The TV sat silently in the corner. It’s blackened screen neglected and covered in cobwebs.
Once upon a time it had been vibrantly alive with its psychedelic colours pulsing spasmodically to the rhythm of the jarring music. Gyrating silhouettes performing against a backdrop of smoke and strobing lights. The deep black images popping in contrast to the earlier model.
Canned laughter and cartoon characters to lure the kids into developing square eyes. But that was in another era. Before IT happened.
The cartoon hero cavorted across the screen like a whirling dervish. Suddenly it stopped it’s whirling and beckoned to the child sitting cross-legged on the carpet.
“Come closer and I’ll tell you a secret”, it whispered.
The child complied, drawn by the attractive colours and its one-dimensional flat faced smile.
“There is a magical world in here, far beyond reach of parents who nag you to do the dishes.”
“All you have to do is close your eyes and make a wish”
Crossing his fingers, the child closed his eyes and wished as hard as he could.
Instantly, he was twirling and spinning in ever-decreasing circles. When he opened his eyes, it was there. A brand new iPad. Chuckling with glee, the child touched the shiny surface of this new gadget. At once he was hooked. Gaming was his new world.
And that fancy plasma TV – it was now obsolete and sat sulking in the corner.
LianaB
This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, July Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’
https://puttingmyfeetinthedirt.com/2020/07/01/july-writing-prompts-2/
LightWriteLife 