frank woke up.
he got up.
he made himself a ham and cheese sandwich.
he noticed he was running low on ham and on cheese, although he still had almost a whole loaf of bread, because he had bought two for one on a special sale the last time he ordered.
but he was out of mustard, and also of ketchup.
after he finished the sandwich and washed it down with a cup of water, he decided to go down to pop’s store and buy some ham and cheese and mustard and maybe even some ketchup.
he put his shoes and hat on.
he turned the handle of the door to the hallway.
but the door did not open.
then it hit him like a thunderbolt.
of course.
it was the _________ century.
if he needed anything, he had to request it on the intercom.
he went over to the intercom, which was located beside his water tap, and pressed the button.
how may i help you, the voice intoned silkily.
frank often dreamed that the voice belonged to a real human female woman, like glenda back in the day.
he almost said, hi, baby, it has been a long time.
but instead he said, i want to go down to pop’s store and buy some ham and cheese and mustard.
the correct terminology is go down to pop’s store to buy some ham and cheese and mustard, the voice intoned silkily.
i am just a regular guy, frank responded testily, i used to ride the rails with ambrose bierce and geronimo and jack london.
be that as it may, the voice replied without missing a beat, the door is closed until zero zero zero one, you may make requests for ham and cheese at that time. mustard is seasonal, and not requestable at this time. thank you. goodbye.
frank hung his head in despair.
he pressed the button on the waterspout and pushed himself a cup of water and drank it down in one gulp.
it was all so sad.
not like the old days,riding the rails free as a bird between omaha nebraska and yuma arizona with doc and the kid and jake.
and meeting glenda down by the old mill stream.
would those days ever return?
and what about ____
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