Peter Clark was at his wit's end. He had scoured every job listing, knocked on every door, and still couldn't land anything. With bills piling up and his spirits low, he was getting desperate. Just when he thought things couldn't get worse, his friend Zachery strolled into his apartment, waving a newspaper.

"Pete, I've got it! I found the perfect job for you," Zachery announced, grinning like he'd struck gold.

Peter took one look at the ad and grimaced. "Fairies wanted. Must have a cheerful attitude and a passion for helping others. Apply at the Office of Fairies, downtown."

Peter scoffed, shoving the paper back into Zachery's hands. "I'm no fairy, Zach."

"Come on, Pete," Zachery insisted. "Look, it's just a job, right? You don't have to love it. Just get the paycheck and then leave if it's that bad."

Peter hesitated, thinking of his dwindling bank account. It sounded ridiculous, but maybe Zachery was right. With a reluctant sigh, he muttered, "Fine. I'll go. But I'm not promising anything. Don't expect me to wear some sparkly tutu and pink tights."

The next day, Peter trudged down to the Office of Fairies, a charming building that looked like a cross between a candy shop and a palace. He half-expected to see unicorns prancing around. Inside, the receptionist directed him to Kalinda, the head of the fairy recruitment department.

Kalinda, a poised and cheerful woman with glittering buttercup wings, welcomed him with an enthusiasm that made Peter's half-hearted smile look more like a grimace. "So, Peter," she said, glancing over his sparse resume.

"Alright, Peter! First things first. What inspired you to pursue a career in fairy work?" Kalinda asked.

"Uh, well, I wouldn't say I'm inspired, exactly... My friend thought this might be...you know, an option?" Peter blinked, trying to find words.

"Hmm, okay." still cheerful, jotting down notes. "So you're open to helping others, which is great! Fairies thrive on kindness. Tell me, what's the nicest thing you've done for someone else?"

"Uh, well... I did help my neighbor carry her groceries up the stairs last week. She had, like, four bags or something."

"Very sweet, very thoughtful!" she scribbles more notes, her wings fluttering slightly with excitement. "Next, tell me how you feel about a bit of sparkle in your life. How comfortable are you with... shimmer and glitter?"

"Not... exactly a fan, if I'm being honest. I mean, I like my shirts to be, you know, solid colors. And...no sparkles."

"We all have our preferences! Don't worry; sometimes the sparkle grows on you. Now, imagine a young child is sad because they lost their favorite toy. What would you do to cheer them up?"

"Uh, I guess... maybe try to find it for them? Or, if I couldn't... tell them to look on the bright side? I mean, kids are resilient, right?"

"True, true. Optimism is key. Next question---fairies are known to be highly adaptable. Can you give an example of a time you had to think quickly on your feet?"

"Uh, okay, well... once, my phone died, and I didn't have my GPS, so I had to ask around to find my way back home. I mean, it was a pain, but I figured it out."

"That's resourceful!" Kalinda told him, smiling brightly as she checked another box on her form "Alright, here's a fun one! What does magic mean to you, Peter?"

"Magic? I guess... something that, you know, doesn't really happen in real life? Like, fairy tales and all."

"Interesting answer. Some would say magic is just a little... unnoticed kindness in everyday life. One last thing, we don't call them fairy tales. We prefer imaginative stories."

"Unnoticed sounds about right..."

"Okay, last question. Fairies are sometimes asked to bring a little joy to people's lives even when they're not feeling so joyful themselves. How do you think you'd manage that?"

"I'd... probably just fake it until it worked, I guess?"

Kalinda put down her pen and beamed at Peter as though he'd given the most dazzling interview of her career.

Kalinda chuckled, unphased by his bluntness. "I think you have a very grounded approach that could really add something unique to our team!" She looked him up and down, her eyes twinkling. "I think you've got the potential. We need fairies who can bring a bit of realness to the job. How would you like to start... today?"

"Wait...so... I got the job?" a shocked Peter said.

"Absolutely! Congratulations! Welcome to the Office of Fairies!"

And just like that, Peter's reluctant journey into fairy work began.

Peter stared in horror, and all he could think was, What did I just sign up for?

Later that day, Peter---now Shalinda---sat in orientation with other newly hired fairies. It hit him like a ton of bricks: he was now a fairy, something he'd vowed he'd never be. But he also had rent to pay, and he wasn't about to let a little glitter get in the way of that.

Peter, now feeling like he'd crossed into a surreal dream he couldn't shake, wandered down to Human Resources. The HR office had a pearly sheen to it, with walls covered in floating, glimmering paperwork. A tall fairy with shimmering blue wings and a clipboard in hand introduced herself as Zilinda, the HR director.

Zilinda handed Peter a stack of papers. "Here's your employment contract," she said cheerfully. "Just sign here, here, and here."

Peter quickly scrawled his name, hardly glancing at the document. As he finished, Zilinda beamed and immediately snapped her fingers, sending a nearby fairy off to retrieve something.

"Perfect! Now, let's go over your role and the perks of being a fairy," Zilinda said, her voice as crisp as her tailored wings.

Just then, the fairy returned, carrying an ensemble Peter could barely believe was real: a mint-green leotard with matching tights, sparkling fairy wings, and a delicate crown that looked like a tiara made from glittering leaves. Peter gawked at it, eyes wide.

Zilinda handed him the outfit, undeterred. "This is your uniform. Fairies are always on duty, so you'll be expected to wear it at all times."

Peter cleared his throat. "Wait... always on duty?"

"Yes!" Zilinda replied brightly. "Our fairies work 24/7 to bring joy and magic to the world. No vacation, as your duties will be ongoing. But don't worry---you won't have to shrink or change your ears, not if you don't want to." She offered this as if it was a special perk.

Peter paled. "Twenty-four... seven? And what about pay?"

"Oh, no monetary compensation," Zilinda said, brushing that detail aside with a flick of her wings. "Instead, you can make wishes. Any small wish, anytime, as long as it aligns with your mission to spread joy."

Peter tried to keep calm. "And... I assume I can, you know, quit?"

Zilinda laughed a high-pitched sound that sounded like bells ringing. "Oh, no, Shalinda."

"Shalinda?" Peter asked, looking confused.

"Of course! All fairy names end in 'linda.' Now that you've signed the contract, your fairy name is Shalinda," Zilinda said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Oh, and about your wand---you're not automatically issued one, but you can purchase one in the employee store, should you feel the need."

Peter finally reached his breaking point. "Look, I didn't realize what I was signing up for. I don't think this job is for me."

Zilinda's smile vanished, replaced by a more formal, nearly stern expression. "Shalinda, I don't think you understand. You signed the contract. You are a fairy now, and there is no resignation process. Very few people apply to be fairies, and we simply can't afford to lose someone once they're on board."

"But my friend told me I could quit if I didn't like it!"