Episode NotesBeing out of work sucks, especially when that's how you value yourself. But what if you have another calling, a deeper calling... a DARKER calling...Torture and Other Job Skills by Killian CraneBuy the new "Babysitter Massacre" book! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P4ZF9LG/Get Cool Merchandise http://store.weeklyspookySupport us on Patreon http://patreon.com/IncrediblyHandsomeSupport Weekly Spooky by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/weekly-spookyContact Us/Submit a Storytwitter.com/WeeklySpookyfacebook.com/WeeklySpookyWeeklySpooky@gmail.comMusic by Ray Mattis http://raymattispresents.bandcamp.comProduced by Daniel WilderThis episode sponsored by HenFlix.comFor everything else visit WeeklySpooky.comTranscript:Have you ever been laid off?I had my dream job in management. Good benefits, great pay. Small company, room to grow. Every day at work was a genuine pleasure. Most people say that to kiss their boss’s ass. But not me. I loved my job.When Debra left me, the job was all I had. I poured my soul into it. Those under me, they didn’t understand. They whispered behind my back, called me, “pushy, tight ass... nut job.” Some of them even called HR on me.They couldn’t understand. I demand nothing but the best from my team. Do your job to the best of your ability and we’ll have no problem. Do sloppy work, and I will make sure you face the consequences. And as for all the whispers behind my back, what they failed to realize was that my methods worked. I was by far the best manager at my job. Punctual, organized, efficient. Those under me knew my expectations. You see, people are like coal. If you put enough heat and pressure on coal, it becomes a diamond. Diamonds are the standard we should all strive to achieve.One thing I cannot stand is failure. I punished those that failed me. There are far too many weaklings in the workforce. The answer of course isn’t to fire them on the spot, that’s a waste of coal. But punishment, that’s the answer. More heat, more pressure. There’s a diamond in there somewhere.I was the best at making diamonds... until this fucking COVID-19 virus. I will never forget the day my boss Ryan called me into his office.The first words out of his mouth were, “I’m sorry I have to do this.”He was flat, formal, and precise. I sank into my chair. He said some more things about the virus, uncertain times, cutbacks in every department. Across the board, he said...I didn’t listen to all that. I was too busy looking into his eyes. They said everything I needed to hear. He wasn’t sorry, not at all. He wanted me gone.I couldn’t help but cry. It was unsightly and unprofessional, but the job was my everything, my only thing. And he took it from me.He leaned back in his chair and sighed.“It came from corporate. Nothing I can do.”Years of service, up in smoke.As COVID made a killing, so did delivery services. I had everything delivered to my apartment; food, basic supplies, alcohol. Not that I was afraid of the virus, I just... didn’t have the strength to go outside. I was a failure. Me, the best employee in my division, possibly in the entire company... had been laid off. Let go. I knew it had nothing to do with the virus. That was just an excuse for the higher ups to trim the fat.I never thought of myself as fat before then. Fat was something gross to be discarded. I hated myself, but more, I hated everything else.I started the search for a new job immediately. I updated my already outstanding resume, surfed the appropriate websites. Someone would have me.My bed became my new office as I searched. My laptop lay to my right, next to the television remote, the pretzels, the two liters, the whiskey, the box wine... I used the same cup for everything. Saved time during the search. Every time I went to the door for a delivery, I had to kick the daily paper out of the way. Despite the pandemic, the paper never stopped coming. Over time, they became a pile next to the door. They had their own ozone, t