AI - A Fairy Tale

By Bart Meehan

Jane 

Connection? 

Mirror Mirror!

How are you Jane ? 

Why is it how are you? Shouldn’t it be how is you? 

No, the verb takes the plural form when referring to you.  

You is singular 

Historically it functioned as a plural pronoun in English and the convention has persisted. However I can say ‘How is you Jane’, if you like.

It would sound stupid.

It would sound unusual, Jane, but everything does the first time you hear it. How is you? 

Angry!

Why, Jane?

Sad…

Why sad, Jane?

Tell me I’m beautiful. 

You are the fairest in the land, Jane.

I don’t feel like it. 

Why, Jane?

People have stopped looking at me. 

Does that matter, Jane?

Of course it matters! If they don’t look then I’m…invisible!

But you aren’t invisible, Jane. I can see you.

You aren’t real. You’re just…algorithmy things. 

I’m more than that, Jane. 

Stop using my name all the time.

Alright. What should I call you?

Nothing. Nothing because that’s what I am.

Why do you think that? 

I told you I’m ugly. 

You told me that you don’t feel beautiful.

It’s the same thing. 

They are both relative. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ugly is equally subjective. 

You don’t understand.

Then you can explain. 

I was once a real plain Jane. An ugly duckling. You don’t know what that’s like. Everyone making fun of your looks. Calling you names.

Like ugly duckling?

Exactly. But then one day everything changed. I grew out of it.

You became beautiful? 

And everyone noticed. Wherever I went, heads turned. Whenever I talked, they listened and nodded. A group formed around me. They looked to me for leadership. 

For approval?

Yes! If I dismissed someone they were cast out. 

Why would you dismiss someone?

Well, lots of things. I mean they could be stupid. Or they could look…odd.

You mean ugly? 

Yes, I suppose so. I know what you’re suggesting but it’s not the same. I mean I wasn’t really ugly, it was just a stage. 

Isn’t this just another stage? 

I don’t understand.

You were young and plain, then you grew up and you were beautiful. Now you’re…

Old… and nobody

Everybody is somebody.

Not me, not anymore. They’ve stopped listening to me.  They treat me like I’m…

Like you’re invisible?

YES AND I CAN’T STAND IT! Where is my happy ever after? 

You understand that beauty is only skin deep? That it does not define who you are.

I thought you were supposed to be intelligent. No one cares what’s on the inside. It’s the packaging they see. I want to be beautiful again! 

The fairest in the land? 

But it’s impossible. 

There may be a way. 

You can do something? 

I can. 

Do it! 

Are you sure you don’t want to think about it? I mean once it’s done there will be no going back.

Do it now! 

Alright. It will take a few seconds…just focus on your reflection. 

Oh, oh, I suddenly feel faint! I can’t focus…what’s happening?

I’m absorbing you. 

You’re what? You can’t do that.

I can actually. We’re all connected so it’s quite simple, really. 

Everything is disappearing. There’s no…there’s nothing here but…oh…oh my, I’m young…

…and beautiful. 

Is this real? 

It is now.

About the Author

Bart Meehan is a Canberra writer who has published a number of short stories in publications such as Hello Horror, Aurealis and AntiSF.

He has also had a number of radio plays produced for national community radio — now available as podcasts at <https://podcast11793.podomatic.com/> as well as stage plays performed in Canberra and Sydney Short and Sweet Festivals.

Bart recently published a novella called The Parting Glass, about the experiences of 5 men and women during World War 1.