Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #386 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell

In Keith’s words.

“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put your offering (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before Sunday evening UK time. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here. Thank you for taking part.”

Here is a link to Keith’s post https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2022/11/14/kreative-kue-386/

The photo.

The Applicant by John W. Howell © 2022

“Hi, and welcome to the firm. My name is Lew, and I’m the HR director.”

“Very pleased to meet you, Mr. Lew. I’m John Wayfair.”

“Yes, John. I have your application in front of me. By the way, Lew is my first name.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Can I call you Lew?”

“Of course. Now let’s get down to business. You applied for a position in the marketing department.”

“Yes, yes, I have.”

“I see here you have published several books.”

“Yes, I’m an author, and a big part of the job is doing marketing.”

“I see. So you think these skills will traslate to our business?”

“I’m sure of it. ‘Marketing be marketing’ as we say.”

“Yes, quite. Tell me about the first person you killed?”

“Oh, you mean in my book.”

“Yes, in your book.”

“Well, not much to tell. The character was a lowlife, and the hero took him out.”

“Just like that?”

“Yup, just like that.”

“How about the first rape?”

“This is a little uncomfortable for me.”

“I’m sure it is. Do tell.”

“A real bad guy did that.”

“But you wrote it, right?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, then there was that adulterous affair between your characters.”

“Well, not to brag, but there were several.”

“I noticed you use a lot of profanity in your stories.”

“I just construct realistic dialogue.”

“You also seem to call on God to damn people a lot.”

“Pretty tough characters.”

“Heavy drinking and drug use.”

“Where is this all going, Lew?”

“An excellent question, John. I don’t think the marketing department is right for you. I think you will do better in a starting position.”

“What if I don’t agree?”

“You have no choice. With your background in sin, I think you should start in the furnace department. It’s the hottest place we have. And you will no longer call me Lew. Instead, you will address me as Lucifer. You are dismissed. Miss Harpy, send in the next candidate.”

“But it is all fiction.”

“So you say, John. Now get out.”

 

 

76 thoughts on “Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #386 by Keith Channing”

  2. Hells Bells Boss!

    Excellent build up going on here, fusing the image with your writing. I could feel impending doom but you kept it at arm’s length until Lucifer had no choice but to show the applicant the door, so to speak.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Oh my, what a great twist at the end. I was thinking hmmm… what you write is not supposed to be who you are but I guess in this case… Lew needs one with more imagination!

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Well played, John. “Tell me about the first person you killed,”—not a question I’d expect to hear in an interview. 🤣

    Liked by 1 person

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