Serving Up A New Game Of Life

In the icy heart of winter Harvey Wellfleet left his job as research coordinator at the Megalo Corporation and became an indoor tennis bum. Harvey decided upon this drastic change in the course of a conversation with his boss, Mr. Brisbane.

"Let me get this straight, Harvey," said Mr. Brisbane. "You do not like your fine job managing an entire section of devoted scientists and you wish to go back, sulk in a corner and play with your own rack of transistors."

"I do not like supervising people," said Harvey. "I want to do research."

"Now, Harvey," said Mr. Brisbane, "you must understand that often in this world we must do things that we don't like to do. You and I, for example, have a knack with people. Therefore our smooth-running social system has placed us in positions of supervision. It is necessary for the stability of the system that we do not fight this inevitability."

"To hell with the stability of our social order," said Harvey. "I want to do what I enjoy."

"Now that isn't always possible, is it?" said Mr. Brisbane. "If you really wanted to do what you enjoy, why don't you play tennis full time at that fancy tennis club you belong to?"

"Why didn't I think of that myself?" said Harvey. "Would you happen to have an official Megalo Triplicate Copy Pad handy?"

Mr. Brisbane handed him the pad and Harvey proceeded to write out his resignation. He tore off the top copy and handed it to Mr. Brisbane.

Mr. Brisbane read the sheet. "Now, Harvey," he said, "sometimes your misplaced sense of humor carries you a bit far. I shall tear this up and then we'll both forget that this little incident ever occurred."

"What about the personnel office?" said Harvey. "Will they forget the copy I send them?"