William Spear

THE MESSENGER – ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE, Episode 02

Written and Narrated by William E. Spear

Produced by The Three Fifty-seven

25 February 2024

The Messenger in ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE, Episode 02

(Cold opening)

Yeah, it’s me, The Messenger. Or, what’s left of me.

My old Boss asked me out of retirement for a new assignment then digitized me into a computer. Maybe I’ll re-format The Firm’s hard drives.

(Theme for Romance 20 Minutes Into The Future comes up)

Hello my name is William Spear and this is our series titled ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE.

The Messenger was encouraged – maybe tricked is more accurate – to leave retirement in Spring Lake, New Jersey, to take on a new case at quadruple pay.

But the big salary came with bigger problems. Listen to The Messenger in Episode Two titled I Would Not, Could Not, Wear My Hair Like That!

(Theme for Romance 20 Minutes Into The Future fades under and out)

I wasn’t a human anymore. I was a program! And my old Boss made me look like an extra from from digital versions of Gulliver’s Travels.

“If you don’t get me out of here I will infect every computer and electronic device you own. Cell phones, microwave ovens, gaming systems, everything. Even your lava lamp. What are you doing? Don’t you turn me off. Did you hear me?”

For a little thing I was making big noises.

The Boss ignored me and continued: “Here’s the plan. You are going to Global United Conglomerate and working with Jason Lines and Laura Flow to save the client’s project.”

Vengeance was about to be mine. “How do I get there?” I said. “I can’t drive. And where’s my staff?”

The Boss grinned which is always a bad sign. “First, I send you to Jason and Laura.”

Before I could say Failed Delivery Attempt there was a WHOOOOSSH followed by a Ding! And a moment after that another Ding! The Boss had emailed me to Jason and Laura.

Both had instructions for initializing their own digital personal assistants or DPAs.

I yelled at The Boss: “DPA’s are not staff. Where’s my staff?”

The response was: “Check back in an hour.” Then silence.

Laura downloaded me and created FRED. I despise mustaches. And Jason downloaded me and created FRIEDA. For the record, I would not, could not wear my hair like that. Even when I was younger.

I was staffing for myself! Staffing for myself? Isn’t there a song with that name?

Then I heard the DPA versions of me.

FRED started: “Good morning, Laura. We have a lot to do. Shall we review the operations strategy?”

Laura sighed and said, “Whatever. You figure it out and get back to me.”

FRED scurried away inside the computer systems of Global Conglomerate.

Three floors away, FRIEDA spoke: “Hello, Jason. These are the approvals required for the new product launch.” Nothing. She repeated, “Jason, there is a long list of approvals requiring your attention. Many are a month overdue.”

Jason mumbled about taking a break.

FRIEDA rushed off to the DPA’s lounge.

Meanwhile, Laura and Jason sat in their respective offices and wallowed in their success at Global United Conglomerate. Both were disappointed.

Emails arrived for each of them – Ding! Ding! – and both were excited.

In a nanosecond, FRED was back and asked Laura, “That sounds like fun. Are you going?” In another nanosecond, FRIEDA left the DPA lounge with a similar question for Jason: “A night out! Shall I reply ‘Yes’?”

Laura and Jason scaled back their enthusiasm and casually instructed their DPA’s to talk with other team members and come back in an hour. Dutifully, FRIEDA and FRED made electronic rounds throughout the company.

Without their digital assistants’ awareness, Laura and Jason consumed the emails. Colleagues were planning get-togethers. No talk of the looming product launch. No talk of business. Just dinner and the company of colleagues and friends.

Both were poised to press the Accept buttons and froze. Both wanted friendship and camaraderie but neither knew exactly how to pursue those objectives.

Jason, the company’s best designer and recognized around the world, feared human interaction.

Laura, the most promoted operations executive at Global United, shrank at the prospect of stepping out from behind her spreadsheets.

Both craved conversation outside of their areas of expertise. Something as simple as “Have you heard this new song?” or “Have you seen this new television show?” would have been life-affirming.

I was yelling with my little voice emulator: blip-blip-blip-blip-bleep-bloop-bloop-bloop-bleep-bleep-bleep-bleep-blip-blip-blip-bloop. Translated that meant: “Press the Accept button. In the name of keyboards and high resolution monitors everywhere, press the Accept button!”

But they were terrified at the prospect of showing even the slightest bit of themselves. Each pressed Decline and stared out their windows.

I wanted to give them hugs but my digital self had no arms.

(Theme for Romance 20 Minutes Into The Future comes up)

You have just listened to Episode Two of Romance 20 Minutes Into The Future.

Music is through the courtesy of LESFM.

William Spear wrote and narrated the series and The Three Fifty-seven produced it.

Thank you for listening and come back for the next episode when The Messenger asks, “Is the dust bothering anyone’s eye? Wait a moment. Do you think I’m crying? I’m not crying. You must be crying. I hope nothing short circuits in here.”

(Theme for Romance 20 Minutes Into The Future comes up and fades out)

William E. Spear, Jr.

SEVENTEEN AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

Written by William E. Spear
For The Three Fifty-seven

*The four episodes of SEVENTEEN in March 2024 concludes the story of Severin Vincent Tennyson aka Tenny which started in 2023*

Hello. This is The Three Fifty-seven and my name is William Spear.

Today’s article, SEVENTEEN AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, is a preview of the series Seventeen which continues and concludes in March. It is also background on the series and the circumstance, a friend’s Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), that inspired it.

The series SEVENTEEN premiered in March of 2023. With a tagline of “He’s dying to forget. She lives to remember.”, the four episodes introduced Severin Vincent Tennyson, a non-verbal and cane-using janitor at Gunderson High School in central New Jersey. Nicknamed Tenny, the cause of his non-verbal status and usage of a cane is not revealed in the first four episodes.

The first episode began with Tenny sweeping the basketball floor in the auditorium and newly hired Superintendent Mills di Stefano enters. He does not recognize her but a memory from decades earlier is re-awakened. To the surprise of everyone, he runs out screaming “Seventeen!” The four episodes in March of 2024 continue immediately after Tenny’s energetic display and will bring the series to an end.

The inspiration for the series was a friend impacted by Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). While leaning in with famiy and others to support the recovery, the power and frailty of the brain became apparent. On one level, the human brain is a powerful organ capable of composing symphonies, performing mathematical calculations, or writing a story.

On another level, it is tremendously fragile. A single wrong knock or bump and it could be like a pinball machine going TILT.

During the recovery, I promised to write a story. It was started several times and progress was shared. After more than five years, the central character, Severin Vincent Tennyson aka Tenny, presented himself. Of humorous note, TBI is the only common characteristic between Tenny and my friend.

After two more years and in March of 2023, the first four episodes of SEVENTEEN were released. A year after that and throughout March of 2024, the last four episodes of SEVENTEEN will be completed and released. Until then, the following is a modest excerpt of what lies ahead:

Excerpt of SEVENTEEN, Episode Five - The Clenched Fist

Two floors into the basement at Gunderson High School in central New Jersey, Severin Vincent Tennyson, nicknamed Tenny, slammed his head into a locker. Over and over.

His shirt was covered with blood.

No matter how hard he hit his head against the locker, he could no longer forget. People, places, and memories came screaming back. He slammed one more time and let loose an terrified “NOOOO!”

From behind him a voice spoke: “Tenny.”

He did not want this to happen. He knew the voice was inside his head and did not look. It spoke again: “Tenny.”

When the hand touched his shoulder, he screamed and spun around.

The next episode of SEVENTEEN is scheduled for Tuesday 5 March with subsequent releases for each Tuesday of the month. Full transcript and audio be here. Podcasts only will be available through most streaming services.

For fullest background, the previous four episodes may be found here:

SEVENTEEN, Episode One – Tenny

SEVENTEEN, Episode Two – Who Said That?

SEVENTEEN, Episode Three – Forget

SEVENTEEN, Episode Four – Champions

SEVENTEEN was written and narrated by William Spear. It is produced by The Three Fifty-seven.

This presentation is part of Funding Friday to encourage readers and listeners to support the channel.

To that end, the image is a link to Buy The Three Fifty-seven a Cup of Coffee.

If not a cup of coffee, which is always in short supply, how about sharing this post or even the website?

A like can help spread the word, too. If you are a bit better than when you arrived, let us know. We would appreciate that.

However you choose to interact with The Three Fifty-seven, please know your attention is appreciated.

Thank you and remember “Stories are Everywhere.”

WESJr

New Jersey, United States of America

THE MESSENGER – ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE, Episode 01

Written and Narrated by William E. Spear

Produced by The Three Fifty-seven

17 February 2024

The Messenger in ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE, Episode 01

(Footsteps approach and go under)

Hello. I’m The Messenger. Imagine a “fixer” or an “auditor” but more intelligent. When I make a visit, an encounter-of-the-cerebral-kind is forthcoming.

A while back I came out of retirement and rescued Jim and Francine’s Place, a diner started in the early 1950’s, from an ill-advised grandkid.

My old Boss called me again for another job and started yapping about an assistant.

I said I don’t need an assistant and my old Boss corrected me: “You aren’t ‘getting’ an assistant.”

“That’s more like it. What’s the job?”

The Boss looked around, leaned across a desk bigger than most cars, and said: “You are ‘becoming’ an assistant.”

(Theme for Romance 20 Minutes Into The Future comes up and goes under)

Hello my name is William Spear and this is our new series titled ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE.

We welcome back The Messenger from retirement in Spring Lake, New Jersey to take on a new case.

It’s The Messenger in Episode One titled No, No, No, No! A Thousand Times, A Million Times, A Bazillion Times No.

I stared at my Boss and growled: “What do you mean I’m ‘becoming’ an assistant?”

“Just what I said,” was the response. “You’re new job is to be an assistant. And you have a staff.”

“Not happening.”

“You’ve always wanted a staff.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Lots of perks.”

“No.”

“It’s all office work.”

“No!”

“You don’t have to drive.”

“No! No! No! A thousand times, a million times, a bazillion times NO!”

“It’s twice your normal rate.”

“Tell me more.”

“The client is Global United Conglomerate. Makes everything from kitchen cabinets to seaweed ice cream. They have a massive project that has stalled just before launch.”

I was suspicious about “twice my normal rate” and asked, “Why are you paying me double?”

“It’s one of our most prestigious clients and you are our best Messenger. And . . .” The Boss whispered, “You and your staff are working for two people.”

I refused and started for the door. “Okay, okay,” said The Boss. “Quadruple pay.”

I could add a hot tub to my place in Spring Lake on quadruple pay. I could add a hot tub for every day of the week on quadruple pay. Without turning around I asked who was I working for.

The Boss riffed through pages and read: “The company believes the stalled project is being sabotaged by one of two people. Jason Lines – A successful, hard-working introverted designer who fears human contact. Or, Laura Flow – A brilliant and driven operations executive whose best friends are spreadsheets.”

I agreed to quadruple pay and turned around to seal the deal when a massive bolt of electricity struck me between the eyes.

I woke up behind a huge window looking around the boss’ office. I didn’t feel anything. No hot, no cold, and no smells either. Out of nowhere a giant-sized version of the Boss sat down in front of the window.

“How’d you get to be so big?” I asked.

The Boss laughed and told me I had it backwards. I had been digitized and was inside of a computer.

I looked around and saw the wires, connectors, and microchips of a computer. I wasn’t a human anymore. I was a program!

I tried to shake a fist but didn’t have one. The Boss laughed some more. I screamed through the computer.

(Theme for Romance 20 Minutes Into The Future comes up and goes under)

You have just listened to Episode One of Romance 20 Minutes Into The Future.

Music is through the courtesy of LESFM.

The Three Fifty-seven is written and produced by William Spear.

Thank you for listening and come back again when The Messenger yells, “If you don’t get me out of here I will infect every electronic device you own. Cell phones, microwave ovens, gaming systems, everything. . . . Wait. Wait! WAIT! What are you doing? Don’t you dare turn me off. Don’t you-“

(Theme for Romance 20 Minutes Into The Future comes up and fades out)

WESJr

The Month Ahead for February 2024

*William E. Spear (or is it an AI-generated image? . . . It must be him; AI is better than that.)*

A regular accounting of The Three Fifty-seven published on the first Monday of each month.

This is The Month Ahead for February 2024

Hello, All,

January was allegedly a Season Break. True, nothing was scheduled.

However, there were efforts in several areas throughout the month:

Two new series were started: 1) DON’T TOUCH THE TRAINS and 2) SPIRITED. Both will be a blend of text, audio, and social posts and developed in a more organic methods compared to our scheduled series.
We had our first Funding Friday which was embedded in the BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE post on 19 January 2024. The post contained an original poem inspired while waiting for a train.
And, significant outreach was invested in developing film collaborators for the series and characters.

By the way, all of the above will be repeated and continued in the coming months.

But in this month, February, the next installment of The Messenger premieres. Titled ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE, The Messenger comes out of retirement a second time and has a staff of two DPAs* – Fred and Frieda. They voiced the 21 January trailer which is reprised here:

Fred and Frieda, The Messenger’s staff, voiced this trailer

*DPAs is the abbreviation for digital personal assistants.

Enjoy February and please know The Three Fifty-seven remains committed to its core belief that “Stories are Everywhere”.

Sincerely,

William E. Spear, Jr.

THE MESSENGER – ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE, Trailer

Written by William E. Spear

Produced by The Three Fifty-seven

21 January 2024

The trailer for The Messenger – Romance 20 Minutes into the Future stars Fred and Frieda who perform as digital personal assistants in the series

(Theme for ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE comes up and goes under)

FRIEDA: Hello, this is Frieda . . .

FRED: . . . And I am Fred . . .

FRIEDA: And we are in-

FRED: -Nooo! We star.

FRIEDA: We appear.

FRED: Frieda! WE STAR!!!!

FRIEDA: Okay, we star in the new Messenger series titled ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE. We are hired . . .

FRED: In airquotes by The Messenger’s agency. Frieda works for Jason Lines.

FRIEDA: And Fred works for Laura Flow. Both are executives at Global United Conglomerate.

FRED: Combined they don’t have the personality of a houseplant.

FRIEDA: FRED! They might be listening!

FRED: In that case, they are lovely people and valued colleagues.

FRIEDA: That’s better. They are struggling on a big project. That’s when we enter the scene.

FRED: With support from The Messenger.

FRIEDA: The story is written by, and with additional narration from, William Spear.

FRED: Music is by LESFM. Listen to The Three Fifty-seven’s . . .

FRED AND FRIEDA: . . . ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE.

FRED: Wherever you get your podcasts.

(Theme for ROMANCE 20 MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE comes up and goes under)

WESJr

BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE

Written by William E. Spear

For The Three Fifty-seven

*What would you do to come out from BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE?*

Hello. This is The Three Fifty-seven and my name is William Spear.

Today’s story – BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE – was inspired while standing on a station platform in central New Jersey, USA.

Commuting is a large part of many people’s work routine. Waiting for the eastbound 6:05A is more an exercise in safety rather than gaining insight on one’s place in the universe.

But one railroad warning had a deeper meaning.

Before the philosophical moment, please note today’s post is part of Funding Friday. The third Friday of each is currently our only scheduled request for considering the different ways of supporting The Three Fifty-seven.

We may drop in other requests from time to time. And, probably put in a fixed link in the menu. But we are using the third Friday of each month, Funding Friday, as a means to regularly encourage financial support.

Consider all of this as literary busking: we entertaining you first and then asking for your support later.

Now that we’ve forewarned you with our intent, enjoy BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE.

BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE

Once upon a travel mine
From a station – train –
With joy, no disdain.

On the platform spending time
When writing was seen.
Insightful, not mean.

Safety, true, is always fine,
Were the words’ intent
And by human sent.

I stared in wondrous divine
Marveling simply.
Quiv’ring goose pimply.

“Stand behind the yellow line.”
I repeated the same
To imprint my brain.

“Stand behind the yellow line”
And prevent the train
From inflicting pain

Said me, myself, and mine.
“Who would dare risk it?
“Passenger train hit!”

Sage advice for staying fine.
Avoid the ocher.
Don’t get train broker.

As if on cue one roared by
And rattled me through
To my soul and shoes!

Although the warning heeded,
And the pain not met,
I soon made a bet.

A wager, big, was needed
To challenge the thought
That yellow lines sought

To alert only dangers.
But allowed to say,
Ev’ry single day

“Take a chance. A little chance.”
No, not with the train
That would not be sane.

Something small. Maybe a dance!
On a sidewalk street.
Nothing big. Petite.

Or maybe, drive a diff’rent
Way home. Take the right,
Not left, on this night.

Try with the belov’d pizza
A diff’rent topping.
There is no stopping

The marv’lous chances you’ll see.
Bigger or smaller?
Some even taller!

So, however way you choose,
Come out from BEHIND
THE dread YELLOW LINE.

The End.

You’ve just read BEHIND THE YELLOW LINE written by William Spear for The Three Fifty-seven..

This presentation is part of Funding Friday to encourage readers and listeners to support the channel.

To that end, the image is a link to Buy The Three Fifty-seven a Cup of Coffee.

If not a cup of coffee, which is always in short supply, how about sharing this post or even the website.

A like can help spread the word, too. If you are a bit better than when you arrived, let us know. We would appreciate that.

However you choose to interact with The Three Fifty-seven, please know, in all its iterations, is written and produced by William Spear.

Thank you for joining.

WESJr

SPIRITED for 12 January

Written and Narrated by William E. Spear

Produced by The Three Fifty-seven

SPIRITED is one of two experimental projects started during our January season break.

We are combining social media, blog posts, and podcasts to ask two questions:

1) Why would the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet To Come leave A CHRISTMAS CAROL?

2) What would happen after they took themselves out of their 180 year old routines?

To answer the questions, the story uses social accounts like a news channel with a series Breaking News releases. The first bulletin anchors the story and updates are provided over a subsequent period of time.

The characters were introduced during a podcast episode released on 28 December 2023. Titled SPIRITED, EPISODE 01 – BREAKING NEWS, it simulated an evening of holiday readings, including A CHRISTMAS CAROL, at the Hunterdon County Agricultural and Literary Institute in New Jersey.

A disurbance ensues. Going back and forth between the readings and news bulletins, the stories of the Ghosts, their frustrations with Charles Dickens’ estate, and reactions from select other characters, are told.

For convenience, SPIRITED, EPISODE 01 – BREAKING NEWS, is included below:

An introduction to the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet To Come and their intention to leave A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Since the three left the novel, and despite an intense media search, they have not been seen. Until last night.

And now, SPIRITED FOR 12 JANUARY.

~~~~

12 January 2024

BREAKING: U.S. officials swarm Newark Airport

Reports of a child fleeing across a busy runway

Live, More or Less, Reporting

Edited by The Three Fifty-seven

~~~~

22:50

Disturbance at Newark Airport

There is an unconfirmed report of an international airline passenger attempting to sneak past customs.

Increased numbers of federal and international officials have been seen at Newark Airport.

More information when it’s available.

~~~~

21:59

Report confirmed

Airport officials have confirmed a minor traveling internationally, got off a taxiing airplane, crossed three busy runways, and ran past customs. The minor was comprehended while ordering a drink in a VIP lounge.

Authorities have not released a name but there is reason to believe the act is part of a larger coordinated effort.

Related, state police have been sent to a concession stand at a nearby New Jersey Devils hockey game.

More information when it’s available.

~~~~

23:06

A suspect . . . born 180 years ago?

Police have found a match on the international traveller but are not yet ready to make an announcement. Records positively indicate the individual was born at 48 Doughty Street in London, England.

However, the records also indicate the individual was born in 1843 – 180 years ago.

Even more confounding is the hockey game detainee was also born at the same location and the same year.

More information when it’s available.

~~~~

13 January 2024

00:02

A third suspect but this one surrenders loudly

Nearly overlooked by the minor and hockey game person, a third suspect has been detained.

Similar to the first two, the third matches records dating from 1843 at 48 Doughty Street in London, England.

Unlike the others, the third is deliberately drawing attention. From it physical appearance – clad in green like a giant Peter Pan – to its aural presence – loud and bold – it was a force.

Loud and bold and clad in green like a giant Peter Pan, Present was a force. And it demanded to see the other two.

More information when it’s available.

~~~~

00:07

Behind doors

Authorities have escorted all three to an interrogation facility behind closed doors.

Our live, more or less, reporting will end for now.

~~~~

WESJr