This Ain't Fiction!
A Response to Kay Husnick's Unofficial Challenge: What would you do if you were rich?
To quote from the Challenge:
Write this in whatever format and Vocal community you want, as long as you are not writing fiction. If a longing poem suits your needs, go for it. If half your reasoning is a memoir-style background to explain that all you want is a nice garden, it qualifies.
*
So, I cannot tell a lie with this one. Here is the honest truth of what I'd do if I did have a fortune to my name.
I would look for a good amount of space.
Now, for many of you, the above picture might be a remind of an old computer system you once had set up due to the vicissitudes of the Microsoft crew. The green rolling hill, the beautiful blue sky, and the overwhelming feeling of peace are still there, but in the picture I've chosen, there is the slight touch of the road.
This would have to be fixed.
As I said, I need the space, meaning that I need a bit of peace, meaning that I do not want to be disturbed by traffic, nosy neighbours and even noisier family and friends looking for a handout. Maybe this seems harsh, but we all know the horror stories about what happens to the (un)lucky few who find themselves flush with cash and have to handle the outturned hand of complete strangers and incomplete familiars.
Nah, that road has to go.
But maybe that is not enough.
I will have to go further...
And, as I said, I remember that particular picture (I might even have it still floating around on an old computer).
Now, with a certain amount of cash, I am sure that I could make some interesting contacts in the scientific community to handle a bit of a difficult task: I would like to be added to that world...on the computer screen.
Yes, add me to the world of computer graphics as a simple code of some sort. I did study computer science back in the day (when I thought that I knew what I was doing), and I could be a line in some particular program that would never crash, tempt a virus (maybe I could destroy one when given the chance?), or lead to the downfall of a corporation or institution...depending on the corporation or institution.
And if this is not feasible, make me a character worthy of living the rest of my life on the screen. There are always upgrades of online games and I have worked for a school where the students created animated characters as part of their degree. To be rich enough to never have to do anything but fight on screen, die and come back to deal with soldiers, zombies, pirates, monsters, knights, and the stupidity of gamers would be perfect for me. I would have my space and no real need to interact with real people again. Seriously, I know that some of you might think that I have lost my mind, and that I am missing the point of what those online gamers are, but if you are dealing with a screen and a system, that is all you are dealing with...and they are not real people.
So, that is what I would do with my money and time...and I would live forever...

*
Thank you for reading!
If you liked this, you can add your Insights, Comment, leave a Heart, Tip, Pledge, or Subscribe. I will appreciate any support you have shown for my work.
You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.
Give it a look...
About the Creator
Kendall Defoe
Teacher, reader, writer, dreamer... I am a college instructor who cannot stop letting his thoughts end up on the page. No AI. No Fake Work. It's all me...
And I did this:
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme


Comments (4)
Reminds me of 95 movie Virtuosity-Sid 6.7 a computerized serial killer-I recommend the movie-abrupt ending but decent watch
In the future, Mr. DeFoe, the AI will be beamed directly into your brain via Neuralink chip implant, allowing each user to become one with the machine. The very rich will be able to afford a "pay for play" world of fantasy, very violent and erotic fantasies, as false realities, memories that never happened, etc. will be the "neural landscape" (borrow a term from J.G. ballard, the man who predicted social media) in which humans and machines form a "hive mind." Not science fiction; I argue this is right around the corner. Already a man can control a computer without touching it. In the future, you won't use the computer; the computer will use you. I have an old article about this I'll try and dig up. I always enoy your writing. Best to you!
Reminded me of the movie Free Guy, Kendall. I guess as a character in a video game you wouldn't know know that you are immortal so it would be OK.
Love this voice so much I read it out loud. My husband applauded.