Monthly Archives: September 2011

Media is full of stories of Euro meltdown fear. Bailing out failing economies and the dropping Euro are all signs to bring fear into the hearts of those seeing their savings melt away.

There is still hope out there. We asked what the average person on the streets thought.

“Meltdown? You mean global warming? Ho, ho, ho. The sack is always full for smiling children.”

As the eternal optimist in the red suit waddled off down the road, it made me think, “What gift would the European Central Bank like this Christmas or would they just get lumps of coal for naughty countries?”

Morning in class was filled with excited learners. As I passed, each would smile broadly at me then return to the activities. Break was approaching. It was time to call them together.

“Does anyone have any suggestions for our next session?”

One child suggested, “Sir, you could remove the makeup.”

I remembered my young daughter’s farewell as I left for school, “You look pretty now daddy.”

After a late night, I had dozed off at breakfast in the morning.

“Out of the mouths of babes,” I sighed as I looked in a mirror and realised what my daughter had meant when saying I now looked pretty.

For many years Jean and Albert walked through life together. Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren had blessed their lives.

Every day since retiring, they walked to the nearby park to sit and enjoy their time together. Their favourite garden feature was an unusual sculpture. It was reminiscent of a human form.

As time passed, so did Jean.

Albert returned to the park and his memories. A shadow touched his face. He turned to their favourite sculpture and smiled. The heart shape torso had never flowered before but was now covered in red blooms.

Albert knew Jean’s spirit was with him.

Mary thought nothing of the future. Why should she? Her life had been fun and games. Her path was chosen.

Today was her Learning Day.

She removed the interface from the wall socket, connected herself via the port children had installed at birth. Her download had begun.

Two hours later she emerged from her room. Her face showed a new confidence born of the knowledge she now had uploaded to her enhanced mind. Tomorrow she would start her new career.

Her mother, an historian, marvelled, “In your great grandparents’ days, you’d have attended school for years.”

Mary frowned, “Snail learning? How quaint.”