Dreamers

            We, the people of tomorrow, are not oppressed. We are not living in fear or social turmoil. There is no constant threat to our survival. No constricting laws we must never violate or criticize. The minorities are not imprisoned, targeted or gathered in the masses for racial genocide. We are not at war with any nation. The people of tomorrow face a much different fate. A fate no one saw coming. We, the people of tomorrow, are omnipotent.
            The world of tomorrow is at the brink of something extraordinary. The future began when we landed on the moon. We took one small step as man and one giant leap for mankind. We mastered gravity and time. Creation brought the world together to a future full of magick. We built flying cars, portable jet packs, virtual reality for everyone. We were given opportunities of a life time. We all held each other up instead of tearing each other apart. We, the people of tomorrow, are the epitome of yesterdays society.
            We know nothing about famine or poverty. We live not in slavery or in ghettos. We need not to riot or protest to defend our rights. There are no petitions for impeachments. No corrupted officials abusing their authority onto people. We are not taught what good is or how to treat evil. The people of tomorrow are too busy hard at work, too busy to object or defy. That is our social norm. We work, we sleep and we work some more.
            The people of tomorrow are wealthier than past generations. We are praised for our contributions as honest laborers. We earn more than enough to splurge. We are not like our predecessors before us. We don’t have to make as much effort to achieve our destiny as past generations did. Everything is within reach for the people of tomorrow. We are blessed that way because of our efforts to keep order and justice.
            We, the people of tomorrow, are more appealing than before. We dress better, live healthier and we never age. We don’t complain because there’s nothing to complain about. Everything that needed to be fixed was fixed. Any corrections within the government that needed to be taken care of was done so lawfully and fairly. Whatever poison they were feeding us was eradicated. Our heroes of yesterday brought an end to whatever was killing our way of life.
            Because of their courageous acts we, the people of tomorrow, live better lives. We thrive in wealth, relish in privileges and attract success. If we want more we are given more. We are not preoccupied by who has what because we follow our own paths to prosperity. We all get a fair shot at success. That is why we don’t have the need to break laws or protest. We are given the tools to make our own fame. To get promoted or change profession. There is nothing we, the people of tomorrow, can’t accomplish.
            We are head strong and full of ambition. We conquer our goals and commit to consistency. We work smart, not hard. We come together when we are in need and we celebrate each other for our attempts to achieve our dreams. We, the people of tomorrow, are united. We are free and we are eternal. We race through the sky and beyond the solar system. We levitate, not gravitate. We are abundant, we are the law.
            One simple trait that separates the people of tomorrow from the rest is the dim light in our eyes. We are commonly mistaken for having our heads in the clouds. We seem deep in thought when most of us are simply staring out into space, gazing. We have a name for people like that. For people who spend most of their time in auto pilot. Its nothing vulgar or an insult. On the contrary, being called said title is a compliment of the highest degree. To some it’s an honor.
            To be called a dreamer is what we, the people of tomorrow, strive for. We practice blanking out. We silence our inner thoughts and stare at the sky in some dream like trance. We often smile out of habit too. We practice so that we don’t think because when we think we begin to get ideas and ideas are trouble. Some people get famous for their ideas but not all ideas are celebrated. Some ideas get you incarcerated or worse. For some, ideas can get you removed from existence.
            “Rise and shine!” the house spoke. “You’ve been given another chance for greatness, what excellent news!” The curtains slowly revealed a morning star rising over the horizon. The house lights lifted the energy as I woke to the sound of binaural beats. “Your shift for the night begins in five hours.” I contemplated getting up. “Luckily for you, you’re ripe for a day full of miraculous productivity. Stupendous!” The frying of bacon and coffee brewing took me from my bed to the kitchen.
            “Breakfast.” Said the robot in its monotone voice as it served me a balanced meal. The obedient automaton poured juice then remained stiff until I finished everything on my plate. I sat and said my grace. Today felt like any other day, special and unique. With the house feeding me nothing but positivity, I began to feel enamored by all the blessings heading my way. Though I knew all I would do is work, I believed what the house was telling me.
            “A huge miracle is coming to you. Rejoice!” The binaural beats were intensifying as the house kept hyping me up for great things. “You are an inspiration. You are a legend for others to believe in. You will conquer your destiny. You are ready.” With the house feeding me love and the soothing binaural beats, I felt as though I were being hypnotized. Cast into a spell that would bless me beyond my wildest dream. I sat and gazed into space. I zoned out listening to the spa music, while being told I was important, and dreamed.
            “Back to work.” The house reminded. I stepped out of the shower and dried off. No longer was I back to reality, pulled into consciousness by the meditative waves in the background. I don’t remember stepping into the shower but I figured I became accustomed to the same routine. A tall bright young man in a blue uniform smiled back at me while I stared at the mirror. I was ready, the house told me so. “Positive thoughts.” The house spoke as I shut the door.
            Stepping into the city, I disappeared within the crowd. I was one of them, busy earning. Some wore red others gray, few white. Others in casual attire, free to reap the fruits of their labor. We all smiled at one another passing by. Wave, greet, part ways. We kept conversations short and uplifting. Always with good news and wonderful surprises. The luckiest got gifts, even by strangers.
            We are generous people above all. We share the same expression and dim light in our eyes, full of admiration. “Pleasant evening.” I was greeted by strangers as I made my way to the express lane. I stepped on the treadmill and took a ride to the factories. Above me flew trains and planes. The treadmill took me out of the city and into a rural town where only factories exist. There, I spend most of my time earning an honorable living. I joined my coworkers and began our shift for the night.
            As usual, I spent the first three hours day dreaming. My body was on auto pilot, moving on it’s own; accustomed to the work. The bell dismissed us for our break. An hour later, we were guided back to work. Another three hours of day dreaming then an hour for break. Before I knew it, the last two hours were upon us. I looked around and noticed everyone was spaced out, as usual.
            I tried not to draw attention to myself but I could not help and notice how distant they seemed. Their bodies were here but their minds were gone. There is no life in their eyes, just a dim sparkle that twinkled every now and then. My vision was blurring as I felt my mind space out. I wanted to try and not zone out but habits are hard to change. I tried holding on to consciousness for a moment before my mind wonders away. I wanted to see them move. They behaved unusually normal, with no presence in their eyes. Before I knew it, I was gone.
            I found myself back on the treadmill, entering the city. The sun rose just beyond reach. I was back home, greeted with love. I fell on the bed and closed my eyes to rest. I woke up almost instantly hours later ready to begin another successful day. The house reminded me how special and unique I am to the world and how my destiny will pour blessings for all. I sat on the floor in the living room and stared at the city. The soothing sound induced me to a meditative trance. The city disappeared as I dreamed.
            “Positive thoughts.” I was back to my routine one more time before my days off. I felt a boost of luck, knowing I would spend my time sleeping; dreaming. Everyone felt my energy as we passed one another. Stepping into the treadmill, my mind began to trail off but I wanted to see them. I wanted to see their blank expression. That must be how I look when I zone out, I thought and then I didn’t.
            Work went by lighting quick. By the time I got to my second lunch break, I thought to myself how odd that I do things I don’t remember doing. One minute I’m home the next at work. Some days I lose track and forget a whole day. I looked around and questioned if my coworkers share the same experience. I then questioned if they ever have thoughts of their own too. I took a bite out of my buttered bread and pretended to zone out. I tried but my mind could not wonder. So, I pretended to have no thoughts at all. I simply ate my food and kept conversation short and uplifting.
            With an hour until my shift ends, I was greeted by three unusual men. Though they smiled like the rest of us, their eyes were full of life. “Mr. Theo Walker.” I nodded in response. “Please,” two stepped aside, “Follow us.” Something was wrong. My normal routine had changed. Instead of heading home I now had to follow three unusual men to who knows where. “Fret not,” they reassured me. “You are in no trouble. We simply request an audience with you and I must say we have nothing but praise for you.” They led me to an office but in some twisted way, I felt as if I were entering a torture cellar.
            “Are you not pleased with your life?” He began once everyone settled. They closed the door and sat directly in front of me. They never wondered off or spaced out. They were attentive, alert. Out of habit, my mind was zoning out but I resisted. They each stared at me as if I were being examined. “We were informed you are to be promoted in the following weeks. Your landlord vouched you to be a modeled citizen. Your salary is beyond standard.” He rummaged through folders they had neatly ordered on the table.
            “All your credentials tell us you mean no trouble.” He continued, as though they were nitpicking for something to complain about. “Looking at you now and I don’t see a man with an agenda. I, in fact, do see a model citizen with a bright future.” My mind was slipping but I held on. The more he talked the more I was pulled into the clouds, but I resisted. I wanted to remain in the room with them. He got quiet while the other two wrote down notes.
            “Let’s cut to the chase, Theo.” He set a tablet in front of me and pulled out security footage recording. He played the footage with no explanation as to what I am suppose to understand. The video showed me at my station, working. Nothing out of the ordinary. Then the video stopped. “Mind telling me what you were doing?” I remained silent. I told them I was doing nothing but work, just like every other day. They replayed the video and stopped at a precise moment. “Here,” he began, “What exactly were you doing here?”
            “I don’t know what you are trying to get out of me.” I confessed. “I’m telling you, I was just doing my job.”
            “No,” he played several footage of me doing exactly that, my job. “This is you doing your job.” Years of honest labor flashed before me as I was shown my past. “Even with your head in the clouds, we can tell when you are doing your job and when you are getting out of character.” I retorted that statement. “If we are not mistaken, it seems that you are, were, observing.” The conversation turned and I no longer felt safe.
            “We became concern of this particular trait you seem to obtain and took the liberty to examine you thoroughly.”
            “Am I going to need a lawyer present?” I asked, trying not to seem alarmed. My mind no longer felt the need to wonder off into space.
            “Mr. Walker,” he replied, “What gave you the impression that you are in trouble?” I didn’t believe him. “Can I share something with you, Mr. Walker?” He put aside the paper work and got personal. “It’s a long story really but to cut to the chase, it’s a story about us. You and me.” The other two got up from their seat and headed to the back of the room. “Long ago, we were barbaric with our methods. We were uncivilized and ignorant. We, I’m referring to me and who I represent, were fools to believe fear was the key to obedience.”
            “We were convinced that alone was enough to keep you, I’m referring to you and the people you represent, in line. You see, we meant no harm. We simply wanted to stick to the plan we made for the world. But of course, there’s always that one breed of flock that resist; for the smallest thing.” The other two were setting up a tube with a funnel. “Everything changed once we realized fear is not the key to obedience. Not everyone is weak enough to be tamed by fear. So, we evolved. We got creative.”
            “Do you know why we call you people dreamers.” I found myself restrained to the chair, panic ensued. “We call you dreamers because you live most of your life with your heads in the cloud. You think your living your best life by being responsible when all you are doing is following orders. We tell you when to sleep, when to work and when you can have time to waist. To us, dreamers are nothing but obedient cattle.”
            “But it wasn’t always like that.” The other two returned with a funnel attached to a tube and a gallon of water. “That is until we got creative with our techniques. See Mr. Walker, we learned that people object less when we give them what they want. And by them, I mean those who resist; those who defy us. Then we dispose of them and any other defective who steps out of line.”
            “But I’ve done nothing wrong.” I pled my case.
            “Please don’t lie to us, Theo.” I was met with no mercy. “We noticed you resisting the abyss, we can tell you were trying not to wonder off. That is resisting in its simplest form. Luckily for us, that is the only resistance we face in this time of age. Then you make things worse by observing others. And your search bar.” He continued, “Why were you searching words such as organized protests, petitions, civil rights.” They waited for a reply, I was speechless. “Are you writing a book? A manual on how to defy, change the law? To awaken others?”
            They were now approaching me. I bothered not to move, I couldn’t either way. “When will you people be satisfied!” They opened my mouth and shoved the tube down my throat. Resisting only made things worse. They began to pour the gallon of water on the funnel. I had no choice but to swallow every drop. The water was sweet with a sweeter after taste. “Relax Mr. Walker, it will all be over soon.”
            They opened another gallon and poured its substance down my throat. My eyes rolled to the back of my head as I felt my mind slip away, for good. The dim light in me faded and I was left with a glazed honey brown color in my eyes. Before I knew it, I was drinking the sweet water voluntarily. “This is how we got creative.” They kept pouring, “This is in the food you people eat, the water you bathe in. This is our way of keeping defectives like yourself in line.”
            “Congratulations, Mr. Walker.” He ended. “On your promotion! We hear it’ll move you up to first class. How thrilling. You’ll get to enjoy your privileges more often, what a blessing. They fed me love and praise. The voice in the back of my mind no longer whispered, I had no thoughts at all. I felt as if though I were home listening to the binaural beats. Next thing I know, I’m no longer restrained. They kept boosting my confidence while I finished the sweet water. “Now get back to work.”