The artist opens the story by thanking the director for calling him back. He asks if the director is sick, and the director says that he is. The artist asks if he has cut his hand, and he says that it is okay, but that he will not buy any more art supplies from the shop. He tells the director that he has been doing odd jobs all day, and that the director has allowed him to stay in the studio all night, so he will just make an excuse and get the director out of there. He then asks the artist if his injury is still there, and when the artist says it is, the artist flinches and says that his hand is still hurt. He goes off to find his phone, which is on the desk.