Career fair Day

===><===== <img src= "https://i.imgur.com/lqGm2bP.jpg"> <==> On a morning like any other the protagonist of our story, Marty, woke up to yet another day of school... Mumbling as he got dressed with a nose that wouldn't stop itching he had a nagging feeling that he was forgetting something important that morning. [["What's the date again?"]] [["Nah, it's probably just my stomach telling me I'm hungry, ready for its first nibble of the day..."]]

=><= <img src= "https://i.imgur.com/kA0E3r0.jpg"> <==> Checks calendar... It's the <b>Career Fair Day</b> at School! A sense of panic and dread overwhelms our poor protagonist. Marty's shoulders slump as he picks up his school bag and heads for the door. [[Off to school I go then]]

==><===== <img src="https://i.imgur.com/kA7aZ3U.jpg"> <==> All over the school, there are stalls set up with strangers dressed in fancy suits and dresses. (text-style: "shudder")[Gulp...] Should I go look at any of the stalls? What if I'm not good enough for any of the jobs they have? [["What will I tell Mom?"]] [[Should I just pack my bags now and run away?]]

=><= (text-colour:"grey")[(text-style: "italic")[Marty's imaginary conversation with his Mom.]] <==> "Mom, I'm sorry I'm a loser. They told me I couldn't be any of those things...'' "Well then... you most definitely cannot be my son... No son of mine would turn out such a failure..." No... Mom wouldn't say that. She isn't like that... [[I guess I'll have to hope for the best...]]

=><= (text-colour:"grey")[(text-style:"italic")[Marty thinks to himself...]] <==> What about my brothers and sisters? I can't leave my family... [[I guess I'll have to hope for the best...]]

=><= <img src="https://i.imgur.com/kQvEFao.jpg"> <==> Marty sees a bright blue sign sticking out amongst all the stalls. Its like it's calling out to him... [["Yesss!!! This could be exactly what I've been looking for"]]

=><= <img src="https://i.imgur.com/bqHKVUy.jpg"> (text-style:"bold")[The sign reads:] (text-colour: "red")[(text-style: "bold")[Career Aptitude Test]] (text-style:"italic")[Find out who you are meant to be.] <==> Marty scurries closer, suddenly hopeful that this stall could have all the answers. "Excuse me, Sir?" "Yes... Can I help you?" "I... I saw the sign...the career test?" "Oh... You're interested in taking one?" "Uhm...Yeah, I think so." "Well then, let's get started. This is a grand test. It's helped millions just like you and it shouldn't take us longer than two minutes to find out what you're destined for." Marty's ears perk up as he cannot believe his luck! He didn't think this is how his day would turn out. "Are you ready?" "Yes!" "No need to shout, young buck" [["Question 1"]]

"Well let's see here..." The tester takes his clipboard and pages through some ratty looking documents before he clears his throat. "A question on your general health to start us off..." "Are you allergic to anything?" =><= <img src="https://i.imgur.com/bWRTadv.jpg"> <==> [[Yes, I'm deathly allergic to quite a lot of things actually]] [[No, I'm the only one in my family without any allergies]]

"Noted, well we've already eliminated one career option then. Not to worry. On to the next question." "How do you feel about heights?" The career tester peers kindly over his clipboard as he looks at our young protagonist who seems a little worried that he has already lost out on one potential career. [[I guess I don't mind them]] [[Eek...No thanks! My brother once dangled me from a tree branch... worst experience of my life.|"I think I'm more of a home-body really"]]

=><= <img src="https://i.imgur.com/1vrAqgm.jpg"> <==> "And needles? How do you feel about them?" [[Yeah... all good]] [[Nope... nope...nope...|Yes, I'm deathly allergic to quite a lot of things actually]]

==><===== <img src="https://i.imgur.com/Qr626HR.jpg"> <==> Fantastic! "And do you think of yourself as the adventurous type?" [["Well... I guess so, I used to go on all sorts of adventures with my brothers"]] [["I think I'm more of a home-body really"]]

"Fantastic! Were doing really well..." "One more question and we might cinch the deal here and might I say that would be in record-time..." "Are you prepared to work in a role to serve a worthy cause?" [[Yes! I want to do my part!]] [[Well... it depends...]]

"Congratulations!!! The test reveals you should become..." [[Reveal career]]

"Okay... okay..." "Let's see here, what question is next?" "What about gravity? Feel very attached to uhm... Earth?" =><= <img src="https://i.imgur.com/35FDT2A.jpg"> <==> [[Uhm... haven't given it much thought but I think I like my feet planted firmly on the ground|"I think I'm more of a home-body really"]] [[I don't think it's an issue. Why?|I guess I don't mind them]]

"A consultant in R & D" [[Click for more info]]

Marty takes a pamphlet from the old man on how to enrol into the junior R & D consultants program. You see, Marty (the mouse)... (text-style:"italic")[Gee, I hope you figured that out by now... There were clues you know.] and his mousey friends are sought after consultants in laboratory studies around the world. Don't worry- they don't do tests on them anymore but their vast experience in the field has helped them transition in a consultant's role in R & D. They are after all, very intelligent creatures. (link: "click here for more info")[(goto-url: 'https://www.peta.org/features/hidden-lives-rats-mice/')] =><= The End [[Go back to the start|Start]]

"Excellent!" The old man seems genuinely pleased with his work "I think we found the job for you then..." Marty suddenly feels a bit panicked... [[Click here to reveal what career Marty should pursue]]

=><= <img src="https://i.imgur.com/WceWSs5.jpg"> <==> "Ahh well... Moving on to the next question then." "Do you think you could work well with children?" [[Yeah! I love them. Fascinating creatures]] [[Uhm... they tend to be afraid of me for some reason. I'd rather not.]]

"You seem like a great fit for the Space Force. You know they are planning on heading to Mars pretty soon?" You see before humans can be sent on missions into outer space, they rely on a team of highly trained non-human colleagues to help conduct the tests needed before the journey begins. By joining the Force, you will join the noble ranks of Heroes like Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum and Phooey. (link: "click here for more info")[(goto-url: 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fe,_Fi,_Fo,_Fum,_and_Phooey')] Oh, dear... Are you a little lost? Did I forget to mention that Marty isn't exactly well human? Marty is in fact a mouse... Don't blame me here... I wasn't the one to make assumptions in the story and let's be honest, there were some clues to help you along. It's not only humans that need to explore career options you know. Even our tiny friends have some hard choices to make in life but luckily others of his kind have paved the way to greatness and they have excelled in a variety of industries. International Space Exploration is a fine career indeed. =><= The End [[Go back to the start|Start]]

=><= <img src="https://i.imgur.com/4pae9tc.jpg"> <==> "Then I think we almost have it!" "Last question, it's a biggy" "What about night shifts? Think you could handle them? It's a bit of a deal-breaker here I'm afraid..." [[Sure, I'm a bit of a night owl anyway... oops, I should have probably phrased that better]] [[Mom says we need our beauty rest]]

"I see..." "No need to worry. What about the IT sector? Do you want to be at the forefront of developing new cutting edge technology?" "Riveting stuff." [[That sounds awesome, Dad says that the tech sector is always growing. Huge demand.]] [[I don't care for circuit boards, no thank you! Mom says computers can't be trusted|Mom says we need our beauty rest]]

'Voila! Puzzle solved then. Young buck, we have your career lined up." [[Click to find out what Marty should become]]

Fantastic! "I'm happy to tell you that we have a career that is a perfect fit then!" [[Click to reveal career]]

"Good point. Smart lady..." "Are you by any chance a creative type? Do you like entertaining others?" =><= <img src="https://i.imgur.com/TP4CvSb.jpg"> <==> [[Why yes... I'm always day-dreaming and I love the arts.]] [[Do you know what, I think I changed my mind, I'd rather work in IT|That sounds awesome, Dad says that the tech sector is always growing. Huge demand.]]

=><= <img src="https://i.imgur.com/k6Vrz4T.jpg"> You should enrol in the (text-style:"bold")[Tooth Mouse Academy]. <==> A noble career path indeed and with children's teeth falling out at an unprecedented rate due to all that candy they're eating it's a job that will keep you very busy and it pays well. You see, Marty is a mouse after all... Did I forget to tell you that? One of the oldest and most revered career paths that any mouse can hope to pursue is that of becoming a tooth mouse. Beloved by children and serving a noble cause, they keep the name, "Mouse" held up high. (link: "click here for more info")[(goto-url: 'https://folklorethursday.com/folktales/childrens-teeth-mice-take/')] =><= The End [[Go back to the start|Start]]

"Then by golly we've got it..." [[Click to see Marty's new career]]

=><= <img src="https://i.imgur.com/r8PlUC9.jpg"> <==> "You should join the ranks of the other great stars among us and dedicate your life to the arts and entertaining others." "To think... Your name could be up there with Mickey, Jerry, Speedy and Fievel...."(link: "click here for more info")[(goto-url: 'https://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-mouse-characters/reference')] Oh did I forget to tell you that Marty is a mouse? Oh bother... No excuses here, I should have maybe added that tidbit at the start. But look at you, making assumptions that only humans have to choose a careerpath? Mice have options too you know. Mice have a long and proud tradition of being talentful actors and have been muses to many artists. Marty will certainly do fine in this industry and you might just see a movie starring Marty the Mouse in a year or two. Look out Hollywood! =><= The End [[Go back to the start|Start]]

=><= <img src="https://i.imgur.com/MSTEdnD.jpg"> <==> The career test has revealed that Marty should join the bustling IT sector as a PC mouse designer. You see, who better to advise humans on what makes for the perfect computer mouse design than a mouse itself? They know exactly what characteristics need to be present for that ultimate user-experience. It's a booming industry and our mousey friends are struggling to keep up with demand. There's the design, the testing and quality checks that need attention before the stamp of approval can be given by the mouse community to the piece of tech. that is their namesake. (link: "click here for more info")[(goto-url: 'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_mouse')] Oh... Did I forget to tell you that Marty is a mouse? Sorry about the oversight... but hey, you're smart... you should have figured it out by now (there were some clues after all). =><= The End [[Go back to the start|Start]]

=><= <img src="https://i.imgur.com/5Cntwz2.jpg"> <==> Mmmm... tasty... Breakfast was delicious but it didn't do anything about the feeling in Marty's tummy. [["What's the date again?"]]

===><===== <img src="https://i.imgur.com/YPaswca.gif"> =><= [[Begin game|A morning like any other...]] [[Credits]]