Malik Reed · 21 · A Kitewise story
Malik’s first interview
A bicycle repair technician, a first interview somewhere new, and a question that feels bigger than it needs to.
Fictional characters. Real-life situations. 2 min read.
Read the text version ↓
1 / 4 At the workshop, the words come easily.
Malik: The cable was sticking. I’ve adjusted it—try the brake now.
2 / 4 The night before an interview, “Tell me about yourself” feels different.
Malik: Everything I write sounds like someone else.
Mei: What’s something you helped someone with?
3 / 4 The next day, he has an example. He still needs a moment.
Malik: Could I take a moment to think?
Interviewer: Of course.
Malik: Yesterday, a customer brought in a bike…
4 / 4 He doesn’t know whether he got the job. Lunch is still lunch.
Rowan: How did it go?
Malik: I sounded like me. Also, I’m starving.
Text version of the comic
Panel 1
Malik explains a bicycle repair to a customer in a small workshop.
At the workshop, the words come easily.
Malik: The cable was sticking. I’ve adjusted it—try the brake now.
Panel 2
Malik sits with his notebook while Mei listens across a café table.
The night before an interview, “Tell me about yourself” feels different.
Malik: Everything I write sounds like someone else.
Mei: What’s something you helped someone with?
Panel 3
Malik sits opposite an interviewer in a quiet workshop office.
The next day, he has an example. He still needs a moment.
Malik: Could I take a moment to think?
Interviewer: Of course.
Malik: Yesterday, a customer brought in a bike…
Panel 4
Malik, Mei and Rowan share lunch at an outdoor café table.
He doesn’t know whether he got the job. Lunch is still lunch.
Rowan: How did it go?
Malik: I sounded like me. Also, I’m starving.
Behind the story
A little about Malik.
Malik is 21 and autistic. He combines a maintenance course with part-time work, shares a flat with his cousin and makes tiny illustrated repair guides. He loves soul records, elaborate sandwiches and very bad puns.
After a difficult first job, an autism assessment at 19 helped him understand why unpredictable shifts and overlapping conversations left him exhausted. He is learning to ask for what helps—and to let friends help him too.
One day, he wants his own welcoming repair workshop. Right now, he is figuring out first jobs, rent and how to say no without feeling he has let someone down.
Usually has a notebook. Almost always has a terrible pun.
Meet the others.
