Reality dancing in the Coordinator’s Flame
“Some welders enjoy standing around, telling stories. A few corporate types like to suspend thought, light torches, and burn metal instead. Not to be outdone, a competitor’s opportunitator cut a giant, surplus flywheel, new and unused but obsolete, intended for a World War II army tank. This guy wears goggles designed for acetylene torches, not for electric arc welders. His arc cuts the flywheel with difficulty and drama, blinds half the audience, mostly low-level techs and bosses.”
Mia pauses and sips coffee, giving me a chance to speak. “Intense light doesn’t discriminate.” Even if my comment’s a bit obvious, Mia can at least see that I’m bright enough to perceive reality dancing in the coordinator’s flame.
Beyond my interruption, Mia doesn’t miss a beat. She keeps reading aloud:
“Blindness is only temporary. Eye damage is permanent. Thanks to workers comp, half-blinded workers receive free bifocals.”
“You know already, Mia–Staff infections take many forms. In the future, corporations should hire street people to perform destructive shows of success. With so many jobless people more experienced and competent than the suits, applicant pools should deepen.”