An Observe Story

Year: 2032

I've been on this dirty street corner for two hours now. . . for two hours now playing chess with a homeless man I just met. He stinks, his cloths are half off his body and I think he defecated on himself a half hour ago. All and all though . . . he plays a good game of chess.

I'm about to take his knight when I see another in the distance. An angry man with a gun. The crowd parts before him as he stammers our way. Raising the gun from his waist, he points it at the homeless man and begins to yell about his stolen cocaine, or something to that effect. I'm more concerned with the move this homeless man has made to stop my advance towards his knight. More words are yelled and a shot is let out. The brilliant bum slumps down towards the ground, bleeding from a hole in his head. By the time he hits the floor there is not a person in sight. Just me with a queen in my hand ready to make another move.

Hello. My name is Nathaniel Paulettie, I'm 50 years old and for the past 20 years I have observed. "What the hell are you waiting for old man." he yells at me. "Nothing in particular Samuel." He seems stunned. I guess I haven't lost my touch.

"How the hell. . . how you know my. . .?"

"I used to be a sociologist Samuel, and though I quit the profession years ago, old habits die hard. From the moment of your 7^th birthday I've been watching you. I know that you never knew your natural father. I know your mother was a heroin addict and that your stepfather belongs to the gang you're currently affiliated with. I've seen you grow up Samuel, from an innocent child to an ignorant man. You know nothing of the realities that have molded you so you stay a pawn inside your little bubble of crime and poverty."

I continue with my game as Samuel looks at me with his hands shaking and mind numb. He yells "I should kill you right now you sick bastard."

"But you won't. This is the first time you've killed and though you might become excellent at it in the future right now you're a novice and probably about to urinate on yourself as I speak. So go home Samuel I won't tell anyone. I'm just here to watch."

Samuel slowly backs away then runs. He's scared out of his mind. Can't very well blame him. When I first killed a man I almost vomited on myself. I, once again, focus my attention on the chess board. I give it careful study and then . . . forfeit. I never would have beaten that homeless man. Putting the queen down, I get up. It's time to get going. I have places to go and things to see.

Like I said to Samuel, I used to be a sociologist years ago. Then one day it all ended. After traveling the earth and seeing it all, my world came crashing down with one realization. "The world is asleep." That phrase simply states the situation the world is in today. A child is born without knowledge but with an insatiable curiosity. A curiosity that is drowned when their questions stop being answered. "Why is the sky blue" is answered with "because it is." I've seen it happen. I've seen men's minds tortured, women's emotions denied and I've seen children grow up into adults . . . into Samuels. It all ends in what you see today. Societies bred out of fear in which children are taught "get a job and shut up." That will never happen to me. I may be 50 but my youth will never die.