Ripples 10 by KimB

[Editor's Note: Ripples is a serial story.
The author makes no guarantees as to completing the serial.
Publication dates are located in the left side menu.]

10 Branching Out

Phones flashed in the sun.

Clustered around her, they displayed their treasured assets. Enthusiastic descriptions and exchanges about features and functionality ensued. Goal line arguments about best and better as they pointed, punched, and stroked at screens. An eager game of one-upmanship.

Carefully she looked at the proffered examples.

Do this to get that.

Push here to go there.

This plug fits this socket.

That works this way.

Ports and connection points, shape and surface size. She asked about different aspects; listening to the varying explanations.

The litany and demonstration of techno-prowess implied all you needed to do was: Click your heels 3 times and repeat, "There's no place like home".

"So," she asked, "what happens if you lose your phone?"

The avalanche of information continued.

"Well... "

"Just buy another!"

"Yeah, the service companies can recover your information and put it on the new phone quick."

"That! Plus you can get a better phone at a discount if you buy that upgrade package."

"Totally worth it! I got a better one. See??? I got a Fruit Fone!"

She reached out and took the Fruit Fone and looked at it closely. Turning it over in her hands several times. Smiling, she handed it back to it's proud owner.

She didn't even need to take the folded drawing from her pocket to know the many benefits of fruit.