Arthur, the world’s most disorganised man, was late again. He sat opposite his manager in her office at 9.05am. Brenda glared, close to the edge.
“Arthur, your timekeeping is atrocious.”
“Yes but what happened was…”
She waved him silent. “I’ve heard every single excuse! Your alarm didn’t go off. Your car wouldn’t start. Your neighbour’s car wouldn’t start. Someone was following you and you had to take a longer route to work. They get more and more ridiculous and I’m fed up with them. We’ve had this discussion several times. You start at nine. Get up earlier and be here for nine.
Arthur melted into his chair until his body could hunch no more.
“This is your last chance. One more episode of lateness and you’re out!”
Brenda was right. The excuses were cover-ups for a lack of discipline. Arthur left work that day, vowing to make immediate improvements. His alarm was set, his clothes and packed lunch all prepared that night.
8.50am the following morning. There was no way Arthur would make it through the standstill of traffic; all drivers gaping in disbelief at the gigantic saucer-shaped craft hovering above them, and the bug-like creature standing in its doorway, preparing to greet the people of Earth.
“Arthur, your timekeeping is atrocious.”
“Yes but what happened was…”
She waved him silent. “I’ve heard every single excuse! Your alarm didn’t go off. Your car wouldn’t start. Your neighbour’s car wouldn’t start. Someone was following you and you had to take a longer route to work. They get more and more ridiculous and I’m fed up with them. We’ve had this discussion several times. You start at nine. Get up earlier and be here for nine.
Arthur melted into his chair until his body could hunch no more.
“This is your last chance. One more episode of lateness and you’re out!”
Brenda was right. The excuses were cover-ups for a lack of discipline. Arthur left work that day, vowing to make immediate improvements. His alarm was set, his clothes and packed lunch all prepared that night.
8.50am the following morning. There was no way Arthur would make it through the standstill of traffic; all drivers gaping in disbelief at the gigantic saucer-shaped craft hovering above them, and the bug-like creature standing in its doorway, preparing to greet the people of Earth.
