Photo by Sue Vincent

Hal scanned the items Toby had brought in.

“No, no, these won’t do at all.  I gave you very specific instructions.  Please try again.”

“Yes, sir,” Toby said.

Hal shook his head.  The spare parts were becoming scarce, harder and harder to find.  Someday there would be nothing left to scavenge.  Worse, nobody wanted to learn the ancient craft.  Toby was his twelfth apprentice in 22 years.  All of them before had left for more lucrative positions.

And each and every one was better on their worst days than that idiot Toby was on his best day.

Hal sighed.

Did it even matter?