James the Average
James slows down and comes to a stop in front of a slate gray office building. He locks up his old black road bicycle and walks up to the front door. He tucks in his pale blue polo before walking inside.
No real distinguishing features stuck out about the office except a reception desk and one motivational poster that was way too small to read. James thought the aesthetics best compared to an unsalted Saltine cracker. The receptionist notices his lost demeanor.
"You must be James?"
"Yeah... Uh yes."
"Go ahead, Arthur should be waiting for you."
James walks into the manager's office and looks around. The style was the exact same as the main area. There was even the same motivational poster but it was somehow much smaller.
"Hello, son, go ahead and take a seat."
James sits.
"Great! Just great. Your vast knowledge of Indian culture is very impressive. The columns you sent were fantastic. Just fantastic!"
"Thank you, sir. I'm actually very proud of this. I like to think that I capture the characteristics of the ancient deities in my work. I'm sure you read the section on Shiva, the great Yogi? I think explaining the origins of yoga could really connect with your readers and help give cultural connotations to a practice that is now commonplace in western society. In my opinion, connecting the body and mind through such a practice can not only have cultural significance, but can lead to better mental health as well."
James waits for a response but notices that Arthur's eyes are fixated on something atop his desk.
"Sir?"
"What?... Oh yes!" Arthur speaks as though he's just been awoken from a short yet refreshing nap, his eyes snapping back to meet James's
"I'm very sorry, James, but we just can't find a place for your stories here. Our readers are looking for something a bit more energetic."
"But you just said that they were fantas..."
Arthur loudly and rudely interrupts poor James.
"I'm very sorry, James, but I have another meeting that I need to get to. Good luck, I'm sure you'll find something out there!"
"Well, that was a disaster," James very correctly thinks to himself. "I think it's time I take things into my own hands."
Well, that is quite the leap don't you think, James?
"I thought you were on my side? Also, how can you talk to me? Aren't you just the narrator?" James ignorantly and stupidly thinks inside his huge, empty head.
"Hey... that was just mean. Everyone I meet seems to be against me. I'll start publishing my own stories and show everyone my true talent! "
So James sets off on his journey to fulfill his dream of being self-employed. By trying to draw from the many many many many many failures of his own life, James plans on somehow making it big in an already very well established and competitive industry.
