Sorry Weвђ™re Open ⇒ | PLUS |

(Gasping)Thank god. I thought I was going to freeze to death out there. My car spun out two miles back. Are you serving? Todd doesn't move. He slowly shifts his eyes to Gary. TODD (Sighs heavily)Yeah. We are. Unfortunately.

(Confused)Oh. Great! Can I get a black coffee and a menu? Sorry We’re Open

is a phrase that perfectly captures the modern dread of the service industry, a paradox of welcoming customers while resenting the endless grind. (Gasping)Thank god

I can give you the coffee. But if you look at the menu, you might find something you want to eat. And if you order food, I have to cook it. And if I cook it, we both have to prolong this interaction. GARY I haven’t eaten in ten hours! I’m starving! Are you serving

Sorry, We’re Open. The sign is a sigh, a corporate apology,For forcing a soul to stand by the till,To trade away hours of human biologyFor pennies and quarters and dollar bills.

Arthur looked at the security monitor. His own face stared back at him—grainy, gray, and hollowed out by the overhead fluorescent grids. He realized he couldn't remember what he had eaten for dinner, or if he had eaten at all. He reached under the counter and pressed the button to chime the store intercom.

Below are three different directions you can take to develop this concept into a creative piece, depending on your preferred medium. 🏪 Option 1: A Short Story (Psychological Realism)