A Blue Reality

'Colorland', the banner read across the top of the building at hand.

We were set to ride the elevator up to the roof top, all 74 of us, and we had tickets. There was only one problem, the guide was supposed to meet us out here, and was not showing up. The doors were locked, and it was very cold.

We milled about, in our scarves hats gloves and boots, winter coats around. Greta said we should choreograph a dance to meet our tardy guide.

"Ah, there you are!", she finally walked through the door. "I've been looking all over..."

Our school teacher interrupted her and showed her the ticket.

It had said we were to meet her in front.

"Oh!" she covered her mouth and let out a half chuckle and half grunt, and said, vivaciously, "Come with me! Right this way, group! What you are about to behold, please (do not disclose to the public, promise?" She looked at all of our innocent faces smiling and nodding.

"Ok good." The teacher had a slightly excited pleased look on her face and we all looked at the guide, expectantly.

Whoosh! She swung open the double doors and inside, was a sight to behold. Glimmers of star dust sparkling everywhere, planet bodies spinning in midair it seemed, and neon rays of light shot from wall to wall in a neverending circus of light. We all looked awestruck, and ran around giggling amidst the play of color and lights. The girl guideoved ahead, and flicked a switch, darkening the immense room, but intensifying the display. Music came on, otherworldly jazzy beat that would quicken and slow down when the lady slid a lever over or back on the wall.

"Uh, I have to go to the bathroom, " spoke up Jay and the lady pointed across to the corner where there was a little room, marked 'Latrine'. He went over there and peeked in the tiny door. When he came out, he was running. He ran straight into the arms of our teacher.

Pointing back at the room, the teacher had to try to calm him down to understand his rushed jarbled words.

The guide pursed her lips and looked down at the disheveled young boy. The music stopped. Everyone stood and waited.

"I, there was a.. ," his eyes looked wonderingly at the room and his mouth curled up into a smile. He laughed, and the guide followed suit.

"What?" The kids wanted to know.

"There's a robot in there that is there to help with anything the kids may need." The guide tersely volunteered.

The teacher looked up. "Oh." Then she looked back at Jay and fixed his collar. She started him along with a pat on the back and watched him join his friends. Then she folded her arms across her chest and faced the guide, who was stammering now.

"It doesn't really bother you when you go in, just asks if you're having a nice day, and uh, "

"It starts up a conversation when these kids are trying to use the bathroom?" The teacher's jaw dropped.

"Yea, and asks like if you need anything." The guide smiled at a girl who was trying to zipper her pink coat and helped her, with a 'zip'!

"Yes, but that wasn't included in the, "

" In the handbook, yes but you know AI is here, as everyone should by now, so it's to be expected. " Please come with me. She beckoned her along, to the next room, down a long corridor where we all had to walk single file.

Everyone seemed to be down with the program. I was reflecting on how I was lucky and glad to be part of this world before AI came along, so I could have the experience of an untainted natural world, comparatively. The kids trotted along with glee, happy and skipping, almost.

I kind of stayed in the back , kind of resentful. If AI can generate near- human qualities, what will happen to our not- so - easily - attainable but more genuine efforts?! I wished my sister was here, and just trailed my jacket button along the wall while walking, creating a satisfying scraping noise that annoyed the other kids. I giggled.

"Ok," she swung open the doors again. "Behold Room 2!" Jaws dropped as everyone gasped in awe and looked wondrously around the room. This was not called, ' Colorland' for nothing. Big block lighting colors were placed in random spaces around a huge auditorium, a piano in the center of the room and what looked to be a dance floor made out of slate tiles.

"Oh, we could dance!" My boyfriend took my hand and started to do a jig. At least he called himself my boyfriend; I wasn't too sure about that. I had my sights on someone else, but this person was friendly enough and seemed to like me, so I let him hang around and bug me.

The teacher eyed us. Her attention was turned to the guide, when she stepped up onto a pulpit and began to use a pointer to direct eyes to a text that was projected onto the wall.

"See, here is the diagram that explains how the light is refracted and splits and kind of dances." The kids all said ," Ohh," in unison and nodded their heads.

"Remember, too, that there are no wrong ideas," she met eyes with the students. "Your ideas are just as good as anyone else's," the teacher nodded at that.

Ok, we left the building and went on the bus. What a day!

Epilogue: the teacher brought back the kids, and the guide went and sat in the staff room. 'Colorland' was going to be famous.

Afternote: My boyfriend proposed to me later on that year. We had a little ceremony.

We all lived happily after, none could complain, AI took the rein and it was all still the same.

Passersby would look at the building and wonder what was inside, but only a select few were allowed in. Stories were shared, though and soon everyone knew

that what happens to me happens to you.

I am blue, and this is my, 'Blue Reality.'

Much love S. A. Peace!