Very Short Story - Face to Face

I've been saying for many years that the future of the human race is depicted with uncanny foresight in the Disney film WALL-E. I wrote this story for a challenge piece a good decade ago now and my convictions on this matter are firmer than ever!

Face to Face

“What is it?”

Abraham glanced over at his student as he stared at the cracked, dusty device they had just carefully trowelled out of the withered earth and heaps of lifeless brick that formed the Desolation of Manchester. It looked so innocent, so innocuous, so bright and helpful, with not a shadow or a hint of what would spring up from it visible in its sleek design.

“This was the beginning of the end,” he told her solemnly. “This was the first device that made it all too easy.”

Rebekah blinked at him. “It doesn’t look like much,” she remarked.

Abraham smiled ruefully. “It doesn’t need to. That was the problem. But it did everything – it stored their music and their information, it gave them access to entertainment, to guidance, to everything they needed at their fingertips, wherever they might be. It’s said it started use as a voice communication device though after a time, that was mostly forgotten. People came to depend upon it, to need it and to expect all that they needed, all that they wanted, wherever they were, all of the time. Face to face and even voice to voice communication was abandoned in favour of social networking. Then came the implants. And soon, no one even bothered to leave their houses as technology grew more and more convenient. Images of outdoors, collections of friends, the virtual experience, was better than the real thing.”

“There weren’t enough people left to watch over growing food.” Rebekah knew this part of the story. “And nobody noticed.”

Abraham sighed. “And if our ancestors hadn’t been technophobes, we would have starved right there with them. We must be grateful for that. Because of them, of the wifi black-spot hideaway they established in the Lake District, we have a chance to start again.” He pulled himself awkwardly to his feet. “Come on. Let’s take this to show the others. They need to learn how dangerous it is.”

Rebekah smiled. “And we do it face to face, right?”

Abraham nodded. “Face to face. Remember that if nothing else. Always face to face.”

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