Short Story

Man With A Van

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

This is The Unicorn Challenge
where we are encouraged to write
a story in 250 words or less using
the photo below as inspiration.

© Ayr/Gray

Finding himself suddenly unemployed, Omar anguished over supporting his family. One would think having a biomedical engineering degree would open many doors but the job search proved more difficult than he imagined. His wife Waris had been a registered midwife in Somalia and was willing to go back to work but Omar was too proud to allow her to be the only breadwinner in the family. He would find work if it was the last thing he did. Waris encouraged Omar to look outside his comfort zone; it was then that he saw the ad in Craig’s List.

Drive With Uber – Be Your Own Boss – Must Have Van
For information call 888-555-BOSS

Omar called the number; a man with a strange accent answered. “UberBoss” was all he said.

“Um, yes” replied Omar haltingly. “I’m calling about the ad.”

“Text photo of your driver’s license. We’ll be in touch.”

“That’s it? Don’t I need to take a test or something?” Omar asked.

“Look, buddy. You want the job or you want to play 20 questions?” the man replied sarcastically.

“Yes, I’m interested, but what is the pay, please?” inquired Omar.

The man sighed impatiently. “Is negotiable; UberBoss gets 30% commission.”

Omar was stunned. “That seems a bit exorbitant!”

“That’s the going rate, buddy. Take it or leave it”.

Considering he currently had no income, Omar accepted.

“Ok, buddy. Someone will call. You have van?”

“Yes, I have a van but what is….…..”

Click. Within the hour Omar received his first assignment.

NAR©2025
250 Words

This is “Smuggler’s Blues” by Glenn Frey

The Unicorn Challenge-20/06/25

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, The Rhythm Section, et al., and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

35 thoughts on “Man With A Van”

  5. it seems to have ebbed, this uber infection*

    for a while there, was thinking we’d be seeing Uber-Dental (motto: ‘if you have pliers we have toothaches‘)

    *computer tech to enable the middleman economy

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  6. Oh, my heart goes out to Omar, he’s in the situation so many of my students found themselves in, highly skilled but unable to work in their new country, obliged to take any job, and still living under the cultural norms of the land they’ve fled.
    Such a lot in this story, Nancy.
    My hopes are not high for Omar, but maybe he’ll meet one of the many, many good people out there…
    Sorry, a bit of a serious comment, but I see so many faces passing before my eyes…

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    1. The tone of your comment doesn’t matter, Jenne …. only the words. And your words were important and meaningful. My story was not meant to be a joke. As you know all too well, we all relate to situations, stories, movies, etc., differently, just like we all see something different in your photo prompts. In whichever way my readers comment, I will comment in kind (unless it’s something totally offensive or uncomplimentary toward me personally; then, watch out!) Thank you for an extremely eye-opening, insightful and reflective comment, Jenne. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.

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      1. Gracias, …. his ass, his grass, 😂 …( I have no idea what I’m saying, … the heat round here has coddled my brains, … I know it’s hotter elsewhere in the world , but flipping heck Nancy, … We’re 82°F …🥵 for the UK that’s scorched earth ! ) …🧊🧊🧊

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