Labor Problems

Write a dialogue-only tale about teaching someone a lesson.
First place 01/12/09 in the 'Dialogue 500 contest'...Creativity Merit Badge awarded
Word count: 279



“You the new guy?”

"Yeah, I’m Eddie. The foreman says you’re going to teach me how to operate this machine.”

“Glad to meet you, Eddie…I’m Harry, but everybody calls me Lucky. Let’s get to it.”

“Why do they call you Lucky?”

“Oh, I suppose it’s because I train all the new guys and I’m still on the job after 23 years with all my fingers intact.”

“What’s this machine called, Lucky?”

“It’s a 10000P…series GYDF23HDT…10TON Press.”

“Yeah…what does it do?”

“Makes car doors, Eddie.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it. We make left-hand doors on Mondays and Tuesdays…right-hand doors on Wednesdays and Thursdays.”

“What do we make on Fridays, Lucky?”

“Nothing, we go to union meetings.”

“Sounds good…a piece of cake. What are all these colored buttons for, Lucky?”

“That red button right there in front of you…”

“That one?”

“Yeah, it stops the machine. The green button next to it; starts the machine. Push the green button, Eddie.”

“IT MAKES A LOT OF NOISE…I CAN’T HEAR MUCH OF ANYTHING ELSE.”

“YOU WILL GET USED DO IT, EDDIE. SEE THE BIG YELLOW BUTTON ABOVE THE GREEN AND RED BUTTONS. NEVER PUSH THAT BUTTON IF ANY PART OF YOUR BODY IS INSIDE THE MACHINE.”




“You the new guy?”

“Yes, I’m Timmy.”

“I’m Eddie…ready to get started, Timmy.”

“Sure…I guess so…I think I am.”

“Do you see all those pretty buttons, Timmy?”

“Yes…I see them.”

“See that big yellow one, Timmy?”

“Yes…above the green and red ones…right?”

“That’s the one. What ever you do…don’t push it until I give you permission.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

“Good! The red button is for…”

“Where are the restrooms, Eddie?”

“Behind the foreman’s office. Why?”

“I gotta pee.”



Winning entry in "Dialogue 500 Contest"