The twenty-something single mother wiped the sweat from her forehead as she glanced at the clock. Her shift at the bustling airport restaurant was almost over, but she knew she'd be racing to pick up her three sons afterward. Kendall, the teenager, was her mini-life-coach. Drew, the youngest, the bright-eyed cherub. And there was seven-year-old Dexter, the artist of the family.
When a distinguished-looking man approached the counter, she forced a smile. "What can I get for you today?"
"A grilled turkey sandwich and fries, please."
As she rang up his order, the man noticed the weary lines on her face. "Long day?"
"You have no idea," the woman sighed.
The man leaned in, "How would you like to talk to someone who does?"
"What do you mean?" she frowned.
"I'm part of a team beta-testing technology based on quantum entanglement. Simply put, you'd be able to talk to your future or past self."
Her eyes widened. Was he serious? The allure was irresistible. After a short deliberation, she agreed.
Two days later, she held a sleek phone in her hands. According to the instructions, she just had to dial "#Future" or "#Past."
Nervously, she dialed "#Future."
"Hello?" The voice on the other end was hers but sounded more mature.
"Is this...is this really me?"
"Yes, dear. You'll want to enroll Dexter into that art school. Don’t wait."
Months passed and the woman found herself dialing her past and future selves regularly. The advice was priceless, ranging from handling her sons' tantrums to preparing for an unexpected bill.
It felt empowering to be a step ahead, as if she had her own guardian angel. The woman enrolled Dexter in art school; she even started taking online courses in business management—her future self’s strong recommendation.
One day, her future self said, "the man who gave you the phone will ask you for a favor. Please, do it, and don't hesitate!"
"Hello, ma'am, our test phase is complete," looking grave as he met her in the quiet corner of the airport restaurant.
"We have one final request."
(To Be Continued)
Copyright ©️ 2023 Sir Roy G. Biv
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