The Emergency Response Service of the Future, by Gordon Lawrie

18/5/2018

Struggling, she managed to grab the telephone: dialled 999.

"Welcome to the all-new one-stop emergency service," the automated voice said. "Press 1 for ambulance, press 2 for fire, press 3 for police, press 4 for coastguard, press 5 if your call is not urgent, press 6 to hear these options again or please hold to speak to an advisor." Then: Vivaldi.

Pressing 1, she drifted in and out of consciousness. Blood from her stomach knife wound coursed all around her.

"Thank you. Press 1 for gunshots, 2 for road accidents, 3 for stabbings, 4 for..."

But she heard no more.

Paritosh Chandra Dugar

19/5/2018 07:29:32 pm

A very pithy comment on the dark side of modern technology. Well done, Gordon!

Gordon Lawrie

19/5/2018 07:49:40 pm

You have reached the automated thank you service for Gordon Lawrie's Friday Flash Fiction's stories. Gordon would like to thank you for your kind comments and looks forward to hearing from you again in the future. (Please imagine the Vivaldi, Paritosh.)

On a scale of 0-10, where 0 means "Not at all likely" and 10 means "Extremely likely", how likely are you to recommend our response service to a friend or relative in the future?

Paritosh Chandra Dugar

19/5/2018 08:23:27 pm

Your response service? Of course, 10.

Deborah

22/5/2018 06:14:12 pm

Accurate statement regarding automated phone systems; told in a dramatic and effective way.

Fliss Zakaszewska

23/5/2018 01:55:40 pm

In other words, your usual, pithy observations of modern life, Gordon. Must circulate it to my Service Desk colleagues!

Comments are closed.

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