Neil Randall is delighted to announce that his new short story A Short Film About Dying has just been published by Middle Level Management Literary Journal. Described as Soyent Green for the Dignitas generation, the story, about an old man who has just come to the end of his useful working life, is set in a cold, uncaring, near-future society that, to all intents and purposes, is identical to the world we live in today. With retirement ages rising to point where our corpses will be expected to put in a solid eight-hour shift ad infinitum, and widespread uncertainty regarding the sustainability of pension funds, the expedient erasure of every citizen no longer able to work would be manna in heaven for the politicians and the money people.
Here’s the opening scene to whet your
appetite:
They said there was
nothing they could do for him. At eighty-five years old, R. had just completed
his useful working life cycle and must leave his post with immediate effect.
Legally, they could no longer let him continue with his administrative duties
at the Ministry.
“But
I’m in perfectly good health,” he had argued. “You need only look at the
results of my last medical.”
But
the Terminations Officer, a prim, upright, immaculately dressed young woman
with her hair scraped back into a neat bun, looked singularly
unimpressed.
“Granted,
your eyesight is exceptional for a functionary of your age, as are your blood
pressure and cholesterol levels. Heart rate is strong. You have had no
significant health problems throughout your useful working life cycle. Nor is
there any history of serious illness in your family. Functionaries ten or even
twenty years your junior would be delighted to have results like yours.
Unfortunately, we have restrictions in place to serve the wider populace.”
“But
I’m simply not in a financial position to retire.”
“You
need some assistance?” Her nostrils twitched, as if she had caught the scent of
something unpleasant. She tapped a few keys on her computer keyboard. “But from
the looks of your employment history, you’ve only been with the Ministry for
fourteen years. Not nearly long enough to be eligible for a pension. More to
the point, your early records are incomplete. For instance, what were you doing
between the years of 2018 and 2043?”
“I
dedicated my early years to the arts.”
“The
what?”
“I
didn’t go down a traditional career path. I travelled a lot, never staying in
one place for too long.”
“I’m
not sure I quite understand. But with these gaping holes in your records and
insufficient state contributions to receive even a small monthly stipend from
the government, you’re in an unenviable position.”
“But
couldn’t you make an exception?”
She
shook her head. “Out of the question. As far as the Terminations Department is
concerned, there really is nothing else I can do for you. You can no longer
legally work in any capacity. Your final salary has been paid up in full and
your records amended accordingly.
“If
you wish to apply for financial assistance, you’ll have to visit the Appeals
Department. I doubt they’ll be able to help you, but they’ll be much better
briefed than I am regarding your options.”
“And
where is that? In this building?”
“Of
course. Floor 201. You can take the elevator from just along the corridor.” She
attempted to smile, but it quickly collapsed into an uncomfortable grimace.
“Before you leave, would you care to rate our interaction today?”
“Rate?”
“Yes.
On a scale of one to ten, how satisfied have you been with the service I
provided?”
“Service?
I just came here to see where I stood in regards to keeping my job.”
“Affirmative.
And did you receive the correct and most up-to-date information?”
“Yes,
I suppose I did.”
“Therefore,
you would rate the interaction as a ten?”
“A
ten?”
“Thank
you so much for your participation in the survey. Your score of ten has been
added to my Personal Achievement file. Have a nice day.”
If you like what you’ve read so far, you
can read the story in its entirety on the Middle Level Management website.
And if you like the story, why not check
out some of my other published work here.
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