The player goes to local shoe maker, extorted by the "family." The owner says that business has been slow, that he doesn't have the full amount. He promises he will have it next time. If our player lets him slide then he fails, for a mafia don wouldn't show weakness for shorts or losses!
There's a problem with this. The player isn't supposed to know until near the end of the game that what he's been going through is a test for suitability. Therefore, he wouldn't be collecting "protection money." He's just some guy on the street (see notes about Lunch below).
So, this is a good idea, however, to fit the plot, the player would see the thugs collecting protection money. If he tries to stop them, he's a do-gooder and therefore doesn't pass this test. However, if he decides it's none of his business, well, one of the main tenets of organized crime is "Mind your own business. I'll mind mine." :)
About lunch. What I think makes it so interesting is that the player will wonder "Why does that guy shoot me for eating chinese?" He doesn't know it's a test. As far as the player knows, the player character just some guy off the street, just going about his life.
Here, give this a shot :
http://zmpp.sourceforge.net/games/play.php?name=9:05%20(Adam%20Cadre)&storyfile=905.z5
and you'll see the stark difference between what the player knows and what the author knows. It's really short. And worth it even if you were not designing a text adventure. Play it twice. :)
—hartnell
