Timeless

d.

7 March 2017

Okay I don't really understand what you mean by 'googled' and the definition doesn't entirely make sense to me either... I'm really lost. Are you working for some sort of secret organisation with access to experimental technology? I really don't understand..

When I read that I had to laugh a little.

A secret organisation? Then all of humanity would have to be part of it, because believe me, everyone knows about this 'experimental technology'..

Shaking my head a little, I tried to return to my book. But even if I wasn't writing with the guy - with Brian - my mind was somehow occupied with him. I really didn't get what was going on with him, how he could never have heard of smartphones. I mean, everyone had to have heard of it by now, right? Especially in London. Maybe he was in some sort of psychiatric institution and hadn't heard of it because of that? But... how did he get a phone then? So much wasn't making sense and I was kind of hoping that that would change, because I knew otherwise I'd be distracted a lot.

I know I'm repeating myself, but where I live, no one has heard of a phone like this. Believe me. I'm asking people and they're looking at me as if I'm crazy because no one has ever seen something like this.

Furrowing my eyebrows I sighed.

You're not somehow locked up somewhere which is why you've been out of touch with the outside world?

I knew that was probably a little mean but I just couldn't help myself from asking that. I didn't have to wait long for the reply.

No, I'm not locked up somewhere. Something still isn't making sense here, is it?

Nodding a little, I crossed my legs. It was good to see that he seemed to agree with me.

Definitely. I mean, are you sure we're talking about the same London? There isn't a London somewhere in the Brazilian rainforest where they really have never heard of a phone?

Now that I had gotten this far, I wanted to solve this mystery. I wanted to know why on earth he wasn't making sense.

No, I'm talking about London, the capital of the UK.. Which London are you talking about?

The more I heard the less everything made sense.

I'm talking about the same... but honestly, in 2017 everyone simply has to have heard of smartphones. Especially in London.

And that was when I got the quickest reply.

2017?! What are you talking about?

But it was also the reply that confused me the most. Shaking my head a little, I typed my reply.

The year, of course, what on earth is wrong with you? I mean, I guess I can somewhat believe that you've never heard of smartphones, but you have to have heard of a calendar...

Honestly, what was wrong with this guy? Something told me that I should probably just delete the number and forget that this conversation ever happened, because I shouldn't get acquainted with some weirdo.

I have heard of a calendar, I have one hanging in my kitchen, but my calendar definitely tells me that it's currently 1972... you asked me if I'm locked up, but are you sure you're not locked up?

When I read that message, I honestly didn't know what to do, or even just what to think. 1972? And he had the audacity to ask if I was locked up?

I'm quite certain because currently I'm sitting outside my university, preparing for tomorrow.. and I am 100% certain that it's the year 2017. And not 1972. Maybe you're mentally stuck in that year, but it's definitely not true. And that probably means you're not 24 but ... 69 instead. Which also explains the whole phone ordeal.

If I had been in doubt before, I was convinced now that I was talking to a crazy guy.

And I am 100% certain that it's the year 1972, as are all my friends. And I'm just as sure that I'm 24 and not 69. In 2017 I would be turning 70 and believe me, I'm not turning 70 this year.

He did seem very convinced of that, which was strange. Very strange.

Fine, if you're so sure about that then send me a photo of you. I want to see that you're really not 69.

This was a typical case of a 'pic or it didn't happen'-situation. I needed this settled once and for all.

A photo? How on earth am I supposed to send you a photo of me? First of all it would take time to get developed and then how would I send it to you? You don't make sense, you know?

I chuckled and shook my head.

I don't make sense? You don't make sense. I'm not talking about an actual analogue photo. Just take a selfie or something. If you can send me messages, then you can also send me a photo. Just go to the camera of your phone...

Did I really feel like explaining a phone to some weird stranger who seemed to be incredibly clueless? I guess it was worth a shot, it definitely was a fun way of procrastinating. 'Yes sorry, I couldn't do my readings because I had to explain to someone in 1972 how to use a smartphone'. I could already see my professor failing me just because of that excuse. Oh well, no risk, no fun.

Take a what? What on earth is a selfie? I hope you're not talking about something sexual..

When I laughed out loud, I got a few weird looks from the people around me, but someone I didn't really care.

No, nothing sexual... a selfie, you know? A photo of yourself. Your face. Nothing sexual.

I was still chuckling a little. Somehow it seemed as if Brian genuinely had no clue about anything connected with phones.

And how do I do that? I don't know how to use this thing, I'm pretty sure...

Alright, well here we went.

Just go to the camera app - the camera programme. You know?

He probably didn't know, but I wanted to be certain of that before I went into a lengthy explanation.

... No. I don't know. Sorry. Maybe you could try to explain it?

I smiled a little to myself and crossed my legs, trying to get comfortable.

Alright.. I'll try my best. Okay, so if I say app, I mean programme. I hope that makes sense. So somewhere in your app, in what you're seeing now, or in one of the options, you should see a camera symbol or something like that...

I knew I was awful at explaining stuff, especially technology. By now it was such a natural thing that it seemed a little like having to explain breathing. How would you explain breathing? It was tough, if not impossible.