Author: Peggy Gerber

The spaceship was designated a luxury resort for elites. “Take a thirty-day voyage into space,” the advert said, “and dine amongst the stars.” It was a vacation offered only to billionaires, and thirty accepted without hesitation.

For the token price of sixty million dollars, folks could experience the excursion of a lifetime, including the finest wines, the tenderest steaks and the butteriest lobsters, all served alongside a view of deep space.

By the fifteenth day of the journey Violet was fed up. She stormed into her boss’s office and ranted, “The guests treat me like trash. Just this afternoon I overheard some of them complaining the ship’s employees were no better than prison inmates. Not to mention,” Violet hissed, “Mr. Thistelwaite won’t stop pinching my butt. It’s gross.”

“Well, to be fair,” replied Lillian calmly, “you actually were a prison inmate. All the workers were. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you take this job as a get out of jail free card.”

Violet frowned, “Well, Lillian, as you know, I was framed. All I did was borrow a diamond ring that was left on the sink in the clubhouse bathroom. I was going to return it, but the police barged into my home and arrested me before I had a chance.”

“Listen Violet, you only have to stick it out for fifteen more days. Perhaps afterwards you can write a tell-all book and make a million dollars.”

Violet stomped out of the office and headed towards the room she shared with seven other innocent inmates. For the millionth time she wondered why they hired prisoners to work on this ship. It didn’t make sense. Whatever the reason though, it was better than prison.

As she passed through the rec room, Violet was stopped by a whining guest. “Hey girlie, I’m bored. Bring me something to do.”

Violet grimaced. She hated it when Mrs. Cartwright called her that. Nevertheless, she plastered a fake smile on her face and asked sweetly, “How about a puzzle, Mrs Cartwright.” As she handed her the box she muttered under her breath, “You can stick it where the sun don’t shine.”

“What did you say,” barked Mrs. Cartwright.”

“I said, It’s a lovely photo of Italian wines.”

For the next two weeks, Violet counted down the days. “Thirteen, eleven, five. When she got down to one, she was called into Lillian’s office.

“Change of plans,” Lillian said. “We actually won’t be returning to Earth. Ever. Instead, tomorrow we’ll be landing on planet Eden. It’s quite nice.

Violet gasped, “What the hell? I didn’t sign up for this.”

“Come on, Violet. Why do you think we hired inmates? We hired people nobody would miss.”

“Why are you doing this?”

Lillian smiled. “Welcome to our new game show, “Survival:Inmates versus Billionaires.”

Violet clenched her fists. “Wait a minute,” she bellowed. “Are you saying I have to wait on these goblins for the rest of my life?”

“Of course not. It is everyone for themselves on Eden. Everybody will be equal. So much fun.” Lillian patted Violet on the back. “The only thing left to say is, Good luck, Violet.”

Violet wandered out of the office in a fog of confusion. When she heard Mrs. Cartwright call out, “Hey girlie, bring me something to do,” she smiled angelically and whispered a string of obscenities in her ear. Tonight, she might sneak into Mrs. Cartwright’s room and borrow her lovely diamond necklace.

“Maybe it won’t be so bad, Violet thought.”

She was after-all, very fond of diamonds.