One of the most foolish beliefs a person can hold is the belief that things are so bad they couldn't get any worse.This workplace novel is about a young man in his late twenties employed as a file clerk for a large insurance company in downtown Phoenix. His low salary is further reduced by deductions for two alimonies and one child support payment because of some bad decisions he made in his early twenties. He can't afford food or shelter. At the end of the day he pretends to leave with everyone else but with the contrivance of an elderly watchman sneaks back into the building for the night. He sleeps on plastic bags of shredded paper and eats by stealing food from refrigerators in the galleys scattered through the building. This is his situation at the beginning of The Artificial Lizard.Hope resides in the company suggestion box which he confuses with a wishing well. Could an idea to improve the company cause any harm?