larry had a job in a downtown office building.
working for the modus operandi 66 corporation, which occupied 85% of the 125th floor of the building, which had 189 floors - the 23rd tallest building in the city.
he reported to it four or five days a week, and had done so for somewhere between five and fifteen years.
larry was not good at math.
he had a desk - actually a chair and a small table with a screen on it - assigned to him.
the small table had his number - 7653208764 - on it, and he tapped his id card on the table every morning - and occasional night - that he reported for work.
then he got to work.
he was allowed to bring one beverage, not more than 12 ounces, and a single donut or pastry not more than 250 calories, to the table.
he worked for three and a half hours, got a forty-five minute break, and could bring back with him another beverage of not more than 12 ounces and another donut or pastry of not more than 250 calories, then he worked for another three and a half hours, and was then free to go.
there were eighty-seven other tables like larry’s in modus operandi’s space on the floor, of which about sixty were occupied at any time of the day or night.
there were no windows.
the tables were spaced about eight feet apart in every direction.
the occupants were not prohibited from talking to each other while they worked, but few did.
larry rarely spoke to his his fellow workers.either at his work table or at the building cafeteria on the 130th floor.
after the five to fifteen years he had worked there. larry still did not know what the job was or what he was doing at it.
he was just glad to have the job.
