clock in
Clock in. Improve the image of the city. Maintain it. Demolish it. Beautify it. Tear it down. Build a bigger one. Build a taller one. Build a cleaner one. Rip out the orange tiles. Lay down the first brick. Lay down the 9000th. Send inspector man. Publish the notice. Charge the owner. Evict the tenants. Apologize for the inconvenience. Drape the tarp down. Board the perimeter up. Parachute the excavator down. Claw its way to the ground. Auction the lot. Advertise the property. Seal the first windowpane. Seal the 9000th. Welcome the realtor. Move in the tenant. Look at the city. Take in the view. Go on your lunch break.
Finish lunch. Improve the image of the city. Maintain it. Demolish it. Beautify it. Tear it down. Build a bigger one. Build an authentic one. Build a cleaner one. Rip out the aluminum panels. Prop up the first hoarding. Prop up the 9000th. Send inspector man. Publish the notice. Charge the owners. Evict the workers. Exterminate the animals. Apologize for the inconvenience. Board the perimeter up. Drape the canvas ads down. Roll the excavators out. Claw its way through the town. Heritage the lot. Legacy the façades. Authentic the shops. Wire the first AC. Wire the 9000th. Welcome the [REDACTED]. Welcome the VIPs. Welcome the architects. Welcome the heritage keepers. Welcome the legacy holders. Welcome the authentic-ators. Move in the shopkeepers — at least, whoever remained. Look at the water. Take in the view. Clock out.
You did it again. You saved the city! Pat yourself on the back. Get in your car. Get out of [REDACTED]. Drive through the city. Look at all those people. Those fuckers. They’ll be grateful for all this one day. You know what’s best for them.
Take the Maqta Bridge. Drive through your gate. Kiss your wife hello. Greet your son in his room. Close the door to your room. Take off your [REDACTED]. Take off your [REDACTED]. Stare at yourself in the mirror. Be proud of yourself. Ignore the weight in your chest. Be proud.
This is your duty. This is your city. This is company policy. This house won’t pay for itself. This quota won’t meet itself.
Their demolition is your mortgage. Their eviction is your extension.
They don’t know what’s best for them. They won’t get it. They never will.
You don’t know what’s best for them. You know what’s best for you.
Get out of your room. Eat with your family. Take your meds. Go to bed. Get out of bed. Get dressed. Perch your [REDACTED]. Drive to the city. Clock in. Improve your quota. Improve the image of the city. Maintain it. Demolish it. Beautify it. Tear it down. Build a bigger one. Build a better one. Better. BETTER. Rip out the streets. Prop up the properties. Ignore the weight in your chest. Clock out. Clock in. Improve your quota. Clock out. Clock in. Improve your image of the city. Hold the city in your hands. Bear the weight in your chest. Caress the city.
Carefully.
Gently.
Softly.
Inhale.
Crush the city.
Crush it as tightly as you can with all the weight from your chest until your hands bleed from your fingernails sinking into skin. Crush it until it’s nothing. Until it’s nothing but glass powder and concrete dust. Until it’s nothing like it ever was. Stare at your palms.
Now, start here. Clock in.