DREAM OF THE FUTURE

Was it a dream or a nightmare that I found myself advanced 100 years into the future? I was standing beside the Thames embankment. Well that’s what it used to be called in 2007. The sight that emerged before my eyes was hardly the vision I had of London when I went there on new years Day 2007.

I saw a stretch of water that extended to the south of what was old Father Thames. Ships replaced what were high-rise buildings. I could see the tops of some building with warning lights fixed upon them.

Around me mingled many people in light tropical clothing. What caught my attention was the age of these people. They all seemed to be the same age in looks 20 to 25. No children or older people.

I was puzzled where technology and science taken us 100 years from 2007 had. Nobody looked younger than 20 or older than 25 and all displayed a green tinted appearance to their faces and other visible parts of their anatomy, there seemed on the face of it to be no distinction between male or female all looked to my eyes the same. Like viewing the features of an alien creature but were human without any distinguishing features.

Had time evolved that the birth of offspring had been halted, over 25s eliminated. No I became aware of not killed but regeneration that all would

Be saved from the aging process

I was aware of vehicles in the sky going too and fro and yet an absence of any organisation as many seemed to heading for collision but remarkably diverted before such an incident could occur. Obviously technology had advanced beyond the human conception of 2007. I noticed many people entering into large shelters and a few` minutes later other people emerging as if they had come back from another place. I was aware this was what many SF writers were to refer to as teleportation capsules.

I walked towards one of these capsules and as I did so I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a mirror. I too looked as other people 20/25 and green tinted texture.

I entered the capsule as if this was my every day occurrence. I visualised a selection of numbers on a board just by thinking about it and the numbers flashed up. A blinding light encompassed me and as I came out of the light I walked out of the capsule onto a desert like terrain and entered into one of the similar flying machines I had seen in London. I was without the aid of a pilot whisked across the desert and a speed hitherto unknown to man to a destination where I seemed to recognise used to be Washington in USA. Obviously it was but now a coastal town.

This was just a glimpse of mankind’s future and was unconceivable to a generation living in 2007

SEVEN MARRIAGES

Harry Wilson was not what you would call a good looking guy. He never had been. Now at 79 he was looking older and haggard but he had something about him that women liked, He was a very polite jovial man and his charisma had the women buzzing around him like bees round a hive. His height was a big attraction at 6foot 4 inches and old and like admired him. In the supermarkets it was always the little women that would seek his favours to reach the top shelves. It would not be unusual for him to take a variety of different women back to his semi attached dwelling on the outskirts of Manchester.

I hardly like to think that he was capable of intimacy at his age though in his younger years he had been active judging by the 6 wives that he had married. All passing on to the other side ahead of him.

His first wife he met when he came out of the RAF at 22. She died in a skiing accident in the Alps. His second wife hit by a police car in Moss side. He had a few lady friends until he reached 45 when he met and married an old RAF friend’s widow at his funeral following a plane crash in Cyprus. Alas she came to an untimely death just 6 months after he married her, following a head on car collision

in the Lake District. Wife number 4 just few months later but she was already on her way out with inoperable cancer. Number five came along he was already 65 and met her at a supermarket. The little lady of 76 he helped obtain a bottle of sauce from the top shelf. She died some 6 years later Once again Harry was on his own at the age of 71. It did not take him long to find wife number 6 at the local old peoples club. So on his 73^rd birthday Harry went up the aisle. He had not been married more than a few hours when his new wife suffered a massive heart attack and passed away the same day.

Harry was still courted by many ladies older than him. He was reluctant to go for number 7 older than himself. Mind you he did meet a much younger lady on the bus coming back from the City centre to his own home. She was only 30 but he was besotted with her. So at the age of 75 he took her as his wife and low and behold he was called home 4 years later.

His late wife reaped the benefit of his accumulation of wealth obtained from his 6 former wives. For a former RAF Squadron leader he left his widow with a substantial inheritance of over 1 million pounds. Strange that for all his wealth He lived moderately never went on holiday overseas. Since his RAF days he loathed flying and was even more afraid of drowning at sea having been torpedoed twice towards the end of the 2^nd world war. He was returning home from having escaped from a prison of war camp after being shot down over France.

A CHANCE MEETING

This story was told to me by a trucker along time ago. It is hard to believe but none the less I will tell it as he told me.

I had just left Glasgow at 4 am in the morning to return to London in my Volvo truck pulling behind me a 30 foot trailer full of fertiliser for the South of England. I needed to take a leak so I pulled off the highway into a lay bye and had a pee behind the bushes. As I emerged I saw this lady in a fur coat standing by my lorry. She was crying so I asked her “what’s the matter”. She mumbled “I got to get back to Guildford can you give me a lift as far as you can down south.” I don’t often give single girls lifts but seeing her so distressed her touched a raw nerve of my compassion...

As the morning turned out quite hot the sun on this July morning was burning through the windows. I suggested she took off fur coat... She declined which I thought was weird given that the temperature in my cab was creeping upwards toward 30 even though I had my windows open. I could see she was uncomfortable and noticed as she moved about that it was obvious all she was wearing was the fur coat. As the heat became more and more unbearable and I took off my t shirt I suggested if she wanted to put on a pair of my shorts and a T shirt she could. I did not have to ask twice as she climbed onto the bunk behind my seat drew the curtains and changed into the gear I had offered her.

She told that she had owed money to the

Landlady where she was living and

being unable to pay since her flat mate had done a runner and she had lost her job she had herself decided to do a runner. The landlady had apparently got wind of what she was doing so to prevent her taking off without paying got into her room and stole her bag and clothes. So had she crept down stairs saw this fur coat and boots in the hall and put them on. One of her neighbours on the same floor had already promised her a lift so she had to go. He was going as far as Carlisle so he dropped her off where I had picked her up. When we stopped for break at services on the M6 she made a reverse charge call to her father in Guildford and he told her that if I get her as close to Guildford as I could he would come and pick her up. We decided that the best point for her to be dropped off was Sratchwood services on the M1. We had a stop a few more times and on the last stop I told her the time estimated we would be at Scratchwood. As I pulled my wheels into the services she pointed out to me her fathers Daimler car. As she got out her father shook me by the hand and thanked me for delivering his daughter at the same pushed a 20 pound note in my hand. He promised to send my clothes back that she was wearing.

6 days later I arrived at my home to find my neighbour had taken in a parcel for me. Inside were my shorts and T shirt she had worn with a letter of thanks an invitation to his house and 5 crisp 20 pound notes. I went to his house and met his daughter again and that is how we finished up as man and wife 20 years ago now and we have a son and 2 daughters.

NEW WORLD

I was only 10 years old when I was told that I would be among the 100 children to be evacuated to this new world called Alpha. I do not remember too much of the 10 year journey we were all put into suspended animation.

I remember climbing up the ladder to the giant space craft with the girl who was later to be my wife and produce for us 6 children.

As I was strapped into the glass cabinet I was given an injection into my arm. The next memory I had was awaking in the cabinet unplugging all the tubes fitted to my body and seeing the others people who made this 10 year epic journey through space. I walked out of the craft onto a terrain that was lush with green grass and trees.

Our first task now as a 20 year old was to carry out the program of building that we were told to undertake in the book of instructions that we read. Out leader was 20 when we left earth was now 30 and his 6 deputies 15 from earth now 25 were to lead us into this new venture to maintain human life.

Our mother planet left so far behind us would now been extinct. As we were told that life on earth would be no more 3 or 4 years after our departure.

Mary my companion and I married and we began to start our family as we set about building the infrastructure of this our new world. Others of our team where to discover the world we lived in to find the water and other lands. So here on the place we named Genesis just 20 off us remained.

Today as I look back age in alpha years 89 and still in good health and able to still enjoy playing with my children their offspring and our great grandchildren 17 of them. Our community here now is over 10,000 souls and growing each day as more families bring their offspring into the world. Our schools are fine institutions as we can study the history of our mother planet earth and pass this information onto to our future dependants. We have a good relationship with those that went to other lands and there is no crime in this world of ours. We have built many fine buildings and ships to scour the seas for more land. The surprise is that apart from a number of small animals all edible, fish, birds and insects, we never found intelligent life. This of course has changed since we arrived we are the intelligent life.

I sometimes think of my parents left back on earth and how the end of this world came about.

This Alpha is a lot like earth but 10 times bigger. However as we came here with vast knowledge of our ancestors on their way of life and inventions is has helped us create a modern utopia. Many of us who arrived here 69 years ago are still alive and we do not know yet what an average age span will be in this world. All our leaders are still alive and in good health, and I still swim and play football here with no problems even at my age. I feel proud with Mary of our large family some of them have gone to new lands but with good communication and travel that is so fast we can make visits to them as and when we so wish.

Modern transport here enables us to circumnavigate by air in just less than 4 hours. I look forward to the future of mankind here on Alpha

MY ALBERT

It was 1945 the war was over and I went to the local dance. I saw him (Albert) standing in his demob suit and his army haircut and I knew he was for me. He saw me as I stood by the door with my close friend Cindy and I just knew he was looking directly at me. I smiled and he smiled back.

A few seconds later we were embracing on the dance floor.

6 months later we were wed.

We could not afford a honeymoon as he was working short time in the local factory and me in the florists.

Our first night of passion together was a torrid affair. We had to share a house with my parents. Any movement of the bed springs would alert them to what we were doing.

We had to wait until my parents went out to see my Uncle Sam and Aunt Enid three days later before we could consummate our marriage.

9 months later our first son Maurice was born. By the time our second son George was born we had our own back to back house in Leeds not far from both our sets of parents. Life was good to us really.

Albert got promotion to factory foreman and I got to manage a florist shop in the same road we lived in. We saw both our boys get married and each produced one of each boys and girls. They both had good jobs. Maurice became a lawyer and George a Vet. Our Grandkids did ok too, Stella became a model Vivian a secretary to a high flyer who she later married. Donald became a vicar and Leo followed in his father’s footsteps as a lawyer, later to become a barrister.

Sad though one of our great grandsons followed a life of crime and had to spend time in juvenile prison. However he mended his ways and is now staying on at school to get his diploma. A spell in prison did him good. I hope he don’t steal any more cars

Albert passed away just 6 months ago age 80 and we all miss him. He had a wonderful last birthday party all our family attended. What with friends and relatives we had 60 there all told.

I now reflect on my own life and from being an only child I am now head of a family of 14 son’s daughter in laws grand daughters in laws grandkid’s and great grandkid’s.

I hope I can see Trevor now 18 marry his childhood sweetheart next year and make me a great great grandmother

I can say that I have enjoyed my life on the mortal coil we call earth and when my time comes I will be with my Albert once again.

I hope my extended family do well in life and when I get up there I will look down on them and watch their every move and delight at what Albert and I created

SUPER SUB

It was the last match of the season and we had to win to be champions .A draw would put us in the play offs as the two teams ahead of us having finished their fixtures on Saturday were both 2 points ahead of us. It had been a tight division with no fewer than 7 teams leading the division over

The gruelling season.

For the 5^th time this season I had been named as one of the substitutes. I had only played 10 minutes the first time I was sub and on the second occasion just 4 minutes. This being the final match of the season who ever won would be crowned champions and the other relegated to the pay offs. A draw would see us both in the playoffs. Our chances must have been zero as we were the away team against the team that had led the division most times this season and in our home fixture against us they we were trounced 2 0.

I never expected to play in this game but I still cheered on every move by our players.

The boss had used all his possible subs and with 10 minutes to go with the score at 0 0 our centre forward fell and twisted his ankle and hobbled off. The boss ordered me onto the pitch “Get up front play centre forward” This was his last throw of the dice I had never been a striker and here I was up front for the first time in my playing career.

I had only been on the pitch 30 seconds when from the wing I toe Punted the ball towards the home goal I saw the keeper come for the ball and

Thought he had stopped it so I looked away in disgust. Imagine my surprise when the lads gathered round me for congratulations as the ball went under the keeper’s body. This score line would be enough to give us the championship. The home side left their defence to just a solitary man in their effort to get back into the game. I picked up the ball in midfield easily evaded the tackle by the last defender and with the keeper advancing I managed to put the ball past his hand and into the corner of the net with 4 minutes left on the clock plus injury time.

I had never scored for the senior side and here I was with a brace in only my third appearance of the season.

The referee was looking at his watch when from the left wing I diverted the pinpoint cross into an empty net. A hat trick in only 13 minutes.

The boss was the first to congratulate me with the words “you’re not going on a free transfer now” That is good news” I replied.

Back in the changing rooms the boss qualified his statement “We will sell you to the highest bidder” One fluke don’t a miracle make two flukes don’t a player make and 3 flukes can never justify your inclusion for a full game for us next season.

My former boss had to swallow his words for two seasons later playing up front for my new club I scored the two goals that put is team out of the FA cup. I went on to score 19 goals in that season that saw my club win the FA cup when I got the only goal of the game.

I NEED YOUR BODY

When Adei Sugossi told me about the transference principle over 2000 years ago I could not believe it was possible. Now here I am in the year 2007 and going to see Adei. He is now called Martin Smith but what he will be called after this present body of his expires I will not know until I go to see him.

I got the call on my mobile at just after 2 30 Pm and the doctor told me he was having difficulty breathing. I left my office and hailed a cab that took me just 10 minutes to reach the Hospital. I knew which room he was in as I had been to see him a few days before.

At first when I looked down at his face covered in a mask he could not speak. Slowly the words drifted from his mind into my soul. Nobody could hear what he said as this was mind communication and not as most people understand lips moving and the voice box talking.

A boy standing beside his mother, not more than 4 years old was looking at Martin as if he knew him which indeed he will soon know.

I saw Martin’s body jolt violently and then saw his spirit rise from the corpse and flow gently towards the boy. As the spirit entered the boy his body shook gently. He would not be aware of the new spirits presence for 10 years as the boys own spirit would continue to rule over his body.

I had seen this transference many times before. The first time was in Israel as Adei lay dying on the streets struck from sword of a Roman soldier. He held my hand and explained to me by mind communication that he would inherit my body. He did, so both our spirits were domiciling in this my body that I occupied first.

Over the ten years I was to be the host for him to prepare me to be the same as he. For in the 10^th year of his occupation of the body I was in I was to be expelled with him as we both sought new bodies to occupy.

The same body we occupied that of a man called Abraham Alias was struck down with a plague that was to destroy his body in moments.

We were both free spirits as we drifted through space and came to rest in a land we were to call France. Two little girls were playing beside the river and we entered the bodies to wait for ten years before we would both be the dominant and their spirits expelled.

We remained friends and allies throughout our existence sometimes as man and wife or just two friends of the same gender.

We had many lives and we were to shape the future of mankind. Often using others like ourselves to wield influence on others to carry out tasks that need to be done to save the human race.

We know that we will both continue to be close to one another. I seek a new body to inherit, knowing I am soon to see the demise of this body. I must be close to the boy that Martin occupied so when my time comes we will be together to carry on the work we are given as our destiny.

TIME SWAP

We set sail from the coast of the USA to Bermuda on the 11^th of October 1907. Harry Potts and I were up on the bow on watch.

It started off as a glorious sunny day and the sea was as smooth as a mill pond.

Ahead of us was a bank of fog that was heading right toward us. We signalled the bridge of our observation and the ship slowly began to slow down.

We sailed into the bank of fog and all of a sudden the wind got up and the sea developed into one that showed waves of great height bearing down on us. Both Harry and myself lashed ourselves to the railings so as to avoid being thrown over into the raging sea.

My rope pressed into my bare flesh on my arms I had to loosen it and as I did so I felt the wave lift me up into the air and plunge me into the rough sea.

All of a sudden the wind abated and calm was restored to the water and the fog has dispersed.

I saw the side of the ship alongside me and a lifebuoy was thrown over the side for me to grasp onto. I was soon lifted aboard and came face to face with my ship mates. They looked so different from just hours before when we were in the mess deck. Most who I remembered had beards were now clean shaven and the uniforms looked different. It was certainly the HMS Lancelot the ship I had joined some 16 months earlier but it looked so different and the crew seemed somewhat strange in their bearings.

I was taken straight to sick bay. That too looked different there were a number of glass bowls and wires dangling around the cabin I was later to know them as monitors and cables.

I was called by my name and the doctor asked my birth date and I replied “June 1^st 1887 the Doctor exclaimed “you mean 1987”

No! I retorted “that year is not here yet”. The doctor looked at me in a strange manner. Then requested my service number and I provided this as required. Again he looked bemused and shaking his head he left my bedside. Harry Potts looked at me in a quizzical manner and asked “Herbert why have you got a fully grown beard you never had it when you went overboard and your clothes look so different what happened to you”

I smiled my reply “You look different too without a beard and your hair is much shorter and your uniform is not as I remember.”

We were interrupted by the Doctor’s return. The service number you gave me is indeed that of Herbert Day and he was born in 1887 as you say, but this is 2007, it seems you have been transferred 100 years into your future.

I gulped “so the other Herbert Day probably my grandson has gone to my time that seems to be what has happened and would explain the circumstances. So I’m the grandfather of my own grandson as in my time not born” I paused “So if I stay in this time and marry I will be the grandfather to myself.

I could not but help wonder how my grandson would make of his time swap to my time, and would we swap places again and again where time has no limit.

MY CHEATING SECRET

It was our 25^th Wedding anniversary. I reflected on the happy years we had spent together and our two wonderful children Ben and Betty who had both excelled in their chosen careers Ben a Musician like myself and Betty owning her own florists shop following in her mothers footsteps. I had been a keen musician from an early age and my father taught me how to play the spoons and later he brought me home my first guitar. Later I formed my own rock group. It was about this time I became aware of Virginia I wanted her but in my way was Arthur Green who was her then boyfriend. I hatched a plan to divert his attention away from her and it worked.

“Darling I have a secret to share with you that I have kept for a number of years I have been meaning to tell you many times before today but I thought it was not important enough but now I feel I must unburden myself” ” You are not going to tell me you been unfaithful to me are you” she interrupted. I sighed deeply “Not exactly but hear me out, You remember when you split up with Arthur Green and I came a courting you with a little poem” Virginia touched my hand gently yes dear I remember and I still got the poem and remember the words,

To me you are my Virginia

You are the one that is so slender

And want to put a ring on your finger

So I ask please do not pause to linger

But make me a happy singer

For me to marry you and be together.

“Those words so sweet bowled me over and could not resist you after my

disgust with Arthur Green and his cheating on me”

“That’s the secret I kept from you for all these years” I declared.” What do you mean” she interjected.

Well as you know I had my own rock group and one of the group followers was a girl called Hazel and I asked her to flirt with Arthur, which she did and Arthur could not keep his hands off her and in the photo you got you saw him in a compromising position. I took that photo and sent it to you. I made up my mind you were the only girl for me. If I had to stoop to a dirty trick to get you I would and did. It was I that took the photo and sent it to you” Virginia looked at me a scowl on her face her hand withdrew from mine. We sat in silence in the lounge of the hotel facing each other. After what seem an eternity the scowl on her face changed to a smile and she held my hand again and leaning forward `kissed me on the lips and whispered. “Well Arthur married Hazel and it never lasted a year then he got himself in trouble with the law for car jacking and other allied crimes and so began his career of in and out of prison. If I had married him that would have been my life, wife to a convict” She paused. “At least with you I have enjoyed many happy years many more ups than downs, and never wanted another man only you” My heart was filled with joy and I continued “ I never was tempted either from that day I first saw you coming out of the college I made up my mind come hell and high water I would have you as my wife.” Virginia squeezed my hand. “Yes my darling I am glad you did”.

BIG BROTHER WATCHING YOU

Remember what ever you do or where you do it, the camera will always be on you all the time

A bill has been passed in parliament by both houses by a narrow majority to compel all councils to install cameras into every room and garden in every person’s home.

The cameras will monitor any and all activity that will be considered detrimental to the security of the country. The offshoot will be that whatever you do the cameras will see you. If any of the cameras malfunction for any reason, such has being disconnected or covered the security services will have the right to enter your house. They will be able to use force if necessary to enter your property and ascertain what you were doing whilst the camera was malfunctioning. Occupants will be required to undergo interrogation if the security forces deem it as essential.

To keep within this statute law occupants of houses must be aware of whatever they are doing will be monitored.

To avoid being arrested occupants should take notice of the following suggestions.

1. Do not smoke anywhere in or outside the property

2. Do not have sexual activity other than under the sheets.

3. When undressing never face the camera.

4. Do not carry out any undesirable perverted activity whilst in the shower or on the toilet.

5. At all times unless bathing or going to bed remain fully clothed.

6. All single people must wear nightshirts or pyjamas whilst in bed.

7. Married couples must inform security control if they wish to make love so the camera can be temporary switched off for a maximum of 5 minutes.

8. No person should go to bed after midnight unless permission has been provided by your local security control

9. Unless your control centre has given permission you should not remain in bed after 8 00 am and 8 30 am weekends and bank holidays

10. Do not abuse your spouse or children either verbally or physically.

Penalties for contravention of any breach of the laws as laid down in the white paper will be dealt with resulting in your confinement in your own home or correction establishment.

Copyright to AMPSUK 2007