Entry #13

Off the Grid
by Anna


“Everything’s connected! See those wires, over on the gable end there, that’s how they do it. Although they’re getting so clever they don’t even need the wires anymore.

You think I’m joking; I’m not! Everybody’s watched these days. They know what newspaper they buy, what they eat for lunch, who they cheat with, what car they drive, what car they’d like to drive, where they bank and what they drink.

Did you know there are 4.2 million CCTV cameras in the England alone? And a person might think they’re safe at work, but they’ve got software to measure keystroke rates, and the company truck’s GPS tracks your every move, even that twenty mile detour to that great little motel…...

Once upon a time you could drag a few branches behind your mule and leave no trace on this earth, but not anymore. Hell they might as well chip you at birth, it would save a lot of trouble.

Don’t shake your head like that; I’m serious! But they can’t see me. No Sir! I’ve no mobile phone, that’s the worst one, they can track you better than a hound with one of those things, no bank account, my deals are all strictly cash, no computer and no car.

I’m like you fella! Old and off the grid!

‘Cept you have an advantage over me Mister, cos I can’t follow you out the cat flap and on the roof, so I never know where you get to go!”