Time of Your Life Competition

In the year 2050 the telephone in Mrs Manners' house rings.

'Yes" Mrs Manners says.

The telephone answers.
'Good morning, Sophia. How are you today?'
'Execrable.'
There is a long pause.

"I'm sorry, Sophia, I do not appear to have that response in my data base. Would you like to suggest another feeling word?'
Mrs Manners can't be bothered teasing the telephone this morning - I'm good,' she says.
"That's fine Sophia. I'm happy to hear that. Sophia, this is your fortnightly call from your son Angus, to let you know he is remembering you today, and although he is too busy to call you himself, you are very much in his thoughts.'
'Yes, thank you,' Mrs Manners replies. 'Thank you Sophia.'
There's the beeping of a disconnected line until Mrs Manners calls 'Cut'.

Mrs Manners opens the refrigerator in the sitting room wall, takes out the breakfast and places it in the microwave.
The doorbell rings. Mrs Manners checks the monitor. A young woman is standing in the porch, smiling and waving at the camera.
Mrs Manners sighs. "Door open,' she calls, walking towards it.
The young woman is radiant as she presents Mrs Manners with a large bouquet of roses and carnations.
'Happy birthday,' she says. Her teeth are like tusks.
'From your daughter Mona. She wants you to know you are very much in her thoughts today.'
It's not my birthday,' Mrs Manners says.
'And I don't have a daughter Mona.'

The woman gapes for a moment, then recovers herself.
'Would you mind waiting just a second?' she asks, and turns, scurrying out to a white van parked at the kerb.

Mrs Manners watches patiently as the woman scrabbles through dozens of bouquets, scanning the cards on each one.
'Has anyone died in your family?' she calls.
'Not in the last twelve years.'
The woman does not answer, but a minute later she rushes back up the path, carrying a rather small and insignificant bunch of chrysanthemums.

'Here you are,' she says.' And now I'm going to be late with my rounds.'
As she hurries away she calls from your daughter Ella. Very much in her thoughts.

' Mrs Manners goes back inside and finishes breakfast. She switches on her computer and spends the morning playing Doom 63. That night she's watching television when the phone rings. "Yes?' Mrs Manners says wearily - 'Hi Mum!' says the voice from the telephone 'how's everything going?' Mrs Manners sits up sharply. It's a real voice. It continues; "Bet you're surprised to hear from me! But I got home early, thought I'd give you a call, see how things are. What have you got planned for the weekend?' 'Er, who -is this?' Mrs Manners asks. 'Oh come on Mum, what are you talking about? You know who I am.' 'Angus?' Mrs Manners asks "Hugh?, 'Is this 542703 876901'?' the voice asks. 'No, no it's not.' Mrs Manners says. 'Oh sorry,' says the voice. The disconnection signal starts beeping again. 'Cut,' calls Mrs Manners.

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