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Friday, April 24, 2026

crack - 12. bill's job

by nick nelson

part 12 of ?

for previous episode, click here

to begin at the beginning, click here





the great western education and entertainment company was not officially a department of control, but a “subcontractor” of it.

it was hired to keep a database of persons who would be classified as “group c” in a situation control determined to be “priority 3”. 3 out of 6, with 6 being the most urgent priority and 1 the least urgent.

all citizens were required to be classified by priority. the first classification was made at birth by an official department of control.

the second classification was made at age twelve, also by control.

a third and final classification by control was made at age thirty-three.

all citizens were encouraged, though not required, to constantly seek “counseling” by “contracted” agencies like the great western education and entertainment company, which passed their information on to control, who might then use the information to readjust the clsssifications.

most citizens were happy, if not eager, to do this, as they enjoyed talking about.themselves.

the minority who never sought “counseling” were randomly checked up on by a police department created and staffed for that purpose.

the whole purpose of the priority classification system was to determine the “necessity” of each group’s survival in the event of both forseen and unforseen emergencies.

it was accepted that a tiny handful of people, like william wilson, might fall through the cracks. they were considered to be in group 1, the least “necessary”

nobody expected that any such “emergencies” would ever arise.

disasters and emergencies were often portrayed in movies and books , but in these the classification system was never mentioned. a hero or heroine always saved the day.

the whole system , if it was thought about at all, was seen s a bureaucracy providing employment for people who wished to be employed.

it amounted to the third largest bureaucracy under the control of control.

“health and drugs”. was the second largest.

the police were the largest.

*

friday shook her head. thank you. but that was a little too deep for me. let’s get back to serious business - our friend mr wilson.


to be continued



l-12 wakes up

by rhoda penmarq





l-12 woke up
usually, when they woke up, a word flashed into their brain
which would tell them what to do for the rest of the day

and who they were
for that day

today the word was -
orangutan

l-12 was not sure what the word orangutan meant

they got up
and put their best face on
and their running shoes

in case they had to make a quick exit

and went across the hall
and tapped discreetly on the funny man’s door

the funny man did not answer right away
so l-12 tapped a little louder

and a liitte louder
and a little louder

suddeny l-12 remembered what an orangutan was
so they gave up tapping on the funny mans door

and went back to the chinese embassy
with the bag of acorns
that they had forgotten the previous day

now everything would be back in its proper place
the way it was meant to be

strawberry milkshake good one harry
dementia private upside down


Thursday, April 23, 2026

street of dreams

by nick nelson







long ago and down the way
an unwise man was heard to say
everything that happens, occurs
the second time is usually worse

albert one woke up at morn
wondering why he had been born
he lived next door to betty two
who hair was brown and eyes were almost blue

down the road lived carlos three
whose pronouns were i and me
further down was dora four
who had the whole world to explore

don’t tell it to frankie five
whose dream was barely kept alive
and in the mix
still asleep, was dylan six

eddie seven felt rotten
he had almost been forgotten
and helen eight
was ready to fly right and get straight

ibrahim nine
was ready to shine
but jessica ten
hated men

ken eleven dreamed of power
even at this early hour
laura twelve was still asleep
but had a nine o’clock appointment to keep

suddenly the telephone rang
and the world ended with a bang
no one laughed and no one cried
and the universe let it slide

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

the duke in the jungle

by nick nelson







the duke rode into the jungle
on a horse made of tin
with a box of chocolates under his arm
and was never seen again

the horse showed spirit
and thew the duke off
he awoke in a feather of moonbeams
and heard a discreet cough

what have we here?
a smooth voice enquired
he looks fairly respectable
but his contract has expired

i would like some refreshment
the duke heard himself say
bring me a cup of sparkling sunshine
on my favorite silver tray

not so fast, fellow
the voice reproved
you are my prisoner
and must get in the groove

you must put on this yellow bow tie
and this suit of pepper and salt
but whatever happens after this
it will all be your own fault

how has it come to this?
the duke cried in despair
all i wanted was to be free
and all i wanted was my share the voice grew silent
and the door clanged shut
and the river went on running
beside the little hut

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

apple banana

by nick nelson





apples are red
bananas are yellow
chistopher columbus
was a stout fellow

he sailed the ocean blue
when the world was new
and in a crowded space
planted the flag of the white race

grapes are purple
grass is green
daniel boone
made the woods his scene

he lived with his dog
in a hollow log
and did not trifle
with his long rifle

from mandalay
to hindustan
they said hercules
was a mighty man

tyrants trembled
magicians dissembled
emperors fled
to the land of the dead

samson and delilah
sitting in a tree
living life
and reciting poetry

sam woke up and son was gone
golden horde on the horizon
salome waved her silver fan
holly wood, but genghis khan

Monday, April 20, 2026

indigenous meaningful

by nick nelson





indigenous

what did you say?

you heard me.

it sounded like foaming

i did not say anything

which is it? first you say you heard me then you say you didn’t say anything - it has to be one or the other, it can not be both

that is what they all say

excuse me?

fred wants the rent

then pay him

i paid him the whole thing last month - now it is your turn

is that how it works?

how else would it work?

he did not do a good job this month - he does not deservet o get paid

that is not how the system works

oh, so now you are defending the system

i deeply resent that.

meaningfful

what did you say?

Sunday, April 19, 2026

sonnet

by bofa xesjum





a revolutionary new development
and an extraordinary counterdevelopment
were walking down an important street

a privileged upstart took notice
he was indigenous to the particular situation
and loved freedom with every ounce of his being

a definitive account will be forthcoming
because it is only natural
bad dog

what exactly is groundbreaking about it?
it portends to be subversive
the power went out

more meaningless meanderings
can we get back to normal sometime this century?