Situations Vacant

story forty-six · figures 136–138

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SITUATIONS VACANT · THE BOARD, AND THE NUMBERS IT PUBLISHES SEPARATELY — views and applications published separately · residents are asked not to draw conclusions from the difference SITUATIONS VACANT · THE BOARD, AND THE NUMBERS IT PUBLISHES SEPARATELY views and applications published separately · residents are asked not to draw conclusions from the difference POSITION VIEWED APPLIED THE POSTING NIGHT COUNTER · THE RESERVE 611 44 counting what is there · not counting what is not · own torch GULL MANAGEMENT · THE CROSSING 302 2 presence discourages · bread encourages · NO BREAD SITTING · NEW ARRIVALS’ HALL 4,102 0 the children are fine · they ask what the queue is for and are told, and ask again the following week PREVIOUS HOLDER’S DUTIES, UNFILLED 44 44 the previous holder’s ticket remains valid AND IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION OFF-PEAK COVER · A CAFÉ 977 12 human required for the quiet hours · warmth to standard · IMPROVISATION IS NOT · shortlisting by the resident companions FORM-WRITER, SECOND PERSON IMPLIED 1,340 not disc. you will not sign; THE FORM WILL · the previous holder left no forwarding address CONTINUATION VISITOR · ROOM NINE 2,006 31 references from the family · THE DEAD DO NOT INTERVIEW READER · CORRECTIONS 415 3 a seat has been vacated · applicants must not recognize themselves in the material SOMEONE TO SIT WITH MY MOTHER 61 0 nine years · I will pay what I can, WHICH IS NOT THE RATE · I know this is not the right place to put this NIGHT WATCH · THE HILL APPROACH 88 1 presence only · no duties · DO NOT CLIMB · the field is empty DELIVERY · LAST DOORS 1,204 77 knock once · wait the full minute · leave it leaning · some doors take the minute · KINDLY ALLOW IT WANTED: NO ONE, AT PRESENT — 1 the space is held · your application is on file FROM BEFORE THE SPACE EXISTED, and remains excellent FOUR THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND TWO VIEWS. NO APPLICATIONS. THE CHILDREN ARE FINE. And the sitter stays the extra hour where the queue runs long, and the hour is not payable — printed inside an advertisement. THE CRUELEST NUMBER IN THE BOOK IS A ZERO BESIDE A DECENT JOB AT A FAIR RATE.
136 · Situations Vacant
SITUATIONS VACANT · THE BOARD IS ALSO READING YOU — five italic lines break into the listings · none of them is a job SITUATIONS VACANT · THE BOARD IS ALSO READING YOU five italic lines break into the listings · none of them is a job you have been reading for eleven minutes placed after the sixth posting · the board has been timing the reader based on your viewing: sitting · counting · the hill it has built a profile out of what you lingered on others who lingered here applied for: cover and it is telling you what people like you do next a position you viewed has been filled · filled four minutes ago relief visitor, continuation · the loss is reported to the second you have been here before · your position in the sequence is retained YOU HAVE A POSITION HERE ALREADY, AND IT IS NOT A JOB A JOB BOARD THAT PUBLISHES VIEWS AND APPLICATIONS SEPARATELY IS ALSO PUBLISHING YOUR OWN VIEWING BACK AT YOU. The five italic lines are the only voice on the page that is not a posting — and it is the only one addressed to a single reader. THE BOARD REFRESHES AT SIX. YOU MAY WAIT.
137 · Situations Vacant
SITUATIONS VACANT · WANTED: NO ONE, AT PRESENT — the last posting on the board · no views recorded · one application SITUATIONS VACANT · WANTED: NO ONE, AT PRESENT the last posting on the board · no views recorded · one application WANTED: NO ONE, AT PRESENT The space is held. Your application is on file from before the space existed, and remains excellent. viewed — · applications 1 what is being advertised nothing · there is no post and the notice says so what is held a space · the same word the leaflet uses: a place is held for you here who applied one · and the application predates the space what that makes the applicant a tenant of a vacancy · pending is a room and the assessment EXCELLENT · which is the only appraisal anyone receives in sixty stories THE CITY HAS FOUND A WAY TO HOLD A PLACE FOR SOMEBODY IN A JOB THAT DOES NOT EXIST, and to rate their application excellent, and to publish neither the views nor the outcome. It is the leaflet’s promise, the verification room’s verdict and the refund window’s logic, all in four lines. ONE APPLICATION. FROM BEFORE THE SPACE EXISTED.
138 · Situations Vacant

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