ANSWER AND—REPLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 152, 29 June 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

ANSWER AND—REPLY.

((Winning entry by R. Sutcliffe, 0.5.8., 0, Crown Street, Royal Oak, age 10.) Jones was angry. His naturally angelic face showed that all manner of ■wickedness was going on in his mind. His ejaculations and mutteriiigs were wicked too. His brow was frowning. His soft blue eyes sparked fire. His feet stamped out a message of petulance. Mr. Bones sharply reprimanded him several times for his sullen manner and disinterestedness in his work. But. Jones still looked sullen and applied fingers to a position not polite, when Mr. Bones turned his back. At last five. Jones grabbed his hat and coat, 'knocked over tlio waste paper basket, a tottle of ink and a jar of gloy, and dived for the door. "Jones! Come back," yelled Mr. Bones. Jones obeyed. "Jones drop these letters in the G.P.O. And while you're about it pay this account at Henwood's. Bring back the receipt in the morning. That's all. Goodnight, Jones." Jones went. He was in the mood for murder. He'd hang Bones over the office door, cut him to pieces with the paper knife, put the pieces in the waste paper basket, and give his bones to the office cat. And the boss! Hanging was too good for him. He'd have him flayed alive al)c l —hang it all! Jones had left behind that pound of butter his mother asked him to bring home! * * * * Six-fifteen. Jones arrived home—tired, hungry, : 'still resentful against his boss, Mr. Bones, and the world at large. A good meal gavo things a rosier .itspect and it was in a happies frame of ;mind that he picked up the paper. "Dad." Jones turned to his father. A grunt. "Dad." "Well, what do you want?" sharply. "Well-er-well. You see, dad, I'm going -to apply for another job." "What's that, young man? What's wrong with the job you've got, now?" "'Aw-well-er I don't care much about the boss and —" "You ought to thank your stars that •you have a job. But fire ahead. If you lose your job though, young man just you watch out." "Smart office junior, 15-16. References. Apply in own handwriting.—T 7001, 'Star'." Jones thought that would do so he sat down and laboriously drafted an application. "Dear gentleman,—May I be so bold as to offer myself for unemployment in your office. ■ I am fifteen, smart and iirgentic. I am of handsome appearance and would decorate t your office better than a vase of roses. I have references in my possession now, but owing to a fire in our house last year they were burnt. So I'll have to tell you about them. I have one from Mussolini whose a friend of my dad's (dad works down Kauri Timber Co.). He reckons that I'm a proginy. I have another from the Prince of Wales. I saw him when he came here on the Renown and went fishing sprats with him off King's wharf. I've a dozen ofjiers but the ink bottles nearly empty so I can't tell you about them. Hoping you'll give me the job.— Christopher Jones."

P.S.—l'm working now for Ding and Dong, but old Dong has a set on me.— C.J. «• * * * Morning. Jones went to work happy. Soon would the bonds of Ding and Dong be struck from'him. Soon would he have a. position with a chance to become general manager before Christinas. Soon would he turn up his nose at the bossful Mr. Dong. '■ Ho didn't see the boas all day. Mr. Bones looked at him queerly all day. Five o'clock. He was oil with the letters. Glancing through the addresses before he slipped them in the box he came -cross one addressed to Mr. Christopher Jon°sj

Slipping f.lio others into the box lie slit, open the letter addressed to himself. "Dear Mr. Jones.—We received your wonderful application for the position you already hold. Wc aro very sorry to have to inform you that the position lias been filled. Would you kindly call at the office to-morrow for the pay due to you. Remaining, sincerely, Ding and Doug, J. I'. Dong, manager." The further adventures of Jones arc too painful to relate.