Journeying to the Dystopian Realm (Story #4

Journeying to the Dystopian Realm (Story #4 – Time Tunnel)

In the bustling city of an unspecified year, the norm for workers during lunchtime was to step out for a refreshing drink, a tradition that was well-loved and observed by many. Among these workers was Gaz, a poet and dreamer, who often joked about residing in a garret, due to his small top-floor flat.

Gaz, a self-proclaimed sci-fi enthusiast, had developed his love for the genre during his school days. His passion for the fantastical was not hidden, and a colleague once described him as a 'poet and a dreamer'. In fact, Gaz had even penned down stories, with 'Tripping to Dystopia' being one of them.

On a typical day, Gaz and a fellow colleague, referred to as the speaker in this narrative, decided to take a humorous approach to their work-life. They considered taking a day trip to Glasgow, jokingly referring to it as a trip to Dystopia, and applying for leave. This playful banter was not uncommon for these two, who often found solace in their shared sense of humour.

Their conversation took an interesting turn when the speaker mentioned reading a publication called "Covidiary", written by Ian Morris, in a year of a pandemic called Covid-19. Gaz, intrigued, found the description of future Glasgow, as depicted in Frank Scott's work, plausible after reading the Covidiary. Frank Scott, a name familiar to Gaz from a training course, was described as being vocal and full of himself in sessions, much like Peter, the enforcement officer, who was not known for his intelligence but for his ability to speak a good game to get ahead.

As the day wore on, the speaker and Gaz found themselves unsure about the reason for their meeting with their Line Manager, George Fellows, who was known to be old-school and not great with people. They speculated about the possibility of their time travel incident being ridiculed by their coworkers, a concern that weighed heavily on their minds.

During their lunch break, the duo visited The Prince, a local pub, where they enjoyed sandwiches and lagers. However, upon their return, they were met by Peter, who accused them of drinking on their break. Gaz, with his characteristic wit, replied that they would be laughed at if they brought the time travel incident to the attention of authorities.

As they prepared to face Mr. Fellows in his office, they couldn't help but discuss their fears and uncertainties. The future was uncertain, both in terms of their work and their time travel adventures. But one thing was clear - Gaz and the speaker faced these uncertainties with their characteristic humour and resilience.