Conditional

by Margaret McGoverne

RUNTIME ERROR

She back arrowed, cursing. This programme was too complex for spreadsheets but her stiff-necked boss insisted. She scrolled through coding.

It was nearly five. If she was late, her childminder charged extra.

It was his fault! Mahindra, the smug IT Manager, flirting with the temps. Since she rebuffed his advances, her job had been hellish.

She wished him dead.

EXPUNGE. PACT. BOON.

Were these new functions?

And what was this cruel voice in her head, hissing “DO IT!”

She typed EXPUNGE.

Mahindra unbecame. Nobody noticed; he never was.

Clicking save, the macro she had recorded reran: EXPUNGE. LOOP.



Author bio: Margaret McGoverne has recently issued her first novella, The Battle of Watling Street, and is currently working on the sequel, while being distracted by short stories, flash fiction and her blog about all things writing: http://margaretmcgoverne.com/

Conditional is part of 101 Fiction issue 15.