Branches Book

BRANCHES

Linda and Neiman were aspiring scientists before The Surge occurred. Thus they became the creators and distributers of these simple electronics. People would travel for miles to buy their light bulbs, calculators, blenders, and fans. They steered clear of anything they felt put them at risk of another technology takeover, including computers and other software yielding technologies. Neiman and Linda traded their electronics for food. They had previously only eaten one grubby meal a day, but as their business grew increasingly popular, they were able to eat three stunning meals a day. Neiman was in the kitchen cooking dinner, bean soup and toasted bread. They had been working on creating an oven, but were worried the technology behind it was too risky, so, settled for the simpler toaster. Linda went to the back of the house to take a bath before their meal. She entered the damp, dark, mold smelling bathroom, and plunged into the bath. The water was dirty. It hadn’t been replaced in over a week. Neiman added onions to the soup, and reached over to grab a bay leaf. As he moved his arm his elbow hit the toaster off the counter. He bent down to grab it, but noticed the soup boiling over. He stood back up and tended to the bubbling soup. Just then the toaster began to scoot across the floor. Neiman didn’t notice. Linda heard a screeching noise approaching the bathroom, but didn’t think anything of it. There was a thump against the edge of the tub, Linda froze. The toaster hopped up and teetered over the edge of the tub. Linda let out a scream, Neiman ran from the kitchen into the bathroom, only to see his wife’s body flailing in the water of the tub. He tried to get her out but fell into the water during the process. All I remember from that day is the sound of that endless buzzing and the smell of bean soup. The story of my parents spread quickly. People stopped using anything that required electricity. People became more divided than ever. I kissed the rock where my parents’ names were written and packed up my things and started heading down the path. As I walked, there was a loud crunch under my feet. I picked up my foot only to discover I had smashed an old light bulb. A grumble quickly flooded my ears.

Author’s Statement: Avery Johnson

This piece was originally inspired by a drawing I made over the summer. I was asked to make a large drawing about a social issue that resonated with me. Despite being an avid phone and computer user, I have always worried about the rate at which technology usage has increased and the potential impact on society as a result. Thus I decided to draw a family that had been attacked by the technology in their home. After I finished the piece, I couldn’t

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