From:  Colleen Jordan  

Date:  Sat Aug 17, 2002  4:50 am

Subject:  Broots Challenge response

 

My first attempt at writing for Broots.  Here it goes, Colleen

 

 

A Day in the Life

 

 

Broots sat at his computer typing the appropriate codes to access the mainframe. He was angry to be called in on a Saturday. He had wanted to spend the weekend with Debbie, but Raines had sent Lyle to tell him that he would be working all weekend if need to. He wanted the cookies of all the executive files deleted and the computers reformatted and defragmented.

 

He had spent the first part of the morning writing a program to help cut down the time his task would take, when suddenly his computer went crazy. “What is going on with this stupid thing?” Broots hit the side of the monitor.

 

The screen went completely blank and then a picture of Jarod came on. “Today I will illustrate the consequences of constantly berating me.” A picture of a hamster running in a wheel showed on the screen. “I will know violate your personal space. Have a nice Monday.”

 

With that the screen went black and information came flying onto the screen and was eaten by......... Broots looked once, then twice. A giant yellow Pac-Man. “He has some sense of humor.” Broots said to himself when he realized that Jarod had meant for everyone at the Centre to see this. He must have activated a delayed program when he started his computer.

 

Broots watched as bits of information and photos got eaten by the Pac-Man:

 

The first up - A picture of Mr. Lyle completely naked with nothing more than a cowboy hat over his......... (Broots closed his eyes when this came on)

 

Part of a memo detailing how the cafeteria had failed inspection and how the Centre had paid the inspector off to get a clean bill of health. Mental note to self - pack a lunch on Monday.

 

The words - I’ll be back. Broots looked around, even though he knew he was alone. He had been watching the DVD version of the Terminator on his computer the other afternoon.

 

Termination orders for Mr. Raines to carry out on Catherine Parker after the birth of Ethan. Broots’ eyes grew wide. It was signed by Mr. Parker. He would have to tell Miss Parker.

 

A second termination order for Mr. Cox, upon Jarod’s return to the Centre, on Sydney. And order for Broots and the Sweeper teams to be re-educated and reassigned to the Centre research facility in Iceland. Miss Parker would be re-educated and established as a Centre operative using her Pretender skills.

 

The itinerary for a party at Mr. Cox’s. Greet Guests, serve cocktails, serve dinner, party games, idle chatter, and dismissal. Broots was glad he didn’t have to attend that party. “Hope he doesn’t assist anyone is washing their hands.” Broots rubbed the hand that Cox had burned.

 

A DNA file on Parker, Boy. Mother Brigitte Parker, father......... Broots could not read it before the Pac-Man at the father’s name. “Wonder what they’re doing with that little guy.”

 

A satellite feed surveying various sites where Jarod had been.

 

A picture of Mr. Raines doing the horizontal mambo with his massage therapist. (Now there was something Broots would have to pluck his eyeballs out for)

 

“Thank you Jarod.” Broots said with disgust. He turned off his computer and decided no amount of salary was worth seeing what he just saw. He picked up his backpack, went out the door and went home to spend time with his daughter. The only sane thing in his life.

 

FIN