just snap, and you’re still on the ground and now you need new boot straps. Great.

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

Thanks Paul! I’ve been distracted by my novel and other life happenings so today I really had to work to get in the groove. Super happy you like it.

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lou J's avatar

That’s how it had to end. Perfect. But inLoVED the whisper of hint that he was getting addicted to winning things, stealing life by a QnR code. A least for a moment.

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

I love that you picked up on that part.

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lou J's avatar

For a very short while I used to buy lotto tickets when I was depressed, always the same place, checking results and buying tickets while my car filled w gas (shitty hour-long commute meant ALL disposable income went to fuel). One fine day the machine told me I had a winning ticket and, because I didn’t want to get scammed, I drove with far too much adrenaline in my system, tearing the fuel hose from the fueling station, dragging it down the road. Took a long while to notice. Honest guy I am, I drove back to confess what I had done, wondering if the station would be in flames. All was fine. Turns out there’s a safety valve,,was told “that happens all the time,” and found out my grand prize was a free ticket to the next lottery. Didn’t claim it and never bought a ticket again.

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

Driving away with the hose still in is a strange fear of mine. I’m hyper diligent about it. That had to be really scary

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lou J's avatar

It was it was. And then hilarious.

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lou J's avatar

As I think it through, it’s a nice tidy JimmyDoom

Story.

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Patris's avatar

I started a comment on this story but typical day I got pulled elsewhere.

Been thinking of it and the attempts we all make to keep a linear path (at least sometimes) to some goal and invariably discover that life, being arbitrary, continues to reward and punishes us regardless. Why little joys are to be valued, gripped as long as we are able.. to hopefully later make us laugh and wonder at the audacity to believe in any one road to understanding..

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

So interesting that your day mirrored the story. I love that. That’s been my life.

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Jim Cummings's avatar

I came away with a lot of hope for Larrold--like he's figuring out how stuff works and trying to make something of himself. He may be a little cynical but that's ok as long as he can recognize the possibilities. Really good, Jimmy.

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

Thanks Jim. Thanks for caring about the characters. That always makes me smile.

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Rian Greeff's avatar

It's tough out there, but you've got to start somewhere. I hope he takes that advanced course and gets the job. As for Alex, he's not ready yet, the certificate wouldn't have helped him anyway. Maybe one day.

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

I love when characters are spoken about in terms of hope

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Patty Mallett's avatar

Nice.

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audrey wells's avatar

man, i was right there.

thanks, and good stuff, jimmy!

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Jimmy Doom's avatar

Thanks! I try to make em visceral and breathing

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audrey wells's avatar

nailed it!

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