Spare Time (Short Fiction)
17th March 2025
In: Short Stories
‘About time! — What took you so long? We haven’t got all day, you know. You’re only booked in for half an hour, so chop chop! You need a second to catch your breath? Fine, but time’s money — mustn’t waste it.
Right then, so where are we at? Exactly how much time do you need? I see — they didn’t commit themselves, so you don’t really know how long you have left — maybe as much as six months, or only a week or two. Okay, well, I’m sure we can buy you some extra time, somehow. I have a little to spare that isn’t yet taken up with anything else. Plus, I can ask around, grab a few minutes here and there. Some people imagine they’ve all the time in the world and are willing to trade in the odd day-off, or sometimes their entire holiday entitlement, if the price is right. They’d only sleep it away, or drink it away — lose it completely — squander their life like water running down a drain, forgetting they’ll never see those days again. Unless they come to me, of course — the Clocker-up, aka the Time-Saver or the Watchman. I’ve been trading precious moments since Time itself began ...
So, what are you prepared to give me for, say, a couple of extra months? Bearing in mind I have to beg, borrow or steal the necessary minutes, hours, and days from others, which will shorten their lives accordingly, the overall balance at the Universal Time Bank has to be preserved, you see ...
Oh, by all means take a minute or two to consider it.
Oh dear! Doesn’t time fly! I’m afraid we’re out of it, so my trusty state-of-the-art-digitally-accurate-to-infinity Omega tells me. Can you come back next week, perhaps? Good. Please make an appointment on the way out. TTFN
Next!’
Right then, so where are we at? Exactly how much time do you need? I see — they didn’t commit themselves, so you don’t really know how long you have left — maybe as much as six months, or only a week or two. Okay, well, I’m sure we can buy you some extra time, somehow. I have a little to spare that isn’t yet taken up with anything else. Plus, I can ask around, grab a few minutes here and there. Some people imagine they’ve all the time in the world and are willing to trade in the odd day-off, or sometimes their entire holiday entitlement, if the price is right. They’d only sleep it away, or drink it away — lose it completely — squander their life like water running down a drain, forgetting they’ll never see those days again. Unless they come to me, of course — the Clocker-up, aka the Time-Saver or the Watchman. I’ve been trading precious moments since Time itself began ...
So, what are you prepared to give me for, say, a couple of extra months? Bearing in mind I have to beg, borrow or steal the necessary minutes, hours, and days from others, which will shorten their lives accordingly, the overall balance at the Universal Time Bank has to be preserved, you see ...
Oh, by all means take a minute or two to consider it.
Oh dear! Doesn’t time fly! I’m afraid we’re out of it, so my trusty state-of-the-art-digitally-accurate-to-infinity Omega tells me. Can you come back next week, perhaps? Good. Please make an appointment on the way out. TTFN
Next!’