A Friend for Every Finger

Year: 2300. Reef, Angelica, Albert and Arney are in class. They just found out about the initiative of students cleaning the streets and finished dividing into teams. Reef is thinking about the past as the class is over and the bell rings.

In Artisan, the bell sounds different than other places, certainly different than in the old world. Like a digitalized version of windchimes, as a short tune that repeats itself.

-“Aah! I missed that sounds! Summer was so quiet, which was great!!! But something about that sound makes me feel like I belong here, you know?” Angelica says, looking for validation.

-“I hear you.” Says Arney. “Crysty used to say it’s one of the happiest sounds one could...”

A creaking of a chair moving on the floor is suddenly heard and makes Arney stop talking. Reef gets up, looking gloomy, and without any word or emotion, and without protesting anything, he just numbly goes towards the exist of the classroom.

He then stops for a second, realizing his responsibility to his friends to not just leave without a word, and says “I’m going outside for a bit.” He then exists.

-“Is it because of what I said?” Arney asks.

-“No, Arney, I don’t think so. Don’t worry.” Angelica replies.

-“Angelica...” Albert says while looking at her, implying they should do something.

-“It’s okay, it’s okay, I’ll go.” She says, reassuring them.

As Reef exists the class, he goes straight to the garden outside, Crysty’s favorite place. He looks for a spot empty of any presence and just stands there, leaning against a wall. He stares at the park, the flowers, the fields. He takes a deep breath and eventually turns up, looking at the sky. He stays like that for a while.

Angelica comes outside and starts looking for him. She sees a bunch of people, and so, she knows to go in the opposite direction. She sees him leaning against a wall, just staring at the sky and walks towards him.

-“Today is the anniversary, huh?” She says quietly.

-“Yea. Can never get used to first days of school because of that.” He replies.

-“Well... To be fair... You didn’t do well with those even before everything...” She says half jokingly.

She stares at him to look for his reaction. He looks back at her and see her smiling. He cracks a small laugh and she joins.

-“Remember the promise we made here?” She asks.

-“I do. Crysty never broke that promise, you know. She was just...” Reef cuts his words in the middle, and looks back at the memories of their meeting for the first time with the rest of the group, reminiscing in his own head again.

11 years ago. Year: 2289. 1st day of school and Crysty shows Reef and Angelica the garden of Artisan.

-“Look at the scenery. Isn’t it amazing? It all looks so peaceful. No modernity or machines, just plain beauty of nature.” Crysty says while looking at all the greenery, and the variety of colorful flowers. “Now Introduce yourselves in order!” She demands.

They all look at each other, unaware of who should start.

-“Albert, come on, make it official.” Crysty implores him.

-“Well, I’m Albert. I’m currently swimming in history classes about filmography, but my main focus is on practical filmography, taking pictures and videos. I want to be able to take awesome pictures all around the world, and if possible, maybe film an actual movie one day!” he says enthusiastically.

-“I’m Arney. I’m an actor, but... I have no resume. The only experience I got is for exercises and performances we manage to put on in school. I’m too young for any real experience anyway. But man... I wish to be famous one day. I just hope I didn’t choose the incorrect field.”

-“Well, as all of you may already know, I’m Crysty! But some of you may not know that I’m a musician.”

-“What do you play?” Reef asks.

-“Well... I don’t! Haha!” She laughs endearingly. “I compose music and I sing the lyrics, which I also write myself. I add musical tools and instruments digitally, along with my voice.” She explains.

-“Angelica, you also chose singing classes, right?” Crysty asks.

-“Yep! My name is Angelica. I’m an illustrator. I have been drawing since I remember myself but I heard Crysty’s singing and got so much into it. I think I wanna try that too. Also, you know how it is... A.I takes over the world and we can never tell what would be more practical in the future. I figured, I can probably manage taking both of those directions seriously without hurting my scores.”

-“I think that’s great! I can’t wait for us to sing together!” Crysty replies. “What did you choose Reef? Is there any art that you focus on doing?”

-“Well... I don’t know yet. I only took the mandatory classes. I didn’t choose anything in particular since I’m not practicing any art at all.”

-“Really? Nothing at all? I was so curious too.” Crysty says, trying to not look disappointed.

-“I like listening to music, and sometimes I help Angelica by giving her feedback when she tries singing, but I’ve never considered how it would feel making music myself, you know?” Reef replies.

-“Well, I’m sure after seeing what this school has to offer you will think of something! I can show you the music room, maybe you’ll end up a musician like us. I’m glad we can all go to this amazing school together.”

-“Me too!” Says Angelica. -“Yep, Love it here!” Says Albert. -“Right on!” Arney follows.

-“Since we all want to become stars one day, besides Reef who doesn’t even know in what field he wants to become a star in, haha...” She pokes at him, and he blushes a bit, “...Let’s all point one finger forward. Do it with me!” She orders with confidence.

Everyone points a finger forward. -“Now, point your fingers at mine!” Everyone then pointing their raised fingers towards hers, forming a circle amongst themselves with their pointed fingers in the middle. “Raise them up, while they still touch!” She says as they raise their fingers upwards, to the tallest position they possibly can.

-“This is the shape of a star! What we strive to become. And it’s also a promise. Whether in film, acting, music, drawing or any type of art we choose to do... We will become stars!!! YEA!”

-“Woohoo! -“Yeah! -“Let’s do it!” The other three join in. Reef stays quiet, but is dazzled by her energy and leadership, as with those skills she just made him a friend for every finger. An uncontrollable smile forms on his face.