The Fictional Reality of Tomorrow

I, Kylie Marcellus, am a student of class 8.But , I am not an ordinary school student. I have worked on a machine that can take its passengers to the past or the future; it is a time machine! It took me years of research, hard work and efforts to build it up and I was ready to test it on my birthday! I travelled a century and a half in the future!

I could feel a tranquility that prevailed around me! The time machine had worked! There were hover-cars which floated in air and had no wheels. The streets and even the lanes were spotlessly clean. I could see a lot of greenery around (hopefully people understood the need of trees). I was carrying a polythene bag containing my belongings and was cuddling a teddy bear with other arm. Before I could think of talking to the people around me, a big man came before me and looked angrily at me as he said,” Don’t you know? Plastics are banned in the city. How dare you carry a plastic bag?” An old man happened to pass by just then. He noticed me and offered me help. Some passers-by told the policeman not to punish me and helped me to pick my fallen belongings from the ground and offered me a different bag which wasn't exactly made of plastic, but seemed durable and waterproof. I was overwhelmed by their empathy towards me. The old man looked at me and told me, ”You are looking so exhausted and sick. Why don’t you come with me to my house? I have a grandson who is almost as old as you.” I told him my name but didn’t reveal my identity.

We finally reached his house. I was awestruck! What a house! There were hanging gardens all around, there were solar panels set on the rooftops, the doors seemed to open with passwords and face recognition, the cars rolled up themselves to form robots, there were security glasses on roofs and terraces and many more!

The old man took me to his grandson who was sitting in his E- Library looking at a giant screen. ”My name is Percy.” He said. We introduced ourselves to each other. He was literally wearing technologies! I was looking so primitive in front of him. I couldn’t control my excitement and had said so much at a time,” What are you doing? What are you wearing on your hand? And those shoes? Your robot is awesome!”

Percy said calmly” Have some breathe. I am doing my digital literacy classes now." But we didn’t do these classes. I am familiar to the term ‘Literacy’. Now what is this Digital Literacy?” I replied readily.

 “It is very essential to learn the ethics and internet safety measures because now most of the important works are done via internet, and there are chances of being bullied online as well. To prevent cybercrime and cyber bullying .Digital Literacy has become a popular term these days. Literacy is not enough, Digital Literacy should be promoted to be the Responsible citizens of the Digital World.”

  “And those shoes help me to travel at any speed I want to. They also massage my feet when I am tired. And that pen works with speech. It writes whatever I dictate it verbally. The watch in my hand is mini radiophone where I can listen to songs." He explained me altogether. "Oh! I see, so what is the building beside for? I see that it is has some plants in it. I asked. "Well, it's a greenhouse. It is a place where we grow plants. But strange, aren’t you familiar with these things?” 

With much hesitation, I said, “ I am from the past. I have time travelled. ”He was astounded, ”My goodness! But how did you come here? Now you too have to tell me some stories from the past.” ”Ok, I will certainly.” I replied quickly.

I went on to tell him stories, until I was served food, which I wanted to gobble as I was very hungry. But Percy stopped me,” Wait, wash your hand first. Don’t you remember, the coronavirus pandemic broke out 150 years ago!”