A Day After Life
Part 5
A Story by Tom Austin © 2004
It was a typical London day, but not an ordinary day for John. It
was early April and he was out for a walk in a nearby park. The sky was cloudy,
and the wind was blowing leaves everywhere. John saw a young woman sitting on a
bench typing away on thing that Heather called "a laptop computer".
Continuing his stroll he saw children playing on swings for the first time
after a winter of enforced confinement. A pair of lovers, hand in hand - oblivious
to the cold - passed John.
"God, I remember that feeling". The man wearing dark
glasses started to sniff a bit.
"I'm going back to the house and ask Heather if she can show
me her computer" John thought.
It wasn't very long before John returned to the house. As he was
hanging up his coat in the front hall he heard Heather in the kitchen.
"How is it out there" asked Heather.
"Cold. Cold as a witches elbow." replied John
"I thought you didn't feel cold ?". said Heather
"Normally I don't, but today I could. Maybe it's because I'm
in human form".
"Well you forgot your scarf again. You're got to catch
your...scratch that" said Heather.
"Thanks mum. I'll have to remember that the next time I go
out. During my walk I saw this woman with a laptop computer. Do you think you
could show me yours" asked John
"Sure thing. Do you want mean lessons too ?" she asked
"Yup. ThatÕs exactly what I was thinkin'" replied John
"Just let me finish the dishes and I'll be right with
you" said Heather
John walked towards the kitchen with a puzzled look on his face.
"What happened to the dishwasher" he asked.
"Killed another one. The store is probably thinking I do them
in for a hobby" she said.
After Heather put away the last dish and she dried her hands she
went into the bedroom to collect the laptop. Afterwards she and computer
illiterate pupil sat in the living room.
"There are a lot them so don't ever think they're all alike,
because they aren't. The "on" switch for mine is on the side. Mine
runs Windows XP Home Edition. Paul has Windows XP at the office. Our computers
can "talk" to each other. Just tell me if I'm going too fast, or if
something doesn't make sense".
John was silent as a mouse, but fascinated by the little box.
"It's like a tiny library in a box !". Just then Heather pressed a
button and a picture of Paul sans hair color popped up on the screen. John
started nattering at the picture.
"He's not really there John. ItÕs only a picture like in a
photograph album. But I can see him when he's at his office" said Heather
"You mean like TV ?" said John.
"Just like it. Only when IÕm talking with Paul there are no
commercials. When you're connected to the Web-"
"Web of what ?' asked John
"Its called the World Wide Web or the Internet. The are
millions of computers spread out all over the globe. When you put a line
between this computer and others they form a web, and it looks like one too. I've
all sorts of different programs in my computer. ThereÕs one for writing,
correcting spelling, and other things".
"Can you show me the one for writing" asked John
Heather pressed a few keys and a program called 602Text started.
"Here anybody can write anything. They can put in pictures too. For all of
this to work it helps to have what called a mouse"
"Oh thatÕs what that little stinker is. I almost stepped on
it and apologized.
Heather started snickering.
"You can use this computer if you want. I'll just say that
you're one the people who uses it". Heather created whatÕs called a users
profile. After that John could use it whenever Heather wasn't using it.
"But the best way to learn about it is to use it".
Heather handed it to John. He picked it and looked all over
it." Where's the plug ?".
asked John.
"There isn't one" replied Heather. "This one runs
on batteries".
John handled it with great reverence and care. After a few minutes
he retired to his room by the recording studio to rest. He was more tired than
he thought. Taking human form took a lot of energy. And he was no longer as
young as he used to be.
Heather rang Paul at the office and asked if John could have a
computer. It was almost one month since John became a member of the McCartney
household, and to use Heathers words "you should have seen him, he was so
cute - just like a little boy".
"ThatÕs our Johnny. I'll bring one home tonight".
Heather added "You're cute too".
When Paul came in the front door John was in the living room
tinkering with Heathers computer. In the short time he had it he had downloaded
photos of paintings, Sean, Yoko, countless screensavers, and some music.
Paul called to John.
"Got something for ya". John got up from the living room
couch.
"Oh boy. A prezzie for little old me. What ya got, what ya
got".
Upon hearing this Paul retorted "Oh hush will ya. I'm trying
to be nice".
Heather came out from the kitchen, and put her arm around her
husbands waist.
"John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE, and RIP, in honor of your
return to the land of the living, and your decision to become a member of our
household, I'd like to present you with your very own computer. And to help you
understand it I'd also like to present you with these manuals".
Paul added that the idea for the computer came from Heather, and
that the idea for the manuals came from him. The computer had a little bow on
it and a card that said "To Winston with love from H,P, and B".
"Gods teeth these things are big. I'll go blind trying to
read them" said John pointing at the manuals". "They're to keep
you busy and out of trouble" said Paul.
The computer was a duplicate of Heathers so he would have no
trouble with it. Paul added there was also a small book for him. Its title was
The Internet For Dummies.
"I don't if I should thank or thump ya".
I thought the title was ok cause you got shot".
"Hey, that wasn't my idea".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a few days with a computer John figured out how to transfer
some of the files from Heathers computer to his. He added many things, but
mostly wrote. Sometimes he dabbled with the paint program, but he preferred the
word processor. In the seclusion of his room he went to the tropics, Sri Lanka,
Antarctica, and Bolivia. Inside one of the manuals was a note from Paul which
said
" When you're online don't tell anyone your last name They'll
think you're off your trolley".
Holding the note in his hand he could feel anger well up inside
him.
"I'm dead you nit, not bleedin' dense".
During one of his many travels via the computer he came upon a
site called Rooftop Sessions. Intrigued he read a bit about the site, and some
of the authors. He read a name he recognized. Angel. John met her on her 21
birthday in Los Angeles in 1974.
"I'll write her one of these email thingys".
Better not, he thought. She'll probably think its from someone
who's balmy.
He checked out a few more sites and lay down on the cot in his
room. Holding human form was tiring. He didn't know what might happen if he
didn't rest. The english language had changed so much in the short time John
had been away. When John was growing up there were no such things such as
personal computers, VCR's, DVD's, and MP3's.
After another month had passed in was not a uncommon sight to find
John literally stick his head or face in a VCR or a DVD player. John was
curious in the extreme. And music, no matter in what form it came, was a
passion. He quickly discovered that many of his favorite tunes where in the
film Dirty Dancing. He made it a point to create his own personal CD
collection. The computer became the center piece of his own mini-recording
studio. When he made his first home-made CD it was pretty bad. But he got
better very quickly. Soon he created over two hundred CD's. The music ran the
gamut of all musical genres. Jazz, classical, Broadway show tunes, pop music,
acid rock, and good old rock n' roll. But he was restless. It was one thing to
see and go places via the computer. But John wanted to go those places for
real. He didn't want his afterlife existence ruled by a box of electronic
circuitry. He had to leave. When would he leave ? He didn't know. Where would
he go ? He didn't know that either. All he knew is that he had to go. And he
had to do it soon.
Soon he told Paul and Heather. Paul spoke for them both.
"I'm not going to lie. We're going to be really worried. In
the short time you've been here we've settled differences, and we've made a
record, We don't know where you're goin' or when. And we also know that you
can't give us any answers. Heather helped you perfect your people suit. George
Martin finally said what he's been wanting to say to you for over forty years.
But at least its not going to hurt as much. Because we know you're coming back.
Just remember that you have another family, and that your new family loves
you".
Heather was wiping the tears of separation from her face. And John
was about to say something. But just as he opened his mouth he disappeared, and
his room and CD's became a small shrine, awaiting his return.
Tom Austin
Email - taustin@pathcom.com
