The year 2,100
As millions of us do a virtual file past Charley’s coffin, we are genuinely distraught. People contain their sobs but you can tell by their faces and the way they are walking that we are a very sad Realm. We have lost a very dear soul, but the legacy she has left us is exceptional. She has taught us to be kind, generous and empathic to all those in our society. Gifts we can pass on to our own children.
I’d better tell you a bit about what happened 80 odd years ago. After Lizbet’s death, her son Charles only reigned for a few years before he handed the Crown to his son William. William and his wife Kate were much loved and changed United Kingdom society in many ways. They were so fed-up with their never-ending suite of Prime Ministers and political parties that they took back leadership of the Anglo Realm, as it became known, with society’s blessing.
William focused on global relations and the economy while Kate managed education, health and social care. They weren’t experts but they also didn’t pretend to be, instead setting up Boards of Experts for every sector, combining the latest research and common sense to make decision based on what was best for the country.
Their children, George and Charley, were brought up to govern, while Louis quickly became the family rebel. He left home long ago and set himself up on a pig farm in the New Forest. We don’t hear much about him but I guess he’s happy enough.
It was all going so well until the day George got into his fully electronic SMART car after a few sniffs of ‘snuff’ and unfortunately hit the accelerator instead of the brake on a bend, which wound the car, small as it was, round a tree and ended his chance of becoming the next King.
Charley had been very close to George. She felt his death very deeply but she knew the only way she could manage her dark feelings was to become the best Monarch ever known in the Anglo Realm, but she just wasn’t ready yet. She married a lovely male nurse she had met at the Co-op and they brought up six children, some born naturally, others adopted.
But in the 2,050s, when William and Kate were feeling a bit past their sell-by dates, they asked Charley to take over the family business, she took on the challenge with the same determination and fortitude as her Great Gran, Lizbet.
Charley was fortunate that William and Kate had laid the foundations to support her. She imposed self-discipline on the nation, making sure that they all committed and were trained at school in meditation, yoga, nutrition, gardening and care-giving. She stopped short of converting the Realm to Buddhism as she realized plenty of people still followed their faiths and she felt it was important to acknowledge this, and just encourage them all to practice a faith that made them feel comfortable and loved.
However, Charley decreed quite a lot of laws very quickly. For example, no more air travel, except in exceptional circumstance. All holidays were to be taken as virtual experiences from home. She argued that there were plenty of devices to allow almost identical activities to those you would get abroad – while saving fuel, cutting down on pollution and looking after the planet. Funnily enough, people seemed to become much less stressed and had more time for their families and friends.
She also banned fuel-driven cars. That was a big one but we all feel so much better for it. Electric cars can only go up to 20 mph and there’s a limit on numbers for major roads, so there are hardly any accidents. The cars drive themselves anyway. And, since almost everyone works four days a week, there is plenty of time to do voluntary work and help those who need it.
Charley has privatised health care. We all pay only what we can afford capped as a percentage of our earnings, and salaries are standardised. There aren’t ‘trillionaires’ any more. I don’t know quite how she’s managed it but all the celebrities are gone: people who act, sing or play football are just like us. They have a good life and love their work, but they aren’t greedy. You can decide what level of education you want to have and if you take up a job in line with your qualifications you earn an appropriate amount.
William had already managed to regulate Anglo Realm’s place in the world markets. He recognised that we could offer plenty of support to other countries in terms of education, marketing and soft skills, so we trade these for the things we lack. He also made the most of our multi-cultural society, encouraging individuals to come forward and introduce us to their world views, the strengths and advantages they could offer people from other backgrounds. Gradually, groups stopped fighting and reached out to new friends as they realized life was better this way. Social media finally found its place as a cause for good as communications between groups became kindness itself.
I suddenly wake up. Tears are rolling down my face as I realize it’s just been a crazy, wonderful dream. I recollect my reality very quickly, as I feel the lumpy straw beneath my body and the hard blanket on top of me. I shiver as I emerge from my make-shift bed in the barn where I am currently sleeping, hiding from ‘The Enemy’ – those selfish individuals who didn’t want to share anything. There’s a civil war and most of the people I know are no longer here. It’s just me and my dog, Billy. I wonder what did happen to Charley – she was so full of hope and good spirit but she disappeared a while ago. I need to get something to drink before I do anything else. I don’t know what today will hold, but I am still here and intend to fight to the end. Charley would be proud of me.
About the author
Sally Storr is a psychologist and works as a coach. She has always been equally fascinated by human behaviour and by figures from literature. She’s been writing all her life but especially enjoys writing about quirky things that happen to ordinary people like herself.
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