The Wakeful Wanderer's Guide to Disillusionment

Scorched

Helen spent the day clearing the roads of snow. Her team worked around her town and a little further south. It was hard work, but it felt good to do something physical for a change. She was told that the super-mods continually tried to find a way to get the bots to clear away snow, but there was always an energy imbalance in the activity. Some things still had to be paid for in human sweat, and that was probably good. Her hands were freezing, even tucked inside the very excellent snow gloves she had been given. The rest of her was warm from exertion. They stopped at noon to let a new crew take over. Helen was famished. She put out a request for some hot stew or soup and lounged in an outdoor easy chair for it to arrive while she cooled off.

["Marto's back!"] The message came from Tracey « Betttina « Tori « Alonda, etc., in Burlington North. Helen didn't recognize the sender, but it had a link to a new entry in The Wakeful Wanderer's Guide. Helen froze. She was afraid to check it. Did that little worm suddenly pop back into action without so much as a 'hello?'

She sat for a long time, unsure whether she wanted to find out. She didn't want to have feelings for Marto anymore. She wanted to be done with him and move on. He was trouble. He was confused. The sex wasn't even really that good, but she couldn't shake the memory of him. They had a deep, unwanted connection. Unable to stop herself, she traced back the conversation with Tracey and followed the link to the new entry.

I remember a quote that goes 'a long journey begins with a single leap.' It was my friend Yadia « Didi « Marsha « Susan, etc. who thexted me that but she didn't say where it came from. In any case, my journey will begin with a pedal and a wobble as soon as I can get a clear strip of road and a few of you to cheer me on. Tell your friends that the Wakeful Wanderer has returned!

What does it mean to be a Wakeful Wanderer, you may ask? Well, to me it means being open to all of life's experiences. I'm not one to wallow in the past. Being wakeful to me is about being in the 'here-in-now.' I want to get out there and meet new people, experience new things. Like you, I've played all the games I can, tangled with your fantasies, given a lot, and taken what was offered. It's time to experience new things with my eyes and ears open. Heads up!

A big roar goes out to Calais Tribe. I will miss you all while I'm away. Stay close with me! Woof-Woof to ChooChoo and NiNi! You know who you are.

– The Wakeful Wanderer's Guide, Vol. 7, lines 1-3

Helen disconnected from the thread. Whoever this joker was, it certainly wasn't Marto. She thexted Tracey as much. Her food still had not arrived. How long had it been? Was something wrong with the kitchens?

["How do you know it's not him?"] Tracey thexted back.

["Trust me. It's not. He doesn't write that way. This person is an imbecile."]

["Wow, what's with the negativity, Helen? Are you upset because you got scorched?"]

["Oh, I'm just tired and hungry and a little heartbroken."]

["Oh well, darling, that's understandable. You've been out working and Pi Valley can be difficult for some people."] Tracey had been a good friend. He lived several towns away but was one of the first to welcome Helen to her new community.

["Wait, 'scorched?' What do you mean by 'scorched?'"] Helen sat up a bit, sensing something bad had happened.

["Darling, have you checked your Merit recently? You're in the gutter, girl."]

Helen never worried about her Merit, so she seldom checked it. The graph of her recent status showed a quick downward slash like a hawk finding prey. This was horrendous. What had she done to deserve this?