Perfect

In the City

The rest of the week and the following week were uneventful. It was getting boring with the same routine over and over. Physical stuff in the morning and metal testing in the afernoon, although I did get the weekend off which was nice. Sam started working with us and she was the only thing that wasn't boring. 

On Monday, Professor Ootrub knocked on my door and handed me an envelope.

"Here. Mister Segmond", he said.

"What is it?"

"Your pay stub and ATM card."

"What? I get paid for this? What's an ATM card?" 

Thay had opened a bank account for me where they were depositing my pay. Apparently the research was a paid job. I was paid for every test. Although, I had no idea how to use this ATM card, the Professor explained it to me.

"You mean there is this machine that just gives you cash?", I asked, amazed.

"Well, yes, but it is your cash. What ever you make here will be available to you. Once your cash runs out, the machine won't give you any more."

"Oh.", I said, disappointed.

"This week we are going to venture outside the facility. I want you to start learning more about this world."

"That sounds great."

"Get dressed, eat, and meet me in the lobby at 11."

"Okay!"

I dressed very quickly and then went for breakfast. The special was a Western sandwich and a coffee. 

Once I had finished eating it was almost 11, so I proceeded to the lobby to meet the Professor.

He was already there, and so was Sam. This was going to be an even better day.

We all got into the car and the Professor drove us into the city.

During the entire trip into the city, I couldn't help but to think about the purpose of the trip. Was it to get used to this crazy society? Maybe I would meet my son, Jason. He is probably still alive somewhere. Unless he moved, but then I probably wouldn't recongnize him now. He was a todler when I left and new he would be 60-something.

I was getting there, but I still had a lot to learn. I found out what those things were that people kept holding to their heads. Apparently, they are called smartphones. There are like real telephones but you can call other people through the air, like a radio station. These things can also do other things as well. Something called email. That same thing, but you can send letters to people, send them through the air, and they get it right away. That is kind of neat, I guess. Although, I don't understand it.

We exited the car in an area that was downtown. It was very busy with lots of people, taxis , and, buses, and stuff.

We went for a walk along Lafayette Street. It is one of the major streets of what is now the city of Forest Hill, population too-many thousand, whatever.

I was scanning the sidewalk by slowly moving my enitire body. It was a lot to take in.  I suddenly stopped when I noticed something very odd, and it kind of made me sick to my stomach. There on a bench, were two men. They were holding hands, that was weird enough, but then they moved closer to each other and kissed! Yuk! Eeww! Eeww! Eeww! That is disgusting! I turned to Sam and yelled, "Eeww! Those two men just kissed eash other right here in public! That are, they are..." I had a lot of trouble getting the word out..."They are homosexuals! Sam! You are one of those human behaviour fix-it people! Make them stop! Fix them! It makes me want to vomit right here on the sidewalk!"

Sam and the Professor both looked at me as if I was the one with the problem.

"What! I'm not the one kissing another man! Look at them!"

Sam tugged on me lightly as if to get me back into the car.

"What!"

"You need to get back into the car right now. I don't think you are ready for this.", Sam said to me quietly.

"Let's go for lunch!", The Professor said happily as if nothing happened.

"Lunch?!", I exclaimed, "How can you think about food at a time like this?!"

"Let's go to Taco Bell."

"What the hell is that?"

"A restaraunt."

"I hope so."

After just a couple of minutes driving, we arrived at a place called Taco Bell.

 We went in, but the place did not look like any restaraunt I had even seen.

I questioned, "What the hell kind of food do they serve in this dump?"

Sam answered, "Mexican."

"Mexican? Why? We are not in Mexico."

"Just try it.", Professor Ootrub bugged.

"Oh okay. If it makes everybody happy, I'll try the damn thing."

I had something called a 'soft taco supreme'. It actually tasted not bad.

As i was fibnishing, I began to get a very strange sense that I was being watched, monitored, something like that. I looked around, but I did not see anything unusual. Everybody was minding their own business. 

Even after we left the restaraunt, I just could not shake that feeling.

"I want to go back to my apartment.", I said.

"Already? We have only been here a couple of hours.", Sam said questionably.

"I just want to go now."

"Okay.", Sam said.

"Let's try againg tomorrow.", said The Professor in a bubbly voice.

"I guess.", I said cautiously.

For the whole drive back to the lab, I just couldn't shake that feeling of being watched.

I want back up to my apartment in the facility, and tried to relax, but I couldn't. Someone or something was watch and monitoring my every move.