A young man sat across from an older man dressed in a fancy vest and bowler hat, eating a chicken salad.
“What is it now, Jesse?” asked the fancy man. “Can’t you see I’m very busy right now?”
“Eating the lunch that I made for you?” said Jesse. “You’ve got a minute, I’m sure. You’re the Director – you’ll make time if you have to. I want to discuss my allowance.”
The Director waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, fine, let’s get this over quickly. You’ve proved your worth enough to have earned five-hundred dollars a week.”
Jesse rested his elbows on the table. “No, that’s not how this is going to work. You can’t bribe me with money when our society isn’t even going to be using money in a couple of years. How am I supposed to set up my future with something that will soon be worthless? Every buyer’s agent operating close to Melbourne was convinced with money-free contracts. Now it’s my turn.”
Using his wooden fork, the Director picked up a piece of chicken and considered it for a moment. “You said that you wanted an increase to your allowance. Does that not mean money, my boy?”
Jesse scoffed. “Your boy. Please, you only adopted me to make yourself more likeable. Everybody loves a single dad. Every buyer’s agent from Kew to Moe likes you for it. But I’m not talking about my money allowance. I’m talking about my access allowance. I want access to the whole building.”
“But you can’t go into the restricted areas!” the Director said, bolting upright. “It’s too dangerous!”
Standing, Jesse said, “Well, you can’t exactly afford to lose me, given everything I know. If you think I won’t go elsewhere with my knowledge of this place just because I’m your adopted son, you’re dead wrong. Give me clearance to the whole building or I walk.”
With a remarkable swagger to his step, Jesse walked off, leaving the Director sitting in stunned silence.