Digital Footprint

A

Flash Fiction

story I wrote on my iPhone.

*****

   "Today the company Digital Footprint, has announced a breakthrough in ancestry communications," says a soothing, computer generated voice heard on every activated mindlink connected to a cyberspace news website. "With the advent of the late 20th Century, when the first World Wide Web was introduced, people have left an increasingly amount of their digital life exposed to the world."

   Not all of humanity is listening in on this news story. In fact, it's a small minority who actually hear the first announcement about Digital Footprint. But today's social media spreads quicker than a verbal rumor in any High School classroom.

   "Back then, humans wrote handwritten communications to one another, took pictures and videos of each other, started paging short messages, and used cell phones and computers to email, tweet, post, and video chat with anyone who would listen about their lives," the computer voice continued.

   One celebrity, on her mindlink, thinks how wonderful it would be to have a conversation with her Great Grandfather, whom she heard so much about when growing up.

   Just the thought of Brenda Starlet using Digital Footprint sends her social media followers into a frenzy!

   "Digital Footprint can now, with the help of virtual reality, construct a complete personality avatar of a family member, from at least two generations prior, of long deceased relatives. Where they sound, look, and feel as if that person is right in front of you!"

   Once Miss Brenda Starlet publicly orders her Great Grandfather's avatar, she proclaims the world should witness with her, the true inspiration of why she became a public personality.

   "Tune in this Friday, when we display for the very first time, the Grandfather Avatar of Miss Brenda Starlet!" the computer voice says. This time with a little added emotion to his soothing voice.

   The big day rolls around, with half the planet turning on their mindlinks to watch the very first, virtual reality avatar of Brenda Starlet's Great Grandfather come to life. So to speak.

   "This show is brought to you by Digital Footprint. The future of family relationships!"

   While watching through their mindlinks, everyone sees, in front of their eyes, a bunch of ones and zeros flash before Brenda Starlet in the form of a human figure. Then, slowly, clothing, hair, and facial features come to life as a virtual avatar of her Great Grandfather. With tears of joy running down Starlet's face, she says to the figure, "Hello, Great Grandfather. My name is Brenda."

   The avatar figure looks her up and down, then politely asks, "Why am I here?"

   "So I mayspeak with you, Great Grandfather, and get to know you."

   The world watches with amazement, as more mindlinks connect.

   "But why?" the stoic figure asks.

   "Because our family tales of you are that of a good man and a wonderful thespian."

   "Ha, ha, ha, ha." the avatar laughs. "Your Great Grandmother did like to hide the truth from people. She always felt it was important to protect the family name. She kept me from the electric chair, she did. I murdered seven women in my day and with her family money, she kept it a secret from the world. What a wonderful gullible woman she was. Until the end."

   "I don't understand? says a frightened Brenda.

   "Your Great Grandmother, Alicia, was a billionaire's daughter. She had politicians, from all over the country, in her pocket." the figure says bluntly to the scared Starlet. "Eventually, I was such an embarrassment to her and the family name, that she poisoned me!"

 This is,

Saying You Don't Always Get What You Wish For

Jim Hauenstein,

And,

"In your name, the family name is last because it's the family name that lasts."

- Amit Kalantri -

That is my story and I am sticking to it!

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