the fix is on

the fix is on

fiction
edward w pritchard


It's so crowded here in our near future and everyone and their vehicle is monitored all the time as to their personal habits, leisure activities and personal coordinates by the economic police state for the purpose of imposing fines and owed restitution's. As example there are 229 misdemeanors for carnal activities here in the new Rome which is the state you once called Ohio of the United States which is now one of  600 mega towns here in the Western Hemisphere which was previously known as Canada, the good old USA and Mexico. Girl do I miss the authentic food of old Mexico.

Downtown on a steamy Friday night at the Bar and grille formerly known as Tangiers I am fighting my way through a long long series of twisting dark hall ways and corridors to reserved table 1689
where I have an appointment to make a little extra dinero sitting in on a fixed session of scratching off State lottery tickets. A guy called Louie is my contact. First though I have to squeeze my way about these ladies of the night dressed in their skin tight frocks as I shove my way to my seat. These purple gloves I wear for eleven more days identify me as someone who put my hands on some young miss in another dark hall way a few months ago on another steamy Friday night and I am paying  the fines and lawyer fees still for breaking carnal activity 71.

My biggest fear tonight is the Medical cops. They nail you randomly and check that you have all your life extending medical tests up to date and they get a commission if you get fined for a health and wellness omission or violation.

Louie is talking very fast and I listen carefully and write neatly as I over and over jot down the magic numbers-new Rome,  drawing 1207755, 6-73-44-11-66-77-80-5-6-22-47,booster x 10. Someone's personal  identity monitoring system is beeping over and over somewhere off in the dark night and a muffled grin fills the smokey cafe.