The Playground

It’s hard to envision what’s going on sometimes. The focus is to play on the next piece of equipment. They’re constantly on the move and don’t like to wait. Sometimes they want to seek out the attention of a parent our sibling to demonstrate what they’ve learnt, especially when they’re trying something new. If there’s a friend or sibling with them, they’ll taker the time to compete or organise a game or create some rules. Sometimes they’ll cry out to their guardian for help if there’s something that upsets them or stops them from what they’re trying to achieve, or if it’s something that they don’t understand. They’ll want to keep an eye out or know where to go to get help. Sometimes they’ll be followed around by a responsible person. They may happily chat back at you. Others are solely focused on the new experience in front of them. Some kids will get bossy and will lay down rules.

Grocery Store

I spend a lot of time in grocery stores. You don’t tend to notice many conversations between people as they go about in their groups. They spend more time focusing on what’s in front of them; what’s on offer and what’s the most efficient purchase for them. Occasionally, they’ll remind each other of events coming up and whether or not they should purchase that particular item. Mothers might get stressed trying to keep their children in check. Others may make remarks about their fellow shoppers; their attitude and their attire. You might see some groups interact with each other if they bump into another party that they recognise; especially if they haven’t seen each other in a while, but even then it’s for a short period as they recognise that they want to finish the task at hand. You’ll see squabble and hesitations over the most minutest of decisions. After all, you’re not going to be able to return most of this stuff.

The Mall

I go in the back way. It’s a bit unusual, but it links up the place with nearby housing while allowing a local car park to be built with a ring road looping around the whole building. There’s also council flats with an exclusive lift; but that’s just for security purposes. The car park is now shut and its future is uncertain, but you can bet that they’ll probably look for someone to redevelop them into apartments. Once inside the mall; one of the first people that you’ll probably see are the security guards. Their uniform has evolved strangely over time from bluecoat blazers to yellow waistcoats. Their current set-up is modelled on riot gear; though with the amount of straps on the back of it it looks like a bigger version of a restraining suit. You’ll soon start seeing big-brand shops. Get there early to avoid the crowds otherwise you’ll face toddlers being let loose from  their pushchairs and stallholders trying to sign you up to things and unnecessary queues in the card shops.

What if your teacher embarrassed someone every day and today was your day?

They might be doing it deliberately to build up your character and resilience. It might even be part of the curriculum. But you just have to put with it. After all, everyone else has had their moment which you’ve enjoyed which is only fair. But what if you’ve had enough? You’ll have to think of a way to fight back. How have other people coped? Have they ignored what is happening? Have they cried; complained, got upset or ran away? Maybe they’ve fought back in an outburst; either physically or verbally. Or maybe someone’s stood up and said this isn’t right. Maybe this person could be you. How cool would that be? You could be the class hero. Or maybe you could get together with your friends to talk about it. You could discuss what’s happening with another teacher if you haven’t got the confidence to talk to your teacher directly. It all depends on how wrong and inappropriate you feel this is. It is important to emphasise that this needs to stop for everyone and not just for the people who complain.

What if you would only eat Strawberries?

Scientifically, it wouldn’t be good for your diet. You’d be eating sugar all of the time which might force you to become diabetic. You’d lose a lot of protein so you wouldn’t be able to develop or sustain any body fat. You’d lose a lot of weight. And it would be socially awkward at mealtimes too. You might have to avoid visits or carry a small supply and ask your hosts to dispose of them afterwards. You might need a guaranteed supply of refrigeration and you’d have to ensure that you can source them wherever you go or be able to have some transported to you unless you can take some for the shole duration of your trip. It may even stop you from having trips away. You might end up with reddish teeth from the constant strawberry stains. People may be concerned about your mental health and will visit you to try to change your diet; or take you to others who will attempt to do the same. You may deteriorate sooner than you think.

What if you woke up one morning with green teeth?

It might be a while until you find out. You might be one of those people who don’t smile that often so it will take a while for someone to tell you. Even then, it might not make much of a difference. Could this be because of something you ate? Maybe you went and grazed in a field the night before or ate a piece of cake with green icing. You could have been drinking green shots or cocktails; or you’ve consumed some sort of dyed product. It’ll probably wash off the moment you brush your teeth; which may be the moment that you discover they’re green. You might not recall what you’ve done. Maybe someone inserted something into your mouth while you were sleeping. As long as it comes off, I wouldn’t worry too much. It would be interesting to see what people’s reactions would be and whether they’ll be as so bold as to inform you of the anomaly. Or you could have planned it all. It might not bother you. Or you might want to take action before you even get out of bed.

What if everyone in your class could run faster than you?

There’d be no doubt about it. You’d be the slowest. It might have been close, or you could have fell at the first obstacle. You might be prone to teasing. That’s not nice or right, but are you doing the same things as everyone else? But you’d need to prove that you’re better in another field. Either way, there’s some work to do to help you improve. You’d need to train. Perhaps your friends can help or you can change your diet or lifestyle to improve your performance. Is your time or position noticeable? You could change your routine to do better. Or can you excel in another field and claim bragging rights there? Perhaps your parents can help you, or you’ve got friends that want to see you do better and not get left behind. Maybe it doesn’t bother you as you’ve got your sights on something else that’s more important to you.

What if your brother stole something that was very important to you and wouldn't give it back?

You’d have to convince him otherwise that it’s not your property. You could do this physically or through trickery or blackmail. You’d have to get revenge in some form. You could steal something that’s important to him and force him into a trade. Or you could seek help if you’re not able to resolve the situation on your own. You could ask a parent to be a judge or call a friend, sibling, or an enforcement authority for help and team up. One of you could distract him while the other searches and retrieves the item. It might be locked away so you might need to break something to gain access. You’d also have to decide if the effort is worth it and what the consequences would be; even though he’s in the wrong, and consider what has happened that has forced him to take this action. Perhaps there’s a good reason that he’s done this, and that he thinks that he’s acting in your best interests in the long run.

What if your school was on the other side of a big river and there was no bridge?

There are a number of things that you can do, but you would need access to other resources. The most simple one is a boat. You could build a raft, but if the current’s high you’re at risk of drifting away. The next option is a rope, but that depends if there’s someone to tie it to the other side and how wide the river is. There’s also the technology side. You could use computers to stream the lessons and not have to worry about crossing the river at all, though you’ll sacrifice your sociability as well as possibly being unequipped for some lessons and team sports wouldn’t be possible either. Or you could have a megaphone and big screen to take part, though that would be a bit disruptive to other pupils. Then there’s the possibility of building a bridge. You could do this yourself, or commission others to do this for you, though you may have to convince them that it’s for their benefit as well. You could also consider the possibility of flight, though you’d need an effort to return home as well. Either that or you would have to abandon your education or seek out an alternative school.

What if you couldn't walk any more?

Life would be very difficult to adjust to if you suddenly couldn’t do something that you’re used to doing every day any more. Unless, of course, you could fly everywhere instead. Running everywhere would leave you out of breath constantly and you’d look a bit weird crawling around or slithering to the shops every day. It would mean that you’d be immobile and you’d have to rely on others for assistance. You might be able to negotiate a different way of getting around via a chair or crutches; but you still wouldn’t have your freedom or independence that other people have. You’ll have to put your trust in people more. You’d have to entertain yourself or have someone assist you; either a family member, a paid assistant or state-funded carer. You’d have to make special arrangements and allow extra time for transportation, making sure that that there’s adequate facilities in both the vehicle and destination. You need to find people who care.

What if your house reminded you to do your chores just like some cars remind you to put on your seat belts?

It would be very annoying, especially if it started to beep every time something needed doing until it’s complete. Would every room have its own panel, or would there be one master panel that controlled everything? And how would it know? Is there a computer that takes laser measurements of the dust content? Are you being filmed or watched by an AI system? Or is there a highly developed routine that’s been calculated so that everything runs supposedly in sync? If you complete a chore and the light’s still flashing, you’d have to call someone to send an engineer out to take a look at it, unless you haven’t’ completed the chore properly. Would a report be sent if you hadn’t completed a chore on time? Could you be fined? This service could be very useful to landlords who rent out their properties, and it would give tenants a lot less freedom.

What if your underwear drawer started talking to you?

I would wonder how much I’ve had to drink or who the underwear drawer is. Would it be someone with a hidden microphone who can see me? That would be a bit kinky when I’m rooting around for my smalls. It would be animate and open and close as it speaks. I would have to force it to talk every time I needed a fresh pair. It’s quite lucky that it only contains clean clothes. It would tell me when I’m running low as it would feel cold and hungry. It would give me life advice as I laid in bed and we would have long talks into the night. I’d be given a plan to improve things. Or it might not hear me so it would just talk constantly until I’d gaffer tape it shut. People would ask me why I’m not sleeping and they’d be absolutely baffled by my answer. It would be really bored during the day so I’d have to leave the TV or radio on so that it would have something to listen to. It would watch the news for me and summarise it for me in a comedic style. Imagine the chaos it would cause when I leave it with a smart speaker. It would be constantly plotting to lure as many people to my room as possible or get me to refurnish it or move it to a better house. And it would be really creepy.

What If the postman brought you a letter from an aunt you didn't even know you had?

I would have questions. Who is this mysterious person that’s been hidden away from me for all this time? Why has she been concealed from me? Is she a criminal that’s just discovered me? What if my whole family has been on the run from her all this time because she’s crazy scary and powerful? And how do I know who to believe? It could be a con started by the postman. Id have to seek out answers from my family. And why does she choose this moment for a reunion? Is there a death imminent and we want to make sure that there’s no regrets? Or is someone trying to get up on a deal somewhere? I should really ask for some proof. Does my brother know? Am I the outcast or is she? There could be a fortune involved or it could be my downfall. Or she could just want to meet me and make her own mind up.

The Truth about Loss

There’s lots of different types of loss. The more significant it is, the harder it is to cope. It all depends on how much you rely upon the item or person that’s lost. And the effort required to replace it or them and if that’s possible. It might be a handy item or tool that you’ve misplaced in the house. You might not need it at this particular moment but you’d like to find it or know where it is for next time. In the meantime, you can put the task off completely, use a different tool or borrow or purchase another one. Then there’s important things like keys, phones and wallets. Again, there are ways around these and they can also be replaced but you really want to find them for your piece of mind. Panic can set in if you don’t know where they are as they could have been taken from you. And you’ll have to undertake a series of tasks to secure or replace them.

The Truth about Competition

It can be healthy for you. It will encourage you to do more, not just for profit, but to improve your practices. It can also encourage you to work hard for those extra sales. But in some instances you can be forced to work too hard and if you haven't got everything in place then it can have a detrimental effect, especially if you're struggling. It also depends if there's a team involved and whether everyone wants to share your goal of being top dog. So you have to watch what everyone is doing and react accordingly so that there's an opportunity to overtake your competitors if you can afford it. If you're leading the way, you'll naturally be the first choice, but you have to bear in mind that sometimes people will want to give your competitors a go, especially if there's a promotion on. There's a lot of work involved to keep your top spot.

The Truth about Differences

Differences are exciting. When you meet someone new, you wonder what they look like and how you will get on with them. Will you click with them? Will you both like the same stuff? Will they be different to the point that you can’t stand them or will you ask each other questions to learn about cultures and values? If everyone and everything was the same, life would be boring and everything would be the same. It’s the spice of life! Then there’s differences of opinion. Sometimes it causes conflict, usually over matters of ownership. Then there’s stereotypes of these opinions which are deemed to be bad and can also lead to hatred without the right context or knowledge, or sometimes war. It depends on how you view them. Some people just want conflict and nothing else. They enjoy the struggle of watching other people suffer. Others are bound by rules, usually under employment. But it’s what we do or choose not to do that counts. Sometimes you can tell how things end up, at other times you’ll be surprised.

The Truth about Secrets

Some are lies dreamt up by people to avoid attention. They don’t want you to know the truth so they throw distractions. Some of them are revealed eventually like hiding gifts for Christmas or birthdays. Others are more devastating when you hear the excuses that people come up with when they don’t want to tell you the truth. They’ll try to deflect you from asking the truth with a list of tasks that they want you to complete while they think of a genuine excuse that can be backed by a convincing alibi which prevents you from pursuing the subject any further. We don’t really know what goes behind the doors of Area 51. Is it a host site for aliens or is it really a site for advanced technology? If it’s the former then someone would have surely blabbed by now. But be warned; the truth can hurt. They may be doing you a kindness by not telling it to you.

The Truth About Power

Everyone wants to exercise it. They become corrupt by its authority. Will you do what you’re supposed to do or will you only work with those who give the most favourable or easiest outcomes and delegate the harder tasks to others? When you use it to help others, it’s a great feeling. But sometimes you have to exercise it to hinder them because that’s your role. You might get enjoyment out of hindering others which is quite sad. The good ones are those who are left feeling guilty afterwards because they know that they’ve hindered someone, even though they know that the other party is in the wrong. The bad ones are the ones that just don’t care. They use their position to bully and cheat the system  to get what they want, even if it means telling lies. It becomes addictive and they attempt to see how far they can exploit it.

The Truth about Betrayal

Someone is doing the opposite of what you want them to do. You feel disappointed in them. Are they doing it on purpose? In most cases; the harm is unintended, but if they’re doing it purposefully to upset you, that’s when you’ve been betrayed. Perhaps they don’t have time and they feel that other tasks are more important. Sometimes there are rules to follow. Sometimes it’s a case of who is right and who is wrong. Sometimes they just don’t like you and they do it because they know that it’s going to upset you. You’re going to want to get back at them. But what would be an equal reaction? Wars could be started because of this, and this conflict often entertains others. How will the situation be resolved? Will they get loud or violent other the pettiest of actions? Will they shun it in the hope that karma will take over is some form, hopefully within view? Will justice be served?

The Truth about Changes

No-one likes change. You get used to things the way they are. Sometimes, they’re forced upon you. You might have to do things a different way which takes longer to learn and process. There’s supposed to be a benefit to someone for doing it this way. It’s probably to reduce costs in the long run. But in other instances, some people feel the need to improve things to make them faster and easier; if only to compete with whatever everyone else is doing. Then there’s the middlemen who make change for the sake of progress but they’re restricted to what they can do; so what they think is an improvement ends up making it a longer task for everyone else. It’s a double-edged sword which usually ends up as a compromise for the sake of cost. Improvements need to be tested on a smaller scale to make sure that they’re suitable for everyone. But there’s always someone trying to find the most efficient solution.