Chapter 6:

Understanding The Good Side

An Ideal World


This time, I will make things right! I have been given the opportunity to travel to the future. Although things have been rough at the beginning but I have made it here. It hasn't been a day yet but my journey has shown many challenges. Right now, I'm facing one of the biggest problems that I have faced. During the past 25 years, it is expected that this will come but it presents itself in the most abnormal situation. Yes, my 12 years of studying in school, 4 years of learning about engineering in college and 3 years of recognizing my failures, I have come to this. I have to find a job!

"I want to find a job, officer!"

The officer looked surprise but soon came back to his senses, he might haven't thought that I was wanting to get a job. This is quite normal if a runaway came to the police office, he wouldn't normally ask for helps in job-hunting. Aside from that, this could prove to be a serious problem.

Yes, no doubts, with no identification about myself, this is the biggest problem. My ID in my wallet is useless cause no one keeps track of a 1000-year-old ID. I am wishing that I might find someplace with a steady income but, at the moment, I can only think of some table works such as fixing a bike or become a tutor; none of those sounds possible. Besides, I can't be a tutor, they might have tons of technologies that I haven't even heard of. Maybe a history teacher but I will be stucked at below the year of 2000 and can teach only the WWI or WWII. Labor works are probably my only options, fixing a bike, as I mentioned, or construction work at the extreme. No, I can't do both of them with my flimsy hands, they are meant to write, draw and sometimes do small projects. Carrying 5 kg of bricks on my shoulder on a daily basis is too much for my body.

"Is there any jobs that require minimal labor? To be honest, I don't think my body can do heavy works"

I know, this is asking a bit too much. Minimal labor? Jobs require minimal efforts in the body are office workers such as a telephone operator. They require very few movements in body, except for the mouth. However, the skill they are most good at is communication. The last thing that a customer wants is bad language, yelling at the consumer. Adding to that is a strong base knowledge about their field of work. I might be able to work in that field if I learn carefully so it might be a good option.

The requirements I said sounded a bit much but the officer didn't see that as too much. He looked at his computer, trying to find a suitable work place for me. I could have said that I was quite good in engineering but that might not bring any benefits due to how vast this world and many things I haven't known. In other words, my field might be obsolete compared to this world standards. At last, I might have to find labor intensive works. It's better to have a steady income than be out of the street whose income depends luck and kindness of those around.

In the worst case possible, there aren't any works for me. After a thousand year of innovations, they might have better solutions for the workforce in places such as a construction. Even in my time, they already invented 3D printing, ranging the sizes from small to large. Some are large enough to 3D printed an entire house and there are promises for this technology.

"Mr.Norm? Mr.Norm, all you still with me?"

A voice came up while I was day-dreaming

"Huh? Ah yes, sorry. You were saying?"

Now that I've paid attention, my words were somewhat rude. I'm guessing that is because I was raised in a society where weren't many people paid attention to our words. It somewhat would feel more distance if I changed how I speak. Well, I can't definitely assure that I'm not suitable for communication works that was previously mentioned. He now has a list on his hands, must have printed. It's like a

"I have checked the surrounding for wanted-work and, luckily, I found a place that meet your requirements. It is quite close our building so I will tackle along with you if you have any questions"

Wait, he is coming with me? How far is this guy going to help me? I know he is helping because he is a genuine good guy. That day when he got help has really changed his life, hasn't it. Up till this point, I could have gone a very different route if I hadn't met the guy. The same thing can be said he hadn't his officer. What thought as simple but influenced the total outcome drastically.

As he was packing his stuffs into his bag, I was also getting ready. But in reality, I didn't do much to get ready. I didn't bring with me anything. Stuff that I brought along is a wallet, which is basically useless and a phone, which is broken for some reasons. My wallets contain some pocket money, which is outdated and a few debit cards, which are also outdated. Luckily, I can finally dodge the loans I have on my debit card so starting from ground zero is better than starting out with debts. As for my smart phone, the outside looks normal from my eyes but it doesn't turn on. Waking up in this world, I tried to check what time was it and where were I but the phone wouldn't.

That is to say, I have only my clothes and myself, can't have less than this. I'm currently wearing a suit, which is very typical for most people going to work. Except, I don't have a job because I am freelancer. I wore this because I was trying to pitch my ideas to the company. Not only did it almost fail but also transported me here. At least, I can go job hunting with this suit. It only has a few wrinkles in the inner white shirt but, overall, it is very formal to my standards.

"Are you ready Mr.Norm? We will depart as soon as both of us are ready so feel free to tell if you need more time."

"Yes, I'm ready to depart at anytime"

If I want have any chances of a good career, I first have to not let bad impression on how I speak. That would be quite embarrassing for me. Imagine being kicked out because I didn't control how I spoke.

After both of us finished our preparations, we soon left the office. I'm currently feel quite anxious for my interview, it might go either bad or worse, none of them is what I want.

As I was waking down, the officer seemed to have notice my worries. I was about to say "No need to pay attention to me, it happens all the time". I'm usually very nervous when in front of many people. Therefore, I might trip my lines, present my ideas out of orders and so on.

Didn't take too long before we got out of the building. Now that I have thought about it, it's about to be my first time to experience the future of Earth. Will there be flying cars? Hover board that can float on the air, unlike those use wheel but is still called Hover Board. Flying cars might be our future, can it travel, on average, 88 miles per hour or even faster? Even though my time already have faster transportation such as a bullet train, which can double the speed to 160 miles per hour. However, having cars flying at 80 miles per hours sounds very cool and traffic jam might not be a thing, unless there are too many of us.

"So what vehicle are we about to travel?"

Hope it's a flying car, that would be so cool!

"We will walk to the station first before meeting up with the location"

Wait walk? With all the current technology, are we about to walk? Flying cars, hover boards, I even thought that we were about to use a teleporter. It might be too far-fetch but it's the future! We should be having a ton of options to travel.

"Wait why are we walking, shouldn't we be using faster methods?"

My curiosity got ahead of me and my mouth slipped so easily. But I'm not complaining until I got my questions answered.

"Well, we couldn't use the bicycle because those can only carry one person"

Bicycle? Is it an electric bicycle? It could be but we already had that. Why haven't opted for better vehicles, the possibilities are endless but why are sticking to this old method.

"No, I mean, why don't we use a car or some others?"

I was about about to say "a flying car" but I didn't so as to not confuse what it was. But I still want answers why we are still walking in the year 2100s.

"Well, walking is quite a good exercise. It helps people burn calories but also it doesn't need consume non renewable energy such as gas or oil."

It makes sense but what about electric cars? Cars that are powered by electric, which are renewable from sources like wind or sun. Weren't all of that windmills I have seen use for these kinds of purposes?

"How about electric cars? Don't those only consume electricity ?"

When asked him the question, he looked like he was bewildered by my question. Did I ask something too absurd? Does electric car exist in this world or is it outdated by the modern technology.

"Electric cars, huh? Well, the station has electric cars but we don't often use them unless in dire situations?"

It sounds like electric cars are, in fact, relevant in this day and age. But..

"But why don't we use it, shouldn't it be a better method for most people? Electric cars, in my view, have some great benefits"

"Yes, they bring a great amount of benefits for the consumers. The cost of purchasing, the refilling, and the conveniences. But those benefits are for the consumers only as the process of making an electric car is harmful for the Earth"

Harmful? What did he mean by "harmful"? Electric cars are harmful?

"What do you mean by that?"

"Electric cars are just like regular cars but with a special battery, which can only be found deep in the Earth. It means that, even though the benefits afterwards sound impressive, the drawbacks of ruining the Earth's natural land is being destroyed. This is usually unfavorable by many"

The battery? It didn't occur to me. I didn't know that batteries are being dug up from the Earth.

"The best way to protect our planet is to reduce what we consume. Riding an electric car might be convenient, it is also killing the our Earth's land. If I can't protect the planet, I'm basically take part in killing innocent lives around the globe in the near future. That doesn't sound like an officer I would want to be, does it?"

He said it with a smile. This planet has really reached to a point that all humans are caring for others. Humans now know their effects when doing certain actions. They are working together, making this planet a better world. How did we come to this sudden development. What I knew before coming are humans can be merciless. Wars created by humans, hurting each others for land, property and fame. Animals dying because of human hands such as deforestation or poaching. It continued for thousands years, billions of lives were caught in our plays.

But now, only a thousand years later, we are paying attention to our consequences. He said he didn't want to ruin the Earth's land. We are claiming the most of the land already and yet, we are protecting it? Are we the bad guys from the beginning? This spot I'm standing on might have been a nest for a bird. Or are we the good guys? Creating a world where the future generations of humans can enjoy.

"Also, it is also great to have a chat with friends"

A chat with friends? After he said it, I started to take a look around me. The trees are placed on two of my sides. I'm currently walking on path made of concrete, splitting paths after a few steps. The sound is covered with birds, children laughing and playing at the playground, adults talking on a bench and near the fountain. They all have one thing in common, which is they are having fun!

"I guess you're right. Walking is good to talk with friends, isn't it?"

As I walked, I came to a realization. It isn't about what is right and what is wrong. It's about what is the most important things to you. To him and many other officers, it's about protecting innocent lives. Last and not least, it's better go chat with my friend when walking.