Just a little light Christmas short story.
Please enjoy a fictional fantasy journey into urban science fiction.
~~~~~
Dear Bob.
Sleeping alone and sleep poorly?
Are you tired and worn out all the time?
Life unsatisfactory, not working to your potential?
We have the revolutionary new bed for you.
Guaranteed full night's sleep, every night.
Wake every morning full of energy.
Enjoy life to the fullest, and work at your best.
Phone SLEEPBED now for an appointment.
#1
The advert popped up on my tablet screen, seemingly addressed to me, as I perused the latest pictures on my favourite social site. It was boring with no fancy graphics, no background, even the text was ordinary. What it lacked in appeal was made up for in the message. My name
is
Bob. I have slept alone ever since my last long-term, live-in girlfriend left for an overseas job. Without her company I have lousy nights in bed, and was now fatigued from the long term lack of good sleep. It was getting to the stage that if I didn't do something soon I could lose my job. Jake, my boss, is a great guy and has been very understanding of my predicament, but even his patience is running low. What's worse is that I had no possible women in my life who could live and sleep with me in the foreseeable future. Jenny had been my life for so long that I was out of practice in the dating scene. I tried finding a new woman, but my old haunts seemed to be full of young people just starting on their adult lives. I guess I had aged while the places I used to go remained the same. Unfortunately not many 18 year old young women want a thirty year old guy who has become settled in his life. I was past the need for continual excitement and partying. Meeting single women in my age group was difficult at best, most good ones were already in steady, long term relationships, and still too young to yet be divorced or newly single. Those who were available had very good reasons for being single and didn't interest me in the slightest. I need to at least be attracted to them physically, before I can even get to know their personalities. Yes, I am shallow.
Regardless of my need to improve my sleeping, I was unsure whether the advert was just an attempt to pimp out prostitutes. This made me hesitant to ring. I put it out of my mind and continued my life, deciding I should probably visit my doctor about some sleeping tablets. I had already tried most of the over-the-counter and natural-method remedies. Even though I was alone in bed, while I meditated to some earth goddess made me too self conscious to continue down the path of natural ways. I was desperate enough to try chanting to another goddess, but it creeped me out too much. My main concern was that she really existed and visited after hearing my chant in my off-key singing voice. She might turn out to be a succubus and suck my life out through my dick. I've read the stories about Lilith!
At work I was nearing completion of an important design spreadsheet, when a pop-up window appeared with the same advert about the new bed. I didn't even have a web browser open, so with a great deal of suspicion that my work colleagues were punking me I closed the popup window and continued working. Later that day I was demonstrating the spreadsheet to Jake on his computer in his office, when the same popup advert appeared.
"Sorry Jake. I've no idea where this is coming from, but this has popped up on my computer as well. I certainly haven't been doing anything wrong on the internet, and definitely not on your computer."
Jake read the advert, then closed his office door, "Well Bob, you could do worse that get a new bed to sleep better. You've been one of my best employees and I would really hate to lose you. However, you have been down on your performance since being on your own. We need you back to your best, so perhaps you should look at getting a new bed. Sleeping better would be a good investment in your future. Christmas is just around the corner, so why not treat yourself and buy it as a present to yourself. I'm just doing the end of year bonuses now, I'll put a bit extra on yours so you can get one, based on your past history of being my best guy in the office and to help you get back to what I know you can do.
"I'll let you in on a secret, my job will be up for grabs soon. I'm getting promoted to district manager in a couple of month's time. Before I would have gladly put your name forward for promotion. The deadline for internal nominations is in the second week of January. I can't make any promises, but if you can be back to your best before then you will have a better than great chance at getting this job."
"Thanks for the heads-up Jake, I had no idea. Congratulations. I'll do what I can with that type of incentive."
It was after knock-off time when we finished the demonstration. Back at my own desk, I was about to shut down my computer when the advert again appeared. With a new determination to improve my sleep I decided to at least ring the number. At worst, if it turned out to be an escort service I could still go talk to my doctor. At least their number was easy to remember. I would also go to a bedding store and find a good bed.