This piece was first published in The Auckland Shorts over at Three Lamps Journal.
An object lesson in why you should always read the terms and conditions before clicking accept
Word Count: 100
He’s sweating. That’s nothing new – they always sweat. He looks up, fear naked on his face, so I smile beatifically.
“Take your time. I understand, it’s a dense document.”
His eyes flick down at the papers.
“R-Really?”
“Absolutely. As much as you need.”
His breath eases as he returns to reading.
“You don’t mind if I step out?”
He flinches when I speak.
“Devil makes work for idle hands and all that.”
“That’s, um, fine,” he says.
“Appreciated.”
The door clicks shut behind me. It’s a perfect system – condemned souls spend hellish eternity poring over the contract, looking for loopholes.
Image Credit:
Master Wen