The story behind the story……..
Partly in response to the ‘Lego Movie’ with its incessantly upbeat song ‘Everything is awesome’, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this film. Still, the constant and ‘never-ending positivity’ of the main character Emmet did make me smile.
And it’s this proliferation of positivity on some social media channels that I find can get a little ‘wearing’ at times. I don’t always want or need to be continuously bombarded with happy thoughts, vibes, happy emoji’s or OXOXs. Still, to be fair, I don’t want a load of all negative ‘cr#p’ either.
So, without further ado, I give you:
The Mission…………………………
‘What can I do to help you make a positive change in your life today?’ Chirped the voice from the App as Sylvia tapped on it, more it has to be said from idle curiosity than anything else.
‘I am your Happy App designed to bring joy and positivity to your life.’
‘Don’t think so’, thought Sylvia as she struggled to shut the App down, her curiosity very quickly replaced with irritation.
She had absolutely no recollection of downloading this particular App, and she groaned inwardly as it continued to send notifications, each accompanied with either an emoji or some ‘chirpy’ noise.
It was while it was encouraging her to step fully into her awesomeness that Sylvia, almost stepped into the path of an oncoming bus as she struggled to shut it down.
Not sure how awesome she would have felt under the wheels of a bus, and she may well have needed more than a few healing Chakras to recover. Anyway, after taking note of the ‘salute’ from the clearly shaken driver, Sylvia shut down her phone and resolved to sort it all out once she was safely back at the office. Then she could take a good look at the ‘App’, that had somehow appeared on her phone.
Unfortunately for Sylvia, she had a few issues to deal with as she arrived at work and at some point during a particularly trying exchange with Rex. A long-standing member of her team, she automatically switched on her phone, having forgotten all about the ‘App’.
It wasn’t until she was back in her office that she was reminded of the ‘App’ when it piped up with:
‘I think you could have handled that a little better.’
‘How would you have handled it?’ Sylvia asked somewhat sarcastically as she gazed in astonishment at her phone. She had in her heated exchange with Rex, completely forgotten about the ‘App’ and her intention to sort it out.
To her amazement, her phone started to vibrate in her hand, as though it were thinking and then announced:
‘I might well have arranged another time to talk through the issue in greater detail, rather than trying to sort it all, at that moment.’
There was something in its’ tone, that brought Sylvia close to throwing it across her office. Instead, Sylvia chose to take a few steadying breaths as she considered the ‘App’s response.
It was true that the issue was more complex and involved than a quick chat in the corridor merited and Rex had seemed decidedly unnerved by the exchange.
Still, it was one thing to be bombarded with ‘happy notifications’, it was quite another to have the thing eavesdropping on her conversations and chipping in with advice. Even if it was well-meant.
‘How do I get rid of you?’ She asked, clearly there was no need to type anything if it could just listen in.
‘You can’t’ came back the reply, almost instantly ‘I will only leave once my mission is complete.’
‘What mission?’ Croaked Sylvia, she was feeling decidedly ‘freaked ‘out by this whole exchange, and she resolved to renew her phone and number at the weekend.
There is no sound as the words ‘To make you happy’ come up on the screen.
Until next time
Janice Taylor
shortstoriesblogger 