From the day
Perspective: The Future Historian · Tactile
The July humidity clings to my polyester-blend jersey as I run my thumb over the cold, molded plastic of the Wall-E animatronic, a masterpiece of early robotic simulation. My fingers still ache from fumbling with the sleek, metallic finish of my new iPhone, hunting for apps while I dig through my pockets for exactly $1.37 to cover a loaf of white bread. The cashier’s smirk is dismissive as he takes the change, a silent signal that in this economy, the tribe has spoken and the weak are being voted off. I wrap my hand around the rough paper bag and step back into the heat, the distant refrain of a Katy Perry hook bleeding from a passing car’s speakers like the soundtrack to a dying era.