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See, that’s what the app is perfect for.

Sounds perfect Wahhhh, I don’t wanna
misterchristianx
misterchristianx:
“ The young mister Fenton Brenton from the “A Desk Job” story that I’ve been writing and posting on tumblr today. The picture came out absolutely perfect.
I know they’re hipster glasses - fuck you. They look adorable on him XD
Also,...
misterchristianx

The young mister Fenton Brenton from the “A Desk Job” story that I’ve been writing and posting on tumblr today. The picture came out absolutely perfect.

I know they’re hipster glasses - fuck you. They look adorable on him XD

Also, he’s supposed to be wearing a tie, but the bow-tie was demanded by my muse. So I’ll just retcon that and pretend like it was intentional. Bow-tie plus two-tone shirt and vest equals win for me.

I’d give him a job ;)

misterchristianx

One of my older pics. But still my favorite portrait I’ve done. The off-kilter glasses are too perfect. 

My logo/branding was cooler in 2013.

misterxart fenton a desk job redhead portrait

A Desk Job - Chapter 4, Part 4

This was not the first day that Fenton expected. It was worse than anything he could have imagined. He felt so low. Each of Exham’s words stung with their truth and the smug tone of his voice. 

He really had no choice.

Fenton lowered himself down onto all fours, his face burning with shame, tears pooling at the corners of his eyes. He knew Mr Exham was looking up from his desk now. The youth could feel the smirk on the man’s face, the knowledge of his power over Fenton. For a moment he fumbled with the laces on his shoes before flipping them awkwardly off, leaving them splayed on the ground.

Slowly Fenton inched his way over to the great black wood desk. It loomed massively over him, as did its occupant. Unsure of what to do now, Fenton just remained there, glancing up.

He wanted to cry. Just bury his face in his hands and sob. Fenton knew his face was red and his features contorted as he fought back the tears trickling down his cheeks.

“Good boy.” Mister Exham said. Fenton expected it to sound sarcastic but the man seemed sincere in his praise. Fenton couldn’t speak, only sniffle loudly as he battled the runny-nose that accompanied heavy crying.

a desk job story misterx story

A Desk Job - Chapter 4, Part 3

Fenton didn’t budge. His mouth hung gaping like a stunned fish.

“W…wha?” Was the best he could manage. That fucking piece of shit. Fenton’s thoughts blurred. Was this all a power trip? Why was he hammering this in. Fenton already felt like nothing for coming back to this job. How could he get any lower?

“You know what I said.”

“I…”

“You don’t have a job until you sign the papers. You don’t sign the papers until you are over here, beside my desk, on hands and knees like the little animal you are.”

Fenton squeaked. It was not dignified. He could not believe what he was hearing. He was agog. The teen could not form a cohesive sentence. He sputtered and stuttered.

“I … you …” He slouched. “You … you can’t treat people like this! I’m leaving. I’ll find another job.”

Exham didn’t look up from the paperwork he was sorting through (a habit that was really grating on Fenton’s already split nerves). “No you won’t. You’re going to stay right here.

"I know you, Fenton Brenton. I know your family’s situation. I know why you came back. I also know that you’re the one I want for this job.

"I’m paying you excessively for your self-respect, your dignity, and your consent. You won’t get a better offer for any of those. You’re untalented, unskilled, and unremarkable. You need this job.

"Now remove your shoes, get down on your hands and knees, and crawl over here, boy.”

a desk job story misterx story

A Desk Job - Chapter 4, Part 2

Mister Exham’s office did not appear any different than it did during Fenton’s last visit.

The youth closed the great wooden doors of the office behind himself, trying not to make a sound. The room was empty save for a semi circle of chairs in front of a large, dark wood desk. Nobody sat behind it.

At the back was a large paneled window with long dark drapes framing it on either side. The view outside the glass was two stories above busy Brooks Avenue. 

The walls were lined with the kind of abstract painting that was usually associated with corporate offices. Inoffensive shapes and colors mounted on thick white card and framed very mutely.

Fenton peered quizzically at one, scrunching his nose so his glasses pressed back against his face. When he suddenly became aware of someone behind himself, Fenton’s scream left him blushing and feeling stupid.

Mister Exham stood in the corner of the room, regarding him with a raised eyebrow.

“Fenton.” He nodded. “I’m not surprised you came back.”

Fenton cast his eyes down and tried to think of a response. There wasn’t any that was meaningful so he went with the obligatory. “Its a good fit for me and I’m eager work.”

The long pause that followed made Fenton instantly self conscious again. Had he said something wrong?

“You came crawling back, didn’t you. You had no other option.”

Fenton’s ears burned red and he fidgeted with his hands, glancing up slightly at the man, uncertain of what he expected in response. The asshole was rubbing this in his face.

“I’m … grateful for the work and ready to get started.”

“Then crawl over here and sign the job offer.” Exham motioned to his desk and briskly walked over to it.

It only took a single step before Fenton stopped in his tracks. Exham, without looking up from his desk, wagged a finger and pointed at the ground. “I did say crawl.”

a desk job story misterx story

A Desk Job - Chapter 4, Part 1

The smirk on the secretary’s face was impossible to miss. Fenton knew she knew and she knew Fenton knew she knew. The job. What Mister Exham had asked. That Fenton Brenton came crawling back for this horrible job because he had no other options.

It was the next day. Fenton had made a brisk commute across the city, not wanting to be late on his first day but very much not wanting to be there at all.

“Welcome back.” The woman behind the front desk said curtly, smiling with only her lips so her mouth curled in the corners. While she was no more than in her mid twenties, her glasses had the horned rims that spoke of the 50s. “Go on back. Mister Exham is waiting. I expect we’ll be seeing a lot of you.”

Where Fenton had hoped to see a little pity or at least obliviousness, he instead found further humiliation. If the secretary knew, then who in the office didn’t know?

Already shaking prior to arriving, Fenton found his palms sweaty and his arms quivering. He had to bite down hard on his lower lip to keep his teeth from rattling.

He could only nod to the young woman before pushing open the door into the back offices.

a desk job story misterx story

A Desk Job - Chapter 3, Part 5

The line was dead but Fenton still held the phone to head. Finally he caught his breath and swallowed loudly as though doing so could push all of these emotions flailing about down and away.

His mother looked at him expectantly, obviously pleased with his performance. There was something sickly sadistic in that. If she had any idea what she had just forced him into would she still be smiling? Was a job still more important?

“I’m very proud of you, ” she said. “Its not easy to swallow your pride like that.”

Fenton could only stare down at his shoes. Mister Exham’s word echoed in his mind throughout the evening, filling him with dread and self-consciousness.

a desk job story misterx story

A Desk Job - Chapter 3, Part 4

Why was Mister Exham answering the company phone? How had he known it was Fenton? What the hell?!

Fenton could only gulp and mouth for air. He was petrified by that voice, the memory of what had occurred the day before, and what he was supposed to be saying.

Mom did not seem at all sympathetic and gave him that look that said ‘speak now or reap the consequences.’

“Um… uh. Mister … uh … Mister Exham…” He mumbled, secretly hoping the man would catch on to his disinterest and let him off the hook. Fenton felt like a tiny puppy, whimpering at its new owner.

But there was no response on the other end of the line. No pity response. Fenton could just imagine the man’s smirk, enjoying making the teen wallow and beg for this job that he didn’t want.

“About … uh. About the job? I was calling to see … if …”

Still no response. Fenton’s face was burning with embarrassment and frustration. He squeezed his free hand into a fist and forced himself to speak, no longer willing to give Exham the pleasure of hearing him squirm.

“Mister Exham. I was calling to accept the job you offered me yesterday.” The words came as a torrent with no pause or inflection. But he felt physically relieved at getting it out there. Mom seemed to lighten up as well.

“I knew you would. Come by the office tomorrow. We’ll discuss the particulars. Have you sign the paperwork. Get you started.”

a desk job story misterx story

A Desk Job - Chapter 3, Part 3

Fingers sweaty and jittering, Fenton dialed in the number for Appearances by X. He could already feel the color in his face rising as his mother loomed over him.

All he could think was panic and fear. This wasn’t fair. If she knew what he was doing, what that weirdo wanted to do! But she was right, they needed the money. Maybe he could keep looking for work elsewhere. Land a job somewhere else in a few days.

This desperate thought gave him a little hope. But the youth still struggled to find his voice when the line was answered by a deep, familiar voice.

“Fenton? I’d hoped you’d call.” Mister Exham’s voice said lewdly, full of suggestion.

a desk job story misterx story

A Desk Job - Chapter 3, Part 2

The owner of the coffee shop eventually surface and shooed the boys out in the earlier afternoon. Fenton made his excuses and departed for home.

Mom was waiting for him when he arrived and the expression on her face said it all. She was not pleased. "You said they were looking for a girl.“

Fenton tried to play it off casually. "Who was?”

“You know damn well. The interview yesterday.”

“They were!”

“Then why did I just get off the phone with a very nice man from Appearances by X. He said he was very disappointed that you turned down his job offer. That kind of money is nothing to snub, Fenton!”

The youth could old gape wide mouthed. He called home? He spoke to Fenton’s mother? What the hell was going on? This was insane. Should he tell her what was really going on? The real reason he’d turned down the job?

“The job …” Fenton started, trying to phrase it with the least amount of blushing possible. “Was not going to be a good fit for me.”

“You can’t be picky at this point, Fenton. You need a job! We need a job! Mister Exham explained that there must have been some kind of misunderstanding but his offer was still open.”

“I’ll find something else, Mom…”

“Another job that pays eighty-thousand dollars? With your experience? That’s more than your father was making!”

Fenton stared at his shoes, his shoulders rounding with frustration and defeat. He knew where this was going. The youth gritted his teeth and waited for it.

“I want you to call him back right now. Accept the job.” She held out her hand and the phone in it. The look in her eyes said there was not going to be any discussion on the matter.

Fenton had to fight to hold back tears. Not fair.

a desk job story misterx story

A Desk Job - Chapter 3, Part 1

Fenton spent the day much like every other day that he didn’t have a job interview: in the coffee shop. He didn’t drink coffee, because he couldn’t afford to. But this is where his friends gathered.

They weren’t old enough for bars (which they couldn’t afford to visit anyway) and the penalties for street loitering were even more expensive. All of them were out of work.

Fenton secretly pictured them as the ABC Club in Les Miserable. Gathering together to talk about political woes, the imbalance of money in society, or social rights campaigns.

Reality was not as glamorous.

Conner and Kagan were sharing a lone cup of coffee. Kasib stared out the narrow glass windows at a police car slowly patrolling up the road.

“Michelle Garret or Britney Sylvester.” Connor asked, while he waited on Kagan.

Girls. Not just girls, actresses. Unreachable, shallow, and unimportant.

Fenton tried to hide his disinterest by looking ‘intently’ at the squad car.

Silence.

“Where were you yesterday, Fen? Figured you got nicked or something by the cops.”

“You know me. I’m always out there trying to stick it to the Man.”

It wasn’t uncommon for someone to suddenly disappear. 'Civil disobedience’ had a very loose interpretation these days. With so many out of work and tempers running hot, keeping the herd thinned seemed to be the priority of those in power.

“It don’t take much!” Kagan offered. “That nice guy next door to us got nabbed the other day. Lost his job. He’s standing in the street outside the building and just loses it. Yelling and shaking his fist. Didn’t come home that night.”

Silence again. There was no one else in the shop but them. The barista was leaning against the back wall, eyes glazed as she twitched through the video feed on her eye piece.

When the empty air got to be too much, Fenton pipped up. “I had a job interview.”

The guys all perked up at this. “Sweet! Something good? You’ve got the brains for it.”

“For a librarian.”

“Dude, fuck off.”

Fenton paused again and wished he hadn’t mentioned it. There was no graceful answer.

a desk job story misterx story