Chapter 02 - As If Things Could Be Any Better

Story Arc 1: The Complications of Riding a Bus
Chapter 02 - As If Things Could Be Any Better

“I’m Aiam A. Supervisor!”

“I’m Aiam Yor Supervisor.”

“And we are your supervisors at JetCo!” the two supervisors greeted in unison.

I sat in silence for a few seconds until I asked, unfazed, “Are you two related or something?”

“Not at all, we just happen to have the same first name and last name,” Aiam Yor said straightforwardly.

“Yes, yes, what are the odds?” Aiam A. said in boisterous laughter.

“I say you two are odd!” I swiftly berated, like a straight man in a manzai comedy routine.

As you may have guessed, I have arrived at the office that I am to work at, in clean clothes, of course. Aiam A. retrieved me from my bus stop in the boonies, and the orientation presentation had recently concluded. Suffice to say, I was the only person present, because I was the only person the company had recently hired, but that’s beside the point. Who are these two supervisors, you may be wondering? Allow me to clear the confusion.

Aiam Yor Supervisor is my supervisor. He greeted me at the airport when I arrived to this country. His duties are to help me settle into my new location in Ikisakata, ensure I am faring well during the first month or two, and to train me in my new position. He is a serious person; so serious that I don’t think there’s even a funny bone in his body. He’s so serious he practically threw me into the wilderness and expect me to survive on my own, despite being new to not only Ikisakata City, but to this country as well! I don’t think I will get much help from him.

Aiam A. Supervisor is a supervisor as well. She seems to be easy-going yet diligent in her duties, always with a smile on her face. While I admire her attitude and tendency to find joy and humor in most things, it is difficult to know when she is serious or making a joke.

“Do you have any questions about what was discussed in the orientation, or any confusion that needs to be cleared?” Aiam Yor asked.

“Yes, why are there two supervisors?”

“Ah, yes, good question,” Aiam A. spoke. “You see, every employee in a department needs a supervisor to make sure they are on task and that the assigned tasks are being completed to the best of their abilities. And there is another supervisor to ensure that the other supervisor is performing their duties to the best of their abilities and aren’t slacking off. Understand?”

“Then who supervises that supervisor who is supposed to be a supervisor to a supervisor?” I asked.

“Silly Gino, I can’t supervise myself!” Aiam A. guffawed.

“I didn’t ask if you could supervise yourself. I asked who is your supervisor.”

“I am Yor Supervisor, Gino.”

“I know you are my supervisor!”

“Actually, Mai Supervisor is my supervisor,” Aiam A. said.

“Mai Supervisor?” I asked.

“No, I am your supervisor, Gino. Hasn’t it been clear already?”

“I’m not asking if you are my supervisor! I’m asking why is there a supervisor named Mai Supervisor!”

“But I’m not Mai Supervisor,” said Aiam A.

“You can’t be your supervisor because I am Yor Supervisor.”

“But you can’t be my supervisor because I am above you.”

“There’s a Yu?”

“Yes, it’s the twenty-first letter of the alphabet!” Aiam A. replied to me with beaming enthusiasm.

“Argh, enough of this!” I yelled with exasperation. “I have another question! If my position at JetCo is assistant, then what am I an assistant of?”

“Not important,” Aiam A. and Aiam Yor responded in swift unison.

“Of course, it’s not important,” I muttered, sighing tiredly. I pinched my forehead in exhaustion. “Is the orientation over? I want to go back to my apartment. It’s been a long day…”

“Certainly! I think we’ve said our piece for today!” said Aiam A.

Tell me about it.

“Do you need a ride to your apartment?”

I looked over to Aiam Yor, who was pretending to be occupied in order to avoid eye contact while whistling completely off-key.

“No, I will take the bus,” I said with a calm yet fed-up annoyance. Aiam Yor suddenly changed his whistling to an upbeat, on-key tune. This guy!

“Super! It shouldn’t be a problem for you to get back!”