Credit: Larisa Vorkova/iStockphoto

At work the next day, Richard rushes over to my cube. He has a twitch in one eye and he talks in a whisper. "Lewis, what do you know about the layoff?"

I bolt upright in my chair. "Eh?"

"I overheard Mr. Jones this morning. It looks like the company's laying off half of us."

"What the hell... are you sure?"

His eye twitches again. "I heard him. I hope it's not me, I got plenty of money problems already."

I stare at him and wipe the sudden perspiration from my brow. My phone rings. Jones. "Get in here now, Lewis."

I plod over to his office, my feet slow to move.

"Yes, Mr. Jones, what's up?"

"I've got some bad news for you. You're being let go, effective today."

I'm stunned. "But sir, I'm one of your best employees."

"It doesn't matter, the company's cutting costs everywhere."

"Does this have to do with my operation next week?" That sort of discrimination is outlawed, but how could I prove it?

Jones glares at me. "I can't say. Just pack up your stuff and be out of here by noon. You'll get two week's pay credited on your C-card."

"But, Mr. Jones, please reconsider." His icy stare tells me it's all over.

In the evening, with a couple of beers in me, I visit my girlfriend's condo-box. When I tell her about my day, Susan's not sympathetic. She gives me a pensive look. "I looked up your financials the other day. You're low on funds. You're going to be in trouble any day now."

"I know, Susan, I know. Any chance I could move in with you."

She tilts her shaved head to one side and crosses her skinny arms. "Look, the sex's been good, but that's about it. I'm not letting someone with no job live here."

"That's cold."

"That's life," she says, as she sips some wine. "And don't slam the door on your way out."

Later, at night, I lie awake on my cot. I took two Tranks earlier but still can't fall asleep. By 3am I give up, get out of bed and do another search for programming jobs. Nothing, nada, zipo. Just as I dreaded. Everything's been outsourced to other countries. I take two more Tranks and lie down.

A loud pounding on my door wakes me up. Light streams into my room, so it must be morning already.

I check the security camera and see it's my landlord, Hassan; I open the door.

I yawn. "What's up?"

Hassan is dressed in his usual dirty gray coveralls. "Lewis, I check on my tenants to make sure they can pay the rent. Your file has a red flag on it – no job. I got plenty of people to take your place."

"Damn, Hassan. Give me a break; I just lost my job yesterday. I'm good for the rent."

He gives me a dour look. "That's not what it looks like." He points his finger at me. "You've been warned. If you can't pay, you're out."

I slam the door on him.

Damn, can things get any worse? I get back on the computer and do a search for any job available; there's nothing in the computer field. I broaden my search and find a warehousing job at TekCity. It's on the night shift, which is bad, but it's only two blocks from home. The pay is crap and it's a big comedown from programming, but I need the Cs. I shave, shower and put on my new blue coveralls; might as well dress up for the interview.