Forced Compliance Not Necessary

Some people knew this would happen. The chips in our heads, I mean. Everyone laughed. Isn't that funny?

The crazy part: even the conspiracy nuts had a mobile phone. Everyone walked around with the "chip" glued to their hand, eyes glued to chip.

I've spent my whole life connected to the Net, and so did my parents and my spouse. When we married, we had our streams merged, like almost everyone else.

When Mum died, we had her digital self enhanced by AI and stored on a memory stick. It's nice to still be able to talk with her. She wakes us up for work, starts the coffee, shops groceries.

When our babies were born, we set them on the same pathway we'd trodden, just like our parents did to for us.

When I peeked into my son's nursery at night, his eyes were flicking side to side, his hands reaching in response to what he could see. His face christened in blue. Better than screaming for his parents, no?

He was a contented little baby, so happy being Connected 24/7 that he didn't signal often enough for feeds. His suckling was lacklustre. He was readmitted to hospital for failure to thrive. We had to set alarms to interrupt our streaming and remind us to feed him.

Now there's a new kind of virus. No one is able to access the Net. We're adrift.

Babies scream again. Nurses mutter that they're like babies born addicted to substances. That can't be right. They're just unhappy! We must find a way to re-connect. For their sake.

My daughter's exhausted. Without the Net, her son needs her 24/7. Honestly, I don't think she has it in her. Surely nobody does!

When kids whine, the oldies say, "Go outside". Why! What's outside?

I've lost access to all my friends. They live all over the world. My sister is a mental health nurse. She says isolation is the worst. The oldies grumble you should have friends you can have a cuppa with.

Some say this crisis isn't real; it's a government ploy. They wonder, What might we have to agree to or give up to get back online? More stupid conspiracies.

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Word count: (excluding author's note): 366

Submitted on: 17th May at 18.07

*Quick Author's Note*

First, and most importantly: thank you so much for reading my story! The ha'penny that Vocal will pay me for your eyeballs landing on this humble piece will be well-spent. Another platinum toilet, and maybe I'll pay Elton John to come and sing Happy Birthday to my mum.

If you enjoyed this one, the very best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another!

A Year of Stories: I'm writing a story every day this year. This one continues my 139 day streak since 1st January!

Please do consider lending your support to the other creators who are also on this madcap "a story every day" adventure. They are putting out excellent content every day!

Rachel Deeming

Gerard DiLeo

Leave a comment: Please do leave me a comment. It makes it easier to reciprocate the read.

The story behind the story: Have you seen this before?

I found it funny and relatable at first. After writing this cheery piece, not so much!

I was also channeling an episode of The Simpsons. Have you seen it?

I almost called this story "Worse Than Whips". That title was inspired by a Pratchett book called Interesting Times. They say the people on the Counterweight Continent are oppressed by something worse than whips. I changed it because I wanted to leave that aspect of it open - is it a government conspiracy, or not? That's up to you, the reader.

I also deliberately left the ending a bit of a dangler. There isn't an ending, really, is there? Not a satisfying one, where everyone goes out and touches grass, anyway. We are always going to need to be Connected.

Thank you

Thank you again, most especially if you are one of the wonderful people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and appreciate you 😁

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