The following is an excerpt from the novel On the Island Where I Live:
I will sleep the sleep of the just, Luther thinks, as he dozes off, having consumed his brown bag lunch of hummus, pita bread, and a juicy navel orange. Such a delicious snooze it is, leaning back in his state-of-the-art orthopedic desk chair. A snooze so powerful and deep that when he is awakened, it is almost as if in stages that he comes to, with full consciousness not entirely certain.
“Are you here, Luther? Are you among the living?”
The hand shaking his shoulder. The teasing voice. The sour face of that HR woman Janice Juddster. Standing with her a woman of enormous girth.
“How may I help you? Is my assistance being requested?” he says, still groggy and struggling for his bearings. “In need of some edits? Has your series comma gone missing?”
“Sleeping on the job is not a good way to make an impression on your new boss, Luther.” Janice Juddster says.
“I am on full alert for the action that is required of me. I am here to get the job done.”
“Exactly,” Janice says. Turning, she says, “Gowena, I would like you to meet Luther Garatdjian, senior editor in the publishing department. Or one of them. God knows, he’s been here long enough.”
Download the full pdf here: On the Island Where I Live