Sunday, April 7, 2013

Rectangular Prison


Fernando sits at his computer one evening. A beaten-up blue sedan pulls up in front of the store and a man who looks to be in his mid-20s clambers out, one whom Fernando has never seen before. Lots of those have been visiting the Dominion lately. He holds in his hands one of Fernando's slim cases, bright yellow and visible from space. He crosses the short distance to the drop box and Fernando hears the familiar klek-klik of the Dominion's Guardian Flap being lifted up.
The man seems to experience some difficulties, however. He can't seem to get the case through. Fernando watches through his office windows as the man's face transitions from bemusement to confusion to seething ire. This is high entertainment, something which one could doubtlessly exploit to make millions of dollars, even though Fernando's savvy allowed him to reason out the drama's entire plot the instant the curtain rose.
After about ten seconds of trying and failing to fit the case through the drop-hole, the young man remembers that there exists an interior to the Dominion where he may deposit his film. The chimes above the door jingle and he strides up to the counter.
He slams the case down upon the glass countertop. His eyes are baggy and rimmed with red. Fernando absolutely does not make any internal judgment calls about people who should sleep more and smoke pot less. “Man, why do you have a drop box if these things won't fit through it?”
Your orientation was off by ninety degrees.”
Heh?”
Fernando takes up the yellow case and grips it in midair by one edge, so that the case's longer edge is in his visitor's line of sight. “This is how you were trying to do it.” Fernando thrusts the case a short way towards the man for emphasis.
Fernando now rotates the case so the shorter edge faces the man. “This is how it should have been done.” Fernando pushes it forward again, but this time releases his hold. Gravity performs its usual deeds, and the case tumbles to land on the countertop.
The man's mouth hangs open. He closes it and then leaves.

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