As we left off in Chapter 1, our hero, Bob, had just received his first letter from the Department of Red Tape, informing him that his application for a new toaster had been delayed due to "further review". Little did Bob know, this was just the beginning of a long and arduous journey through the heart of government red tape.
After weeks of waiting, Bob finally received a letter from the department, informing him that his application had been "approved in principle", but would still require another 6-12 months of additional documentation and paperwork before his toaster would be delivered.
Bob was shocked and outraged. "How can a toaster take 6-12 months to arrive?" he cried to his wife, Carol. "It's a toaster, not a rocket ship!"
Carol, ever the voice of reason, reminded Bob that "bureaucracy is a many-splendored thing, my dear", and that perhaps it was best to just "roll with it" and enjoy the process.
And so, Bob resigned himself to his fate, and waited patiently for his toaster to arrive. But little did he know, his troubles were only just beginning...
Continue to Chapter 3: The Infinite Loop of Forms