ENERGY (any gender, mid twenties to late life)
The old ways were definitely NOT better ways. Dad was always telling me about what a nightmare it was, when the money stuff was our currency. All the worries, all the confusion:
How many hours do I need to work for the money?
How much of the money am I spending on house payments?
How much of the money can I spend on FUN things?
WHEN do I need to pay the money and for WHICH of the twenty different things will it be?
[cough, cough]
No, we're VERY lucky to have the implant. I can't imagine living in a time when there WEREN'T automatic withdrawals of our energy. These days, we don't have to do that "work" thing, we don't have to do that "money" thing--
[cough, cough]
We purchase what we need and the implant just transfers a piece of my energy--
[cough]
sorry, a piece of OUR energy to whatever maintenance system needs it. I never thought about this, sweetie, but I could actually be powering an entire fleet of auto farmers right n--
[cough, cough, cough]
So, I totally support your campaign. We should, we MUST keep the implants. I support your cause, sweetie. OUR cause. But it's just that my energy is really running a bit lower than I remember it ever--
[cough]
than I remember it ever being and I think my immune system is
[cough]
and I love you and I trust you but
[cough, cough, cough, COUGH, COUGH, COUGH, COUGH]
[pause for a deep breaths]
Sweetie I do need to ask you because our account is mutual: How much HAVE you been spending on this campaign?
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes. If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage"