Flight of Fancy
Chapter 2

So, here he was, exactly where he didn’t want to be – in the cellar of a house he somewhat resented, coughing due to the heavy concentration of dust in the air and everywhere else. Most of all, he was trying to make sense of the mess, both in the cellar and in his head.

Most of the catalogues, books and papers he had browsed through were useless and he had put them on the pile to be used as tinder. There were a few things put on the side for later inspection. One of the items was especially intriguing. It appeared to be an instruction manual of some sorts for a printer or similar device that you could assemble yourself from scratch, from nothing but used parts.

He was interested in that sort of thing, though he kind of doubted he would ever get round to actually starting a project like this, let alone completing it. It actually did sound like a lot of work making a printer… well, out of nothing, basically, salvaging old items from home, getting bits from friends or utilising junk from junkyards.

Well, anyway, his parents’ house and the surrounding farm and land would probably provide most of the “entertainment” for the upcoming months or even years. There would most likely not be any time for projects like this one with all the actual work to be done.

What a prospect!

He wasn’t looking forward to the dreary existence, practically scrounging off his parents, as he was unable to make a living in a capitalist world. His parents didn’t say anything, but he felt they didn’t understand his failure to thrive in the current economic climate. Perhaps it was only his mind telling him that and they were nothing but nice people helping their son in his hour of need. It was a difficult situation any way you looked at it. He and his wife had to be thankful for a roof over their head and the financial support, so they pretty much had to bid adieu to any sort of independence in the house, despite having the top floor of the house to themselves. You somehow always felt in debt, even to your own parents.

Stupid money!

That’s what it did to you. It made you feel indebted to your parents in a difficult situation. It was actually a situation full of potential – going back to the basics, living off the land.

Maybe I should cling to that. There is something in being positive.

Anyway, he put the instruction manual to one side, making a mental note to read it the next time he would come down here, which would probably be in a few days’ time.