Generation Gap
an excerpt

It used to be that as you got older you began to lose your senses. First hearing drops out and the deep sounds of the world fade and the high pitch of language is blurred. Then sight is dulled, as arms become too short to comfortably read that menu. Touch and smell and taste followed in their turn circumscribing existence until nothing was left except pain and the humiliation of mistaking your granddaughter for your long dead wife.

Joe sipped his whisky and felt the burn on his tongue like the sound of the blues player across his ears and gave fervent thanks that those days were gone, at least for him. He was sitting at a small table to the side of the club. He was close enough to see the saxophonist’s fingers blur, but far enough away to allow the music to acquire texture from the conversations that surrounded him. He blended into the background, just one more old man among a room of old people. Occasionally others would sit at his table, but they would move on to another table or back to the bar as if there were something about Joe that made them uncomfortable.

The waitress came with his next round and he nodded at her. She smiled at him, giving him another chance to admire her. Whether her teeth were real or not, her dentist was a genius.

The set concluded and the player came over to Joe’s table. Joe waved at him to sit, and with a nervous glance around the younger man sat. He attracted some attention from the others around. Some raised eyebrows at Joe, others just shifted their chairs to turn their backs.

"That’s sweet playing, son.” Joe said.

"Thank you sir. I love the music.” He wiped a faint sheen of sweat from his face. "My name is David.”

Joe waved the waitress over.

"Some water for my friend. Music is thirsty work.” She brought the water, but set it in front of Joe, refusing to even see the younger man. Joe sighed and pushed the glass across the table.

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Just as Reg was deciding that he should move on he heard a grinding sound. An access cover lifted out of the mud and clanged on the ground. The most outrageous person Reg had ever seen lifted herself out of the sewer.

“Been waiting long?” She was dressed in a black form fitting suit with red pieces to make it very clear that she was indeed female. “Hey, cat’s got your tongue? You never saw a girl before?”

“Not like you.” Reg shook his head.

“Thanks, that’s the nicest thing you have said to me all day.” She smiled at him, increasing both his confusion and the strange feelings just a little south of his stomach.

“Who are you?” He asked.

“Call me Red.” She said. “That is good enough for a first date. Are you ready to join us?”

“I’m Reg.” He said. “You mean there are more of you?”

“Well not like me. I’m one of a kind.” She winked. “That might be a good thing. So, are you coming?”

“Coming where?” Reg asked. “Joining who? You aren’t making any sense.”

“How long since you ate?” Asked Red.

“It must be at least a week.” Reg groaned.

“Hmmm, maybe the drugs haven’t worn off yet.” She smiled at him again. “Listen carefully.” She spoke slowly and with exaggerated clarity. “I am asking you if you want to join the Underground. If you do, you need to come with me.”

“I am not stupid, you know.” Snapped Reg.

“Naw, just still a little drugged.” She shrugged. “You will be fine in a day or so, probably.”

Reg shook his head again.

“Drugged?”

“Sure, the Geris drug all you little darlings. Can’t have you risking their spare parts or doing any unplanned procreating.”

“Procreating?” Gasped Reg.

“Not on a first date, Reg.” She winked again and wiggled in a way that doubled those strange feelings. “All will be explained.”

He heard the crunch of tires on the gravel outside the underpass. The Geris had found him.

“Right on time. The old farts are predictable. Are you coming with me, or going with them?”

“With you.” Reg answered, moving away from the wall. The girl hopped out and grabbed the access cover. He climbed down into the black hole.

With lithe grace she jumped down into the hole and replaced the cover with just a muffled thump.

“Why down here?” Whispered Reg as she took his hand.

“Well duh! We're the Undergound” Red pulled him into the dark future.
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So now you have met the major players of the story, you will have to wait to find out what happens when they collide.