Filament

Veronika drove back to her apartment. Preferring the top floor in a high-rise building, the edifice was quite shiny and modern. A rarity in the older parts of town, she lived here on the edge of the Red Brick District. Vee especially liked the large window and her expansive skylight. During the day, the sun poured in to brighten the entire flat. At night, the broad view afforded her the beauty of the night above the city and the luminescence provided by the lights below. Early on she savored her coffee while watching the town awaken and listening to the radio news. She preferred her view to any morning television offerings. That night she did make a call. What looked like a small, black, business-card case was leaning against the bread-box. She placed it on the floor against the wall and with one finger’s touch observed it enlarge first vertically and then laterally to about six feet in height and three feet in width. Another touch brought a depth of two feet to the object. A third tap and a hidden door slid to one side revealing a world of live energy dancing about the enclosure. She had—one fancy phone booth, an application driven device that would certainly have people lining up for miles to purchase. Veronika passed her hand inside the chamber and the apartment changed dramatically. The floor, ceiling and walls appeared as a flowing liquid. All the furniture, wall hangings and decorative pieces disappeared. If she chose to sit, an extension of the floor would rise to support her. If she was hungry or thirsty, whichever wall she neared fulfilled her request. To communicate, she just spoke. Although there was business to discuss, she wanted to phone home first. “Hi Mom,” she announced. “How are you?” “Just fine, dear.” A kind feminine face appeared on the wall. “And how are you doing there with your big adventure?” “It’s an assignment, Mom. It’s going well. How is Dad?” “He’s having a ball flying around somewhere. He revved up his old personal transporter and went out to test its limits. Watch out worlds, here he comes. As long as he’s home for dinner, I really don’t mind.” Veronika was sentimental about her father. “It seems funny that he clings to using that old mechanism to get around. He can very well project himself anywhere without it. But I guess fun is fun. Let him enjoy the thing.” “Mom,” she grew serious, “I met a man, a really, really good man. He’s a doctor.” “Oh my!” Her mother sensed a serious moment, “You like him, don’t you?” “Yes, Mother. He is my part of my job here. I’m a bit confused.” Her mother stopped smiling and evinced a stern look. “You know, that could present difficulties. Maybe you should step back a bit and consider the circumstances. Is he a dentist?” “No, Mom. He’s a most wonderful caring optometrist. I think he’s interested in me, too.” “What’s an optometrist?” “An eye doctor, Mom. He checks vision.”