07 July 2010

The Internet (fiction ... virtually)

The man decides to stay home from work for the day. He feels he deserves a mental health day, even though such a civilized option is not specifically outlined in his contract. He phones in to explain that he has a bad cough, and that a cold is imminent. Everyone understands. Then, indeed, he makes himself a cup of tea, and several slices of perfectly toasted rye bread, spread with butter and strawberry jam, and he sits at his computer and begins to surf (as they say) the internet. 


It's been a few weeks since he's used the internet for something other than work, so it takes him some time to find a site that he likes, but at last he settles for an interactive one on which he can share himself with others like him. 


As I've noted, it's been a few weeks since the man has spent time on this site, much less any site, so it takes him some time to recognize certain things that, surely, you or I would pick up on much more quickly. For instance, as he updates his status it takes him some minutes to notice the "chat" button in the bottom right of his screen. When he does notice that it indicates that there is one person to chat with, and that this person calls himself "the man" as well, and wants to chat, he smiles to himself and clicks, and types, "Hey! Having a good day off?"


"Yup" the man replies. "It's been weeks since I spent time online, and I felt I needed a mental health day, so I phoned in sick."


"Hey," the man replies. "Me too! Exactly!"


"Well now," says the man. "It's good to meet someone who thinks like I do!"


"Indeed," says the man. And the two men chat like this for the entire day, allowing for lunch, snacks, and the occasional bathroom break which, of course, they both ask for at exactly the same time. 


A more symbiotic relationship could not be attained. So much so that the man decided to phone in sick again the next day. His cough was really much, much worse.


The ride in (to work to pick up a fax, and then fax it back)     Temp 24'C Wind 35 - 40 ks SW
The ride home                                                                       Temp 24'C Wind 35 - 40 ks SW

See you at the Folk Fest? (I'll be at Snowberry during the days.)

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