Mirage: 2040 …Part 4 …Needs vs. Necessities

Importance of Fire

It was after midnight when my neighbour, Creed, finally woke up. She was embarrassed about falling asleep on my couch but I fully understood why—the woman was exhausted from being stranded in a house with no heat, no phone service and no internet connection to the outside world. My house with a working fireplace and gas range must have seemed a haven in comparison.

Also, it would have been terrifying for her to be home alone with angry groups ranging about the streets, foraging for workable mechanical devices as substitutes for their unworkable smart technology.

The way she just dozed off tells me she’s had no sleep standing guard over her property and I don’t blame her one bit for feeling intimidated.

I feel the same tingle of fear and dread when darkness falls and wonder if it’s only a matter of time until the gangs become emboldened enough to rob and pillage in broad daylight.

“I’m really embarrassed,” she mutters, as she realizes her faux pas . “I feel like a stray cat who found a warm safe place.”

“Don’t be embarrassed, Creed, you did find a warm, safe place and I’m glad to provide it. By the way, my name is Alex Leonard and I teach History at U of T.”

“You’re a History Professor? How cool! I’d like to get your reaction to an article I’m writing for The Toronto Star.”

I laughed. “So, you’re a newspaper reporter and can’t file your story because nothing digital is working. How ironic.”

“Well, aren’t we the pair?” She chuckled.

“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet,” I tell her, “wait till you meet my friends Ari and Lev—Lev’s a Psychologist and Ari a Sociologist. Among the three of us, I think we cover every aspect of the Emergency.”

“This is an embarrassment alright, but of riches—I have a ready-made colloquium able to assess the crisis right on my own doorstep.”

“ I’m not so sure of that—Ari’s stuck at the university and Lev’s homebound like you—all for the same reason—dependence on 21st century technology.”

She looked at me in amazement. “Then, what does that make you—some sort of prepper or homesteader?”

I shook my head. “I’m no prepper—maybe more a survivalist flying by the seat of my pants and adapting to the challenge. If anything, I’m a bit of a Luddite. But, I was actually thinking about buying an electric vehicle before the Emergency—now I’m glad I didn’t.”

Suddenly, it hits me—the poor girl hasn’t eaten.

“Oh God! I’m such a fool. I kept your supper warm in the oven—I’ll go bring it in.”

She laughs, “Thanks, and by the way, I hope there’s still wine.”

“Lots of wine,” I laugh, pointing to my wine rack. “That’s one item I do seem to stockpile.”

“Well then, we’ll have to toast your resourcefulness.”

She gave me that million dollar smile that lights up a room. Right away the night didn’t seem so dark or threatening.

If we were going to be survivors and re-start civilization together, I’d gladly play Adam to her Eve... any day.