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Colleen Bent's avatar

Lol, the final line about going back to work--that was rich! It started out with a bang in the waiting room ...'as if they had already died and their souls were waiting to be collected from the station.' I laughed out loud. What is normally a touchy subject for some people--this was handled with humor. Loved it. You are my 252nd bedtime story in this story circle :)

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Suswati Basu's avatar

Omg thank you so much for reading this, I can't believe you got around to it! And I'm glad this made you chuckle.

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Colleen Bent's avatar

You know, when I asked for bedtime stories, I had no idea what a wonderful response I would get--hundreds! It's amazing. I started at the beginning of the list and have been reading in order...usually about two hours/night. And I am having so much fun reading all the different works. I am about a month behind now there were so many, I think you sent your work April 21 lol

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Suswati Basu's avatar

I did! That's why it was such a kind and lovely surprise that you took the time to read this. I saw you were inundated!

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Colleen Bent's avatar

It's been great. I could not be happier. :)

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Christopher Sworen's avatar

That's a horrifying vision of where, I think, we're ultimately heading. The scary part isn't even so much people wanting to die as how others can be so cheerful about the whole process while trying to squeeze the remaining juice out of a person before they pass away. But then again, reality is just a collective reflection of our inner lives, after all.

Loved the attention to detail, too. Thanks for posting this!

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Suswati Basu's avatar

Thank you so much, and you're absolutely right about reality. Unfortunately this was very much formed on the basis of current UK government policies and the way it's heading! That's definitely the scary part.

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Nichole M Willden's avatar

Excellent!!! And terrifying, obviously. “Return to work” made me want to strangle something. Great work!

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Suswati Basu's avatar

Thank you Nichole! Unfortunately, this is the actual tone of some workers!

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Happy Nielsen's avatar

This was awful and wonderful and terrible and beautiful. I am depressed but I want more <3 hahah

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Suswati Basu's avatar

Haha, I felt like that with some dystopian fiction too, (probably praying for some kind of miracle!) But glad you liked it!

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Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

This was a fun read. God I despised that lady. Why do we stress our humanity but still go around acting like robots at times. Reminds me of how much the funeral home scalped us just to have a proper send off for my grandpa, I can’t even imagine how hard it is if one doesn’t have the ability to do so. But also just the ending line leaves a sour taste in my mouth. They’d work us to death if possible.

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Suswati Basu's avatar

Ugh I'm so sorry you had to go through that, but I honestly believe this is how some people behave now - no humanity.

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Edward.Marlo.Ruiz's avatar

It’s so odd. Glad I could finally read this though, it was fantastic.

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greek salad's avatar

Nice Suswatu!

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Moereezaa’s spot's avatar

Ooh, I love this story. Am subscribing immediately.

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Suswati Basu's avatar

Thanks so much! You can tell I was in a mood after the government announcement last week.

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FranB's avatar

Not sure this qualifies as science fiction given where we are headed!

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Suswati Basu's avatar

Absolutely, everything is becoming reality these days.

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FranB's avatar

And usually not in a good way!

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Suswati Basu's avatar

Definitely not. I wish chocolate clouds were a real thing, but instead we get this.

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Nancy Waddell's avatar

Sad but coming true it seems —wonderful writing Suswati!

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Suswati Basu's avatar

Thank you so much, Nancy!

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Olivia's avatar

Gosh - close to the bone but excellent!

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Suswati Basu's avatar

Thank you Olivia, I was feeling a lot this week!

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Melbourne Snap (Sam Shedden)'s avatar

Grim but very on the nose. Great piece

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Suswati Basu's avatar

Thank you Sam! Good old Labour, eh?

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Suswati Basu's avatar

Thank you for reading. It's definitely inspired by reality

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