26 hours
Unconventional Short Story
Starting January 1st, every day will last twenty-six hours. Under the current, twenty-four hour day, there just isn’t enough time to do everything that is needed. This time crisis is wide spread, across every corner of the country. A Wall – Street broker and father of four describes his day as “jam packed” and says, “There just isn’t enough time for me to spend quality time with my family. By the time I get home at 10 o’clock, my kids are asleep and my wife is exhausted.” High school students across the country say that they don’t have enough time to handle all the pressures of being a teenager. One says, “There’s just too many things that we have to juggle; school, homework, college applications, watching American Idol, and talking on the phone. I mean, I don’t even have enough time to go on my Myspace page.”
To halt this national crisis, Congress has voted into law two extra hours a day. Noon will be at 13pm and midnight will now be at 13 am. Senator Bill Brunold, a Republican from New Hampshire and one of the writers of the bill stated, “These two hours are good for the American people. I am just glad that the Democrats were able to get over their partisanship and help us get this bill through.”
There is widespread support throughout the country for this change. A national poll has said that 79% of Americans support the change, 12% are against it and 9% have no opinion. There is specific strong support with farmers in the mid-west. They will have two more hours to work the land and also their crops will have two more hours of sunshine to grow. Teachers unions also strongly support the bill. They argue that these two hours will be invaluable for their students’ educations. However, they also ask that at least 90 minutes of the two hours goes towards more prep time.
However, there are also some problems that may arise from this change. Environmentalists worry about the ecological impact of the extra two hours. They believe that there will be increased car usage and other pollution that will increase global warming. Al Gore is currently in production with a movie called The Inconvenient Truth II: The Killer Extra Two Hours.
Protests have occurred in both San Francisco and Washington DC, both drawing sizable crowds. Popular chants and bumper stickers have included “Two hours more, I don’t think so whore!” and “ A twenty-six hour clock, not on my watch!”
There is also worry in the tech world about the possibility of computers crashing because of the extra two hours. People have been seen on the streets predicting the end of the world. Most studies, however, indicate that there should be no major problems in the transition. The President issued a statement imploring the American people to not worry about the extra two hours. He said, “Everything is under control, and we have taken every precaution to make sure that the transition is as smooth as possible.” He went on to suggest that, just in case, Americans should stock up on duct-tape.
There will also have to be many other changes to go along with the new law. The saying “24/7” will change to “26/7.” Kiefer Sutherland will now star in the hit TV Show “26.”
There is major production for new clocks. Clock factories are being started throughout the country, with much of the production taking place in Detroit. The car industry is weak, and many car factories are being converted into digital and clock factories. Detroit is being coined the “clock capital of the world.” A new chain clock store, Clocks R Us, is preparing to open all over the country. Preliminary reports show that its stock is doing very well on Wall Street. There are already 2.4 million preorders for their clocks. China is also beginning to produce the 26 – hour clocks in mass. Senator Timothy Richardson of Detroit is asking Congress to put high tariffs on these Chinese clocks, saying, “These two hours are an American idea. Let’s make sure our clocks are American as well.” A popular slogan, “Keep out the Chinese clocks,” has been heard and seen on signs throughout the country.
Congress is currently debating what to do with the soon to be old and useless 24 – clocks. They are exploring recycling options for these clocks. A bill is being written that will give one dollar for every clock that is recycled. Environmentalists are lobbying to make sure that the old clocks don’t fill up landfills.
Some antique clock collectors are angry that their clocks will no longer valid. One collector angrily stated, “I love my old clocks; they’re beautiful and worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. I’m not changing!”
There are a few companies on the Internet that are offering clock conversion kits that will add two hours to both standard and digital clocks. The prices on these kit range from $5.99 to as much as $79.99. One manufacturer of these kits claims that the conversion can be done in less than 15 minutes.
It is not as easy, however, to convert large clocks, like the Campanile on UC Berkeley to 26 hours. The University says that it will cost $50,000 and two weeks to make the change.
Other countries throughout the world are discussing adding the two hours. Canada has already voted for the two hours, and will also implement the change on January 1st. Mexico has also voted two extra hours onto each day, but they will slowly implement the change, adding 15 minutes to every day each year, with the full two hours being completed in eight years. Many European countries are investigating the impact of a two hour change, and may bring the issue up to vote in the coming months.
Iran has decided to add three hours to their day, issuing a statement saying, “We will have one more hour than the infidel Americans.” Some government officials worry that the extra hour will allow Iran to do nuclear research in secret. There are even some politicians calling to match Iran’s three hours. The United States is pushing the United Nations to implement sanctions on Iran forcing them to only add two hours per day.
Many third world countries do not have the economic capabilities or stability to add any time to their days. In Somalia, for instance, the central government had decreed that the country will add the extra two hours. However, warlords that control much of the southern part of the country reject these two hours and threaten a guerrilla campaign if the government persists. Thailand would like to add time to their days, but the government has said, “We don’t have the resources. It is just too costly.”
Organizations throughout the world are trying to raise money to give time to some of these countries. One such organization, says, that, “With just $2 a day, you can provide an extra hour for an orphan in Africa”.
Throughout its history, America has changed greatly. And now, times are changing with it.
Unconventional Short Short
The sirens blast in my ears. I see blue and red flashing lights behind me. I should stop. I don’t.
I am on the curb, hands twisted behind my back, locked together in metal handcuffs. Painful? Yes. Do I hurt? No.
The police officer comes towards me menacingly.
“ What is your name, son?”
I know the answer. I should tell the truth. I don’t
“John Doe.”
I am back in the car. Trees, fences, cows, and farmhouses whiz by me. The speedometer reads 100, 110, 120, 130.
I see the curve up ahead. I should slow down. I don’t.
The car is flipping, my body inside. It comes to a stop. Flames begin to burn as I struggle to free myself. I should get out of the car before I am engulfed. I don’t.
Unconventional Short Short
Here, it only rains. Rain in the winter, spring, summer and fall. 365 days a year it is wet. No sun, no snow; only rain.
On a bad day, the rain smashes against the earth, the drops the size of baseballs. They violently hit the ground, soaking everything and anything. The sky is black, and the thunder booms, with bolts of lightening flashing against the sky.
On a good day, it only drizzles. It’s a constant showering of tiny droplets that patter across the ground. The sky will be grey, and sometimes you feel as though the sun will may even peep through, just for a second. You hope, wish, even prey that you will just catch a glimpse of that beautiful, bright star. It never happens.