In the harsh LED lighting, it took me a moment to realize that Joseph Hyland’s office contained anything more than boxes. After some contemplation, though, I could see that the boxes, which ranged from tiny cardboard containers to huge wooden crates, had been expertly arranged to form a platform, easily eight feet tall, on which Mr.…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 18: Built upon the Boxes
Tag: Writing
The Cleaners Part 17: Training
Patricia rolled to a stop in the shadow of a massive, ugly building. Grey concrete and steel extended multiple blocks on either side with an array of windows so small and evenly spaced, they might have been battlements in a medieval castle. It could not be less like the Youngstown office except that it was impeccably clean.…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 17: Training
The Cleaners Part 16: The Driver
“Yes, Diane, it is more efficient to be a car than to be a robot driving a car.” said Patricia Driver. It’s voice was feminine, in fact it sounded exactly like the Gardener’s voice, except cheerier. Patricia’s dashboard had a :) like a Cleaner monitor when it talked, but generally showed a map like a GPS. I furrowed…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 16: The Driver
The Cleaners Part 15: To Michigan!
After a week, Henry finally called me back. Wouldn’t you know it, I was in the bathtub and missed the call. “Diane,” his message said, “I don’t think I can take another couple days off of work for a while with the economy the way it is. My team is under a lot of pressure right…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 15: To Michigan!
The Cleaners Part 14: Keep Calm
Diane takes a moment away from Angry Grandma to reconnect with her neighbor Carla.
The Cleaners Part 13: Ripples
William looked largely the same as when I had seen him last, except that he now carried a brown leather satchel over one of the shoulders of his suit. It clashed with his otherwise formal businesslike attire, and I wondered why he wouldn’t just get a briefcase or some such thing. “Hello!” William smiled, his face…… Continue reading The Cleaners Part 13: Ripples
The Cleaners Part 12: The Closed Door Campaign
Diane and the Anti-Cleaners enact a campaign to convince the Cleaners they’re better off respecting people’s rights.
The Cleaners Part 11: Penalties
Armed with their new knowledge, Diane and the Whickers try to think about how they’ll convince the Cleaners that it’s better to leave some people alone.
The Cleaners Part 10: Emergent Behavior
Diane hears what Mark and Henry learned on their tour. Then, wisely or no, she stakes her ground.
The Cleaners Part 9: Mother Cleaner
Diane meets Dr. Christine Gently to discuss the Cleaners, but ends up being confronted with much more than she expected.