Artificial Flowers

by J. A. Hailey

  38

  Bulletin, 30 December, 2015 - PETITION

  PLEASE, PLEASE, CHEESE

  We, the females of Screenside, are united in feeling deprived by an element of the POP Act that is an unnecessarily harsh interpretation of playacting.

  Drinking of flavorful beverages, hot and cold, should be immediately allowed. It need not automatically lead to urination, as what we seek is flavor in our mouths (quite like scent through our nostrils), and the drink is not required to flow into the body in a physical way.

  Beverage consumption is an ACTIVITY that we think could prove extremely beneficial to our society. We want to gossip over coffee, watch TV with a very flavorful orange juice, a cola, or even a beer, and meet up (like Humanside does) for an evening of football and drinks.

  Cafes and bars should be allowed to serve approved beverages, too.

  At the moment of posting, there were almost a quarter million signatures on this petition. If you haven’t signed it already, ADD to the number.

  Sign NOW!

  39

  Bulletin, 30 December, 2015 – ADVISORY

  DRINKING APPROVED

  Recreational drinking of flavored beverages, hot and cold, is now permitted.

  Drinking is intended to be primarily a social activity that provides the joy of the sensation of flavor in the mouth (Innerline, as installed, already has requisite programming, and interfaces are also in). Households may now keep refrigerators, electric kettles, coffee makers, etc. HC outlets supply these, and also cups and glasses for drinking purposes.

  Public establishments may also serve flavored beverages.

  Beverages are to be obtained from the specific outlet in HC.

  These beverages include, but are not limited to:

  Orange juice

  Apple juice

  Lime & lemon drinks

  Colas and fizzy drinks

  Tea leaves and tea bags

  Instant and other coffees

  Non-dairy whiteners are being made available

  Sugar cubes and sweeteners - available

  Beer and red & white wines - available

  The selection will continue to be enhanced, as time passes

  It is permitted to extract juice from fresh fruits (oranges, apples and others)

  Juice extracting machines are available from outlets in HC branches

  Coconut milk is allowed, and fresh coconuts may be cut and the milk drunk (where available)

  Ice lollies and sorbets may also be enjoyed

  Chewing gum is approved. Various flavors are soon to be on the shelves of your local HC outlet.

  IT IS NOW PROHIBITED UNDER POP:

  To drink plain water

  To depict intoxication/drunkenness

  To depict thirst

  To urinate

  To depict any form of fullness of belly

  To create and consume milk & milk products, like cheese

  Animal products – Banned

  In order to avoid inadvertent errors, please obtain beverages and fruits from dedicated, purpose outlets in your local HC only.

  NOTE: Fruits that may provide juice, are NOT ALLOWED TO BE EATEN.

  Good News: R&D on the above listed products has already been done, and all are final. Distribution has commenced, and you may acquire what you want from your local HC outlet.

  40

  Bulletin, 30 December, 2015 - ADVISORY

  THE GREAT PHYSICALITY PARTY

  VENUE – MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY

  DATE - 31 DECEMBER 2015

  TIMINGS:

  START - THURSDAY EVENING, 31 December, 2015 (NEW YEAR’S EVE).

  END - WHEN EVERYONE GOES HOME

  HC has set up unlimited hotel rooms, and whosoever wants to, may stay in NYC for the party (and before and after – no eviction). Many live music concerts have been permitted, and numerous fun events will be on, with bars staying open until after dawn, and serving drinks!

  Be there. It is going to be the biggest and wildest party of all time. Then, at midnight…

  …for a few short minutes a Real Time HLV event, Screenside’s very first one, is to be delivered - NYC’s Times Square fireworks display! Wherever you are in Manhattan, YOU WILL SEE IT LIVE! (You must be outdoors, on the streets of NYC.)

  Note:

  The city itself is NOT being delivered live via HLV. The reason? Virtual folks are not going to be able to avoid getting ‘bumped’ by the millions of celebrating humans on its streets. Too many bumps in a short period may cause the relevant guardian program to take action and kick excessively bumped virtuals out of NYC, and thus out of the party. We do not want that to happen.

  The fireworks (fireworks alone) will be taking place in HLV, and the best views are obviously going to be from Times Square. Be there, if possible.

  DRINKS ARE TO BE SERVED AT PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS, and you may also carry bottles, cans and disposable glasses and cups around with you!

  41

  A magical time had begun, and Screenside had totally been transformed into a world of enchantment. Conscious virtual beings had suddenly been converted, like at the stroke of midnight, into conscious physical beings – into almost human beings!

  “Oh shapers of our world, we bow before you,” intoned Candice, loudly. And, to the great amusement of other beings in the New York HC Lounge Bar, She, Esmeralda and Jennifer, and their boyfriends, started bowing and kowtowing to BC, Singh, Chang and Caesar, who began laughing helplessly, especially when their own girlfriends, Priya, Wendy and Rosa, joined in, bowing extravagantly.

  “Know then the game plan,” announced Candice, to a very attentive audience of everyone in the bar.

  “Oh bringers of the gift of body to us, all souls of Screenside shall immediately commence sampling the delights of your gifts, by participating in every activity that is now changed, in essence, from that which we had. For example? Here’s one. We shall be attending a concert, at which the Screensiders are playing, so that we may dance to the physical beat and throb of loud music.”

  “BC, Caesar, a question,” said Candice, knowingly, now lowering her voice conspiratorially, “Have you two not already done it all, at development and evaluation stages?”

  “No, Candice,” answered Caesar. “And we’re never tempted, either. The guide, referee and external senior just has to exist, and if not us, then who? Who plays guardian, ensuring that what is going on is work, and not fun and games? Who keeps directional control, if we begin attaining erections? We use specialists and/or normal folks. It’s never us. Okay, a few things, like music, a sip of juice, unavoidable stuff. Never more.”

  “Omar and I are planning to use our influence through you guys, to find a world install in the works, which someone has got nearly ready,” said Robert. “We can force our names into it, as partner creators, and thus also become Lawmakers. Important types.”

  “Yes, darling,” said Jennifer, excessively sweetly. “Do that, and also ask Goodfellow to announce your single status in the same announcement. You’ll get a lot of lovely female options.”

  “You too, Omar,” said Candice. “Jen and I need regular males, to whom we matter most. You spend your time as important Lawmakers.”

  “Oh, better leave me out of that plan, Rob.” Omar turned his back on his friend.

  “Sure thing,” said Robert. “I’m taking my own name out of it.”

  Their girlfriends kissed the two penitent males, and it was all okay again.

  “So, shall we then have our first ever drink, to celebrate the abandonment of stupidity?” asked Candice.

  “Yes, Candice, let’s do it,” said Omar.

  They went to the bar, where drinkers, including the serving staff, were in transports of delight, exclaiming in amazement, “The flavor, the flavors!”

  It was no different for the friends, exchanging sampling sips from each other’s drinks. “Ooh, orange! Cola. Wow, apple. Red wine. Champagne. The bubbles. Heaven!”

  Absolutely everyone was planning the en
tire night out, discussing how to best sample the new life. Seven simultaneous ‘live’ music concerts were scheduled for New York that night, with The Screensiders on in an open air do in Central Park.

  New York’s Main Street was bursting at the seams, with crowds of celebrating conscious beings thronging it from the almost half million rooms that HC had arranged to let out as hotel rooms. Many others were staying with friends resident in New York.

  BC and Esmeralda had put mattresses out on the floor, for their friends to sleep on, ‘just like mum does, when her sisters and their kids come to stay’, and they were planning to be partying as a single group of revelers.

  It was Wendy’s idea to wear raincoats. “Look,” she said, “We’re going to be dancing, racing between venues, and hanging around in crowded cafes and bars, so serious warm clothing is stupid. Chang and I are going warm, but light. I went and got these raincoats in from HC, just now. Quite fashionable, with hoods, very light, and we’ll be protected from being miserable and slowly becoming wet if it’s snowing, while also getting wind protection. The HC store staff said a dozen? And I said, I’ll come in tomorrow for the second dozen, as too much to carry in one lot, ha, ha.”

  Later, it would be known that all Screenside beings (as none were in any way old or infirm) had been in New York that night - to celebrate the start of their new world! Crowds of boisterous beings moved through Manhattan that entire night.

  HC NYC, which was, of course, the Screenside HQ, had done well, and there really was a lot on offer. No bars, cafés or other places of entertainment would shut that night.

  BC & Co. started their party in Central Park, where The Screensiders had already commenced playing.

  They felt it from afar, the throbbing beat, pulsing through their bodies. “Feel that?” they asked each other, mouths open in wonder.

  The band had obviously felt it much earlier, as it had composed a song that would go to number one that night itself, already shared with other bands, and performed live at every concert. BC & Co. had just found themselves a good spot for the concert, somewhere in the pit area, when The Screensiders let loose with Screenside’s new favorite song, ‘Dead easy, with the beat!’

  They pumped it out, as everyone danced madly, nodding in agreement with the lyrics, Dance! Dance! Dance! It’s dead easy with the beat.

  The band spotted the seniors, and, at the end of that number, some organizers came and dragged them onto the stage. “We give you the architects of this new world,” they announced, as the crowd went wild, and the band then played an adaptation of an old Humanside hit, singing, Is this the real life, or vir-tu-ality? Is this the real life, is this just fantasy?

  BC & Co. left, after dancing on stage for an hour. “Ooh,” gasped Priya, “So that’s what music feels like! Let’s see what else we’ve been missing.”

  “What a song!” exclaimed Rosa, who had been easily the most energetic dancer on stage, forcing Caesar into extravagant high-voltage routines. “Now, at last, we know that it really is dead easy with the beat.”

  “Oh wow, the beat!” exclaimed Omar. “No need to listen. No need to follow. It just hammers at you and forces its rhythm into you. Have to move.”

  “Now I understand why Humanside always taps or shakes or does something. It just has to move with the beat, especially when the volume is pumped up, and your body directly receives it. No need for ears!” Wendy was ecstatic. “Where to, now?”

  “Oh, we can catch many other live concerts later,” said Omar. “Go on all night. Central Park, I was told, has four bands lined up.”

  “So, what now?” asked Robert, and they halted to discuss options.

  “Look, look!” exclaimed Jennifer. “See, we’re still keeping time to the music, even though it’s not too loud at this distance. And Priya and Rosa are totally into it. Look at them; actually dancing on! Caesar, Singh, go join your girlfriends.”

  They began dancing at a distance from the stage, and soon hundreds had joined in!

  “I have heard that bowling is expected to be a real surprise,” said Omar, when the band paused between numbers. “Lawrence runs a bowling alley, just behind that tall building. Not too far.”

  “Let’s,” said Caesar, and they trooped to the bowling alley.

  It was uncrowded. They knew Lawrence, slightly. He was a real community fellow, readily taking up voluntary work.

  “Welcome, folks,” he greeted. “Bowling time. And you’re lucky to have come in now. This place was full, fifteen minutes ago. Everyone bowled before?” Everyone had.

  He grinned, mischievously. “Six ladies for those six lanes. Get set, please. You need to powder your fingers for a non-slip grip. Roll when you’re ready. Go!”

  It was actually quite hilarious. Candice got her ball up high enough to drop it onto the side of her foot; Jennifer failed to lift her ball; and Esmeralda, Rosa, Priya and Wendy, expecting something light, actually lost their balance, and fell very prettily, cursing the balls. “What is that?” they bleated from the floor.

  “My dear ladies,” grinned Lawrence, “That, huh? I believe it is commonly known as gravity.”

  The group spent a half hour bowling, and being amazed by the weight of the balls, and the difference in the way they rolled, compared to weightless virtual ones. All had bowled often, as virtuals, but this was astonishing!

  “Where next?” asked Caesar, of no one in particular.

  “Oh, why not try out football alley?” suggested Lawrence.

  “Never heard of it,” said Caesar.

  “Out of here, turn left, and at the end of the block, left again. That’s football alley,” said Lawrence. “Okay, for tonight it’s football alley.”

  Making their way there, they found a brightly lit alley littered with soccer balls, and scores of beings kicking them, shrieking in joy when making good connect. “Hey, everyone,” screamed the attendant at the alley’s mouth, “We got some special folks here. Goddesses too!”

  Being roundly cheered by other players, they ran to the balls. It was desperately tricky, bracing ankles for the shock of contact with the balls, and they all twisted their ankles, but the twinges of pain vanished fast, and soon the balls were being kicked a fair distance.

  “What a world, what a world. What changes!” exclaimed Candice. “That which we knew was so far from real.”

  After half an hour of kicking and chasing balls, they decided to move on to a rest stop. “A bar,” said Esmeralda, brightly. “At least we already have some practice of the activities to be conducted there.”

  Bars were everywhere, all jammed with rowdy revelers, celebrating the marvels of the new world. The group got into one, were promptly recognized, and then subjected to a rousing rendition of ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow’.

  A very sheepish trio, of BC, Singh and Caesar, with Chang cunningly escaping by hiding under a table, was forcibly made to sit on top of the wooden bar counter for the entire song, eventually themselves joining in and singing along. It was a very well-organized bar, and they found extremely comfortable seating at the back, where they sat drinking beer and wine for half an hour.

  On returning to the concert in Central Park, they found that it had got very crowded, as everyone had come with the same idea, being shouted out among friends everywhere. “Be dancing to live music until daylight, when the sun comes up. Sundance, sundance. Greet the new sun, dancing!”

  Then, it began emptying out!

  “Why?” asked Esmeralda, nonplussed. The answer came on the speakers.

  “Fireworks, everyone. Times Square, anyone? Oh, Everyone. 2016 coming up. Say goodbye to 2015. Say hello to this new world. Burn the old one down. Set fire to it. Times Square! Times Square!”

  The entire crowd, chanting burn the old world down and Times Square, began leaving the venue, heading to where the fireworks would be, with many googling directions while walking.

  Eventually, most of Screenside did another new thing – run!

  While running, getting closer to th
eir goal, Esmeralda began slowing down and, with BC, falling behind the group. She then did something strange, as it was neither raining nor snowing, and was, in fact, with the running, quite warm. She put the hood up on her raincoat, and made an astonished BC do the same!

  After another hundred steps of slowing down and falling further behind their friends, when at walking pace, she tugged at his arm – and took him into the dark and deserted entrance lobby of one of many such buildings being passed. Inside, she took him up the stairs, one flight of steps, to a landing with a glass window from which the crowds on the street could be seen.

  “Why were you looking at that running girl’s big bouncing boobs?” she demanded. “And you know her? Smiling at each other?”

  “You mean Zelda, I guess. I wasn’t looking at her boobs, bouncing or not. Didn’t notice. Why, she’s practically my sister!”

  Esmeralda popped her perfect breasts out. “There’s no such thing as sister here, and Zelda sounds like a video game. You’ll need to be frantically explaining when we have time for it. Right now you seem to need boobs. Suck.” And she placed his ready mouth over a nipple.

  “Should I go for a boob job? Bigger ones?” she asked, as BC sucked away. “Clara’s got a cosmetic place in London. And POP allows cosmetic enhancements.”

  “Please no,” said BC, slurping and sucking away. “Yours are perfect.”

  Esmeralda reached down. “My, my, BC! Where on earth do you plan to put this hard thing?”

  “Not on. In. In you.”

  Esmeralda was more than ready, absolutely moist, and they made love standing, aware, through the glass panes, of the moving throngs on the street below. She gasped and moaned, and, in utter abandon, tugged her skirt off over her head, to have sex stark naked from the waist down. He cupped her buttocks, taking her weight, and she left the ground, wrapping her legs around him, and they clutched and moaned and climaxed shudderingly together, just as the fireworks began.