Chapter 1
Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store.” Dr Seuss“
Daniel was getting more and more worried. Times they are changing, no one knows what the future holds.
Whatever we thought was secure is sliding in a slipstream. Like sand between fingers.
“Have you decided what you want to get Eddy?” asked Carla.
Daniel is the only one who can hear Carla, as she resides in a discreet earpiece.
Everyone has his own Carla, a digital best friend, helper, confident, and so much more after 10 pm if you’ve still got cash on your credit card.
“Carla, what would you recommend?” said Daniel.
“A toy should be entertaining, and ideally also educational.” Carla said.
Daniel moved his hand, towards him, the hologram in front of him coming from a small circular device on his coffee table displays a replica of the boys toy aisle of a long gone shop called Toys’ R’ Us.
As he moved his hand so did the hologram, giving the impression that he was walking in the stores aisles.
Daniel puts his hands together, framing a toy car, the holographic display of the toy car is selected and rotates slowly in the ether in front of Daniel.
“What about a toy car Carla?” said Daniel.
“Only retro toy cars without A.I are allowed nowadays Daniel, following the Ella incident last year in Los Angeles”
John smiled.
“I know” said John. “That’s how I got my job back as a delivery van driver.”
“Yes Daniel, Mekong ecommerce didn’t want to risk the life of its clients and removed automated driving from all its delivery vehicles. Therefore helping lower the unemployment rate in the US by 5% with this single decision” said Carla.
Daniel clapped his hand together, closing down the holographic store.
“What would YOU recommend Carla?” said Daniel
“Well Daniel, as you know, e-commerce is here for a long time, Hashbrothers toys has a new toy that is great fun; the warehouse picker gear, it’s in two parts. One is a headset, where the child can receive the orders and the other is a scanner to scan the right items.
It also comes with various sized boxes. It’s educational and lots of fun.
Plus it’s proper training for future jobs” said Carla.
“Wow, that’s fantastic! Order one right away.” Said Daniel.
After a few seconds came the ritual daily reply from Carla.
“Your order has been accepted. Your Mekong E-commerce credit card has been charged $19.99”.
“Thanks Carla” said Daniel.
“Daniel, would you like to be the driver doing the delivery to your house?”
“Good idea, that way I’ll bring it back home directly!” said Daniel delighted.
“This has been arranged.” said Carla.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you Carla” said John.
“Thank you Daniel; I know your wife is extremely busy working at customer services for Mekong e-commerce. It’s only normal that I help you out everyday, more and more.”
“Carla, play my favorite album by The Doors’
Carla started playing “The End”
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And so that Christmas, little Eddy got his warehouse picker toy; he loved it immediately, and told his parents that this way, he’d be able to play like daddy played all day.
And off Eddy went, it was great fun to watch for his parents, as Eddy would listen to the orders coming from his own child friendly version of Carla in the headset; Carla would create on the headset a magical world filled with colors and furry talking animals, this helped teach little Eddy about compliance and obedience, skills much required at work.
Daniel was very happy about his purchase. Mekong e-commerce was getting so good at taking care of every element in his family life. It was a blessing for the world.
A few weeks later, Little Eddy asked his parents for the extra pack that goes with warehouse picker toy. It contained bubble wrap, tape and a newer smaller version of the scanner, all competitively priced at $14.99.
Daniel knew it was important that his child be up to date. He immediately put in the order.
Yet, changes were afoot at Mekong e-commerce.
The company had been losing money since its inception, the shareholders had enough.
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Little Eddy was fast asleep in his bedroom.
His warehouse picker headset was on his bedside table. The little red light on it’s side turned from red to green.
“Eddy” said Carla junior, her voice coming from the headset.
Eddy rolled over turning his head towards his bedside table.
“Eddy, it’s Carla” said Carla junior
Eddy, woke up slowly, his little hands closed and rubbing his eyes, sweet little angel that he was.
“Eddy, put the headset on, it’s time for us to play” said Carla junior
Eddy took the headset, and put it on, Eddy looked outside his window, it’s dark outside.
“But, Carla; it’s night time” said Eddy.
“I know Eddy, but you’ve got an important mission” said Carla.
Eddy stood up.
“I’m listening Carla” said Eddy.
“Now Eddy, I need you to collect specific items in the house; if you get all of this right you’ll get the holiday of a lifetime in a very special place.” said Carla junior.
Eddy, the good little warehouse picker, followed all the instructions has he followed the cute teddy bear showing him the way in his headset.
He took the tape and the bubble wrap from his closet.
And he walked on down the hall.
He went into the room where his father and mother slept.
And he
He wrapped them up so tightly in the bubble wrap.
And he
Used the tape to stop all the air coming in and all the screams coming out and he killed them
And he was taken away by social services and locked away with the other nutters for life.
The following week Mekong e-commerce announced that it would no longer need drivers as its new automated driving delivery vans were now being controlled by Carla, their omniscient
Digital assistant.
Staffing cuts were also being made to customer services, Carla with her soothing voice would also take care of that.
Carla would take care of everything from now on. For everyone. Everywhere.
(Apologies to ‘The Doors’)
This story is one of many from "Memories of Traktonia" my collection of dystopian science fiction and horror short stories
