New game, still Beginner level. I put up the 10, for 10 flags left to be planted. I stand behind my tinted screen and look out over the field. A flag is planted. Down comes the 10, up goes the 9. Two more flags, in quick succession. 8, 7.

"Hey, Flag-monitor!" Clock-keeper calls to me, "I'll bet you they lose this time!"

"Done!" I call back to him, and hurry to change the 7 for a 6. Scoreboard-keeper wanders into my room.

"Hey, man, what's new?" he asks that as if he thinks there might really be something new, and I change 6 for 5 and 5 for 4.

"Nothing at all. Play is pretty average."

"Yeah. Think they'll win this time?"

"I don't know, but I bet Clock-keeper they would." I change 4 to 3.

"Well, I better get going. Looks like they're wrapping it up," he exits hurriedly, as I change the 3 for 2. Another couple of steps, another flag is planted, and I change the 2 to 1.

A few more moments and I must change the 1 to 0. I look over at Clock-keeper with a grin as the landscape changes to Intermediate and I take down the 0 in favor of a 40.

Clock-keeper is unfazed. "Well they'll lose Intermediate, anyway. I'll bet you, double or nothing."

"Alright," I say, and I have to laugh. What are we betting? Double or nothing *of* nothing. Neither of us have anything to bet. But at least it is something to do. I change 40 to 39. The pathetic sweeper takes two more steps, 39 changes to 38, then to 37.

I try to think of something, to amuse myself. 36, 35, 34, 33, 32. Maybe Boss or Flag-collector will have something interesting to say after the computer is off again, but it is doubtful. Their jobs are no more exciting that mine. 31, 30, I wish there were something to spice my job up. 29. I yawn and stretch. I wish Director were not so unimaginative. 28. There are options. Director could change it to black an white now and then. 27, 26. Or play a custom game from time to time. 25.

Oh, now they've lost, and I've lost my bet. I glance over at Clock-keeper, who is grinning. Well, I'm glad it amuses him. Not like it matters for anything.