A short snippet of April 14 at 50k words

When Nick came in the kitchen door two workers facing it looked up.

“Delivery?” one asked with a scowl.

“No, I’m the new dishwasher.”

One worker went back to seeding tomatoes and the other took his time looking Nick over head to toes.

“Fresh off the shuttle,” the other one said. It wasn’t a question. “At least you aren’t dragging luggage along so you must not be sleeping in hot slots.”

“I’m with a friend who has a very nice apartment,” Nick informed him. “I’ve been up here before and had a standing invitation to move permanently.”

“You went back to Earth?” The cook asked. He didn’t seem impressed.

“We’re both from Hawaii,” Nick said. “It’s really about as nice as Earth gets. She was my neighbor next to the place where I was a caretaker.”

“Ah, the neighbor is a she,” the fellow said cluing up. “You’re relieving me of dish duty on our busiest days so I wouldn’t care if you were a werewolf Sunday through Thursday. I’ll show you what to do. First of all, the rack of lockers behind you are for anything you need to store while you are working,” he said pointing. “I’m Hans and I’m not your boss but I’ll still tell you what to do even though they don’t pay me to supervise.”

“There’s no lock on them,” Nick observed of the tiny square lockers.

“No, but there’s a camera watching it and if anybody screws around with your stuff he won’t work here and any of us will cheerfully help you break his thumbs. Now, this is just my advice, take it for what it’s worth. I’d put my phone in there for at least the first couple of weeks. Karl over there at the stove is your real boss and he has eyes in the back of his head. Literally, with the spex he’s wearing. If you take too many calls, he’ll let you go even though it dumps the dishes back on me. Rushing off to the toilet every time your phone buzzes isn’t going to fly either. We’ve had problems with that.”

“I’ll do that and I have an extra shirt in case I’m too dirty to wear this one home.”

“Lovely, you plan on working. Stow your stuff and I’ll show you how to do your job.”

17 Responses to A short snippet of April 14 at 50k words

  1. Terry March 31, 2023 at 11:48 am #

    Missing starting quote: “You’re relieving me of dish duty …

    Working my way through the series again. Nick’s story should be one more interesting plot line 🙂

    • Mac March 31, 2023 at 3:39 pm #

      Thanks – Snippets are always unedited – but it’s never too early to start.

  2. Benny Floyd March 31, 2023 at 1:48 pm #

    Yay! Always a good day when there is more of your writing!

  3. M. Harris March 31, 2023 at 2:43 pm #

    Thank you for the snippet. I’m always looking forward to your next book. Also, seeing the current word count gives me an inkling of how patient I need to be.

  4. Monica March 31, 2023 at 5:14 pm #

    Thank you so much. I am excited for the next book.

  5. Anonimous March 31, 2023 at 5:58 pm #

    thank you for the snippet.

    does 50k words mean you are half way done?

    poor nick. from business minster to dish washer. what the hek happened in hawaii!

    • Mac March 31, 2023 at 9:26 pm #

      A little short – I usually run about 130k words.

    • Cheryl April 1, 2023 at 10:33 am #

      Hooray, can’t wait. Looks like fun as usual

  6. Andrew Anderson April 12, 2023 at 8:19 am #

    I enjoy a number of different authors but I just realized that Mac is the only author that I have enjoyed every work that he has posted. I should qualify that I haven’t checked out the cookbook yet. Humor is a healthy thread in life not to be neglected in story telling and it is not missing in Mac’s work. Thanks Mac.

  7. Paul April 13, 2023 at 1:32 am #

    Eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the story. By the wsy, the cover for 13 was the best of -all the covers so far, in my opinion. Looking forward to the artwork for 14.

  8. Leo April 16, 2023 at 2:28 pm #

    Mac…

    have you any clue to offer your fans when this book will be available?

    • Mac April 16, 2023 at 6:19 pm #

      I spent 3 days in the hospital this week and had two home visits including at home IV. I came pretty close to dying. I haven’t written all week and I may not next week. I’ll still have the medics visit and treat me tomorrow. About all I can say is I intend to finish it this year. I get a decent chunk of income when I publish a new book so there is incentive. I just have to be well enough to write.

  9. Cheryl April 16, 2023 at 8:00 pm #

    Oh my Mac so sorry to hear about your health problems, please continue to take care of yourself first your fans will still be here when you get back to us

  10. Leo April 17, 2023 at 12:14 pm #

    Mac… I send you healing thoughts for a full recovery.

    As Cheryl said, take care of yourself as we will be here when you get better.

  11. Benny Floyd April 17, 2023 at 12:19 pm #

    Damn! Since you have become my favorite author I want you to take any time you need to be well. As Cheryl and Leo have said, we’ll be here for anything you write and, speaking selfishly for myself, I hope you have a very long productive life going forwards.

  12. Tim Fay April 22, 2023 at 11:26 am #

    Mac, so sorry to hear. please take care of yourself. I can be patient when I have to be. I love your work…

  13. Butte Bill April 29, 2023 at 10:20 pm #

    No matter what your ailment was … chicken soup. Just not in the IV.
    (I’m not a doctor, but I am a MD. Oops, got to take my lithium.)
    More good thoughts for your recovery Mac.

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