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scott_sanfordHi, everyone; happy Jenny Everywhere Day! I’ve got plans for this work but August 13th is upon us and it’s not fully written so I’m going to release a first chapter of about 1000 words now. I’m planning on dropping another chapter every week until it’s finished, so check back occasionally.
Let’s get shifting! -- Scott Sanford, 13 August 2021
Jenny Everywhere
PAYING IT FORWARD
by Scott Sanford
part 1
Jenny Everywhere grabbed a few slices of bread from the loaf of Rizla Mission rye, startling the robot toaster she’d gotten from Professor Awesome and sending it skittering across the counter. She rolled her eyes; at least it was housebroken. She dropped the bread into one of the perfectly normal toasters, ignoring the robot trying to hide behind the microwave.
While the toast cooked she wrote a note.
I’m going to be out of town today so don’t worry if you can’t reach me. Just some family business and running errands. I might be back late. -- Jenny
Jenny underlined ‘out of town’ and stuck the note to the calendar in hopes it would get read. She shrugged her coat on and the toaster popped up; she collected her toast and wrapped it in a paper towel for later, slipping it into a pocket. She had miles to go, etc.
Patting herself, she decided she had everything she expected to need and headed out.
On the apartment door the number 8 had gone over sideways again. Jenny smiled. It suited her that way.
Outside Jenny headed off in no particular physical direction, since she wasn’t exactly going to places most people could reach by walking. But roads lead to other roads, and metaphorically any road will lead to any other road, and for someone who knows the way…
… all places blend together for someone who is already Everywhere. It stands to reason that the best way to get somewhere is to already be there.
Winds whipped through the snowy mountains and Jenny adjusted her scarf. At least the path was clear, showing her route to the pristine white temple ahead of her. As she approached she saw the inscription which greeted all visitors, a paragraph spelled out in characters half a meter high cut into the raw rock of the cliff.
The character of Jenny Everywhere is available for use by anyone, with only one condition. This paragraph must be included in any publication involving Jenny Everywhere, in order that others may use this property as they wish. All rights reversed.
“Now that’s just tacky,” she told nobody in particular, looking up at the proclamation. She shrugged and moved on.
Knocking at the heavy wooden door got a quick response. A robed monk opened the door and bowed. Jenny returned the bow awkwardly.
“I have come to speak with the oracle Cha Ni, the one who sees everywhere,” she announced.
“Of course, traveler. You are expected. Welcome back.”
“Uh, this is actually the first time I’ve been here.”
“That may be so as well. Congratulations on finding the temple. And you are welcome back anyway. It is pleasant to see you again.”
“Thanks?”
The monk led her through the temple to a garden, where they were greeted by a voice calling, “Good morning, young Jenny. Enter and be enlightened.”
“Yeah, that’s normal,” Jenny snarked. She entered, risking enlightenment at every step.
The woman waiting for her was about her height, with long silver hair; she wore a layered white robe and, of course, a long stole and a blindfold over her eyes. Jenny knew her at once.
“So, um, hi.” Jenny waved.
“Welcome to the Temple of the Oracle, Jenny. This is the first time you have brought this flesh to consult me. It’s nice to meet you in person.”
“Thanks, I think. Nice place you have here.” She looked around at the formal garden, at the perfectly manicured plants and artistically arranged rocks and the water filled bamboo thing that went *doink*.
“It is inevitable,” the oracle told her.
“Inevitable? Really? I mean, what is it with mystic temples up on top of mountains, anyway? You can’t be an oracle in an air conditioned office, with high speed internet and close to the bus lines?”
“Think upon this and you will know the answers, child.”
“Oh… Yeah, good point,” she conceded. “So, I guess you already know why I’m here. Would you like me to tell you anyway?”
“I think you should say it aloud. In a single breath, why are you here?”
“Others have helped me and I figure it’s my turn.” Blunt but to the point.
“Mm, yes, that’s a good one. Sometimes we feel our karma is unbalanced. But is yours needing attention from within or without?” The oracle leaned in and considered Jenny, her total lack of gaze disconcerting.
“I sense you once saved your world’s computer inter-network.”
“What, the Eye of Tripoli thing? Yeah, that was me. Someone was going to have to, I was just in the right place.”
“And you fought your mirror self to her death.”
“That! Damn, of course you know about that! Hey, can you tell me--”
“No,” she said firmly, holding up a hand. “I cannot. You learn nothing about that today.”
Jenny swore quietly and pouted.
“But that is not why you are here. And that was not your only battle. Only recently you thwarted the one called Professor Awesome.”
“Thwarted? I guess, yeah. Like I was going to let him run around with a de-pants-icator. But how much of a threat is a thirteen year old mad scientist?”
“Results do not always follow from intentions. You learned that in Shangri-la.”
“Now that wasn’t my fault...”, Jenny protested. It wasn’t her proudest moment, either.
“You got banished from Shangri-la for putting the ram in the Rama Lama’s ding-dong!”
“Hey now--” Jenny bristled and the oracle waved off her protests.
“I know, I know. I am just pulling your leg, Jenny. We all have adventures like that.” She laughed, grinning widely. It made her look a lot less like a mystic oracle and a lot more like a Jenny Everywhere. “At least if we’re doing it right.”
“It wasn’t as if I planned it that way…”
“The best adventures never are. So we can agree that you’re not useless. But you still want to help out other Jennies?”
“Yes,” she agreed firmly.
“Good. I’m glad you’re sure. Since you were coming I made up a list…”
A few minutes later Jenny left with a full schedule and a shopping list for her appointments.
Continued in part two!
Let’s get shifting! -- Scott Sanford, 13 August 2021
PAYING IT FORWARD
by Scott Sanford
part 1
Jenny Everywhere grabbed a few slices of bread from the loaf of Rizla Mission rye, startling the robot toaster she’d gotten from Professor Awesome and sending it skittering across the counter. She rolled her eyes; at least it was housebroken. She dropped the bread into one of the perfectly normal toasters, ignoring the robot trying to hide behind the microwave.
While the toast cooked she wrote a note.
I’m going to be out of town today so don’t worry if you can’t reach me. Just some family business and running errands. I might be back late. -- Jenny
Jenny underlined ‘out of town’ and stuck the note to the calendar in hopes it would get read. She shrugged her coat on and the toaster popped up; she collected her toast and wrapped it in a paper towel for later, slipping it into a pocket. She had miles to go, etc.
Patting herself, she decided she had everything she expected to need and headed out.
On the apartment door the number 8 had gone over sideways again. Jenny smiled. It suited her that way.
Outside Jenny headed off in no particular physical direction, since she wasn’t exactly going to places most people could reach by walking. But roads lead to other roads, and metaphorically any road will lead to any other road, and for someone who knows the way…
… all places blend together for someone who is already Everywhere. It stands to reason that the best way to get somewhere is to already be there.
Winds whipped through the snowy mountains and Jenny adjusted her scarf. At least the path was clear, showing her route to the pristine white temple ahead of her. As she approached she saw the inscription which greeted all visitors, a paragraph spelled out in characters half a meter high cut into the raw rock of the cliff.
The character of Jenny Everywhere is available for use by anyone, with only one condition. This paragraph must be included in any publication involving Jenny Everywhere, in order that others may use this property as they wish. All rights reversed.
“Now that’s just tacky,” she told nobody in particular, looking up at the proclamation. She shrugged and moved on.
Knocking at the heavy wooden door got a quick response. A robed monk opened the door and bowed. Jenny returned the bow awkwardly.
“I have come to speak with the oracle Cha Ni, the one who sees everywhere,” she announced.
“Of course, traveler. You are expected. Welcome back.”
“Uh, this is actually the first time I’ve been here.”
“That may be so as well. Congratulations on finding the temple. And you are welcome back anyway. It is pleasant to see you again.”
“Thanks?”
The monk led her through the temple to a garden, where they were greeted by a voice calling, “Good morning, young Jenny. Enter and be enlightened.”
“Yeah, that’s normal,” Jenny snarked. She entered, risking enlightenment at every step.
The woman waiting for her was about her height, with long silver hair; she wore a layered white robe and, of course, a long stole and a blindfold over her eyes. Jenny knew her at once.
“So, um, hi.” Jenny waved.
“Welcome to the Temple of the Oracle, Jenny. This is the first time you have brought this flesh to consult me. It’s nice to meet you in person.”
“Thanks, I think. Nice place you have here.” She looked around at the formal garden, at the perfectly manicured plants and artistically arranged rocks and the water filled bamboo thing that went *doink*.
“It is inevitable,” the oracle told her.
“Inevitable? Really? I mean, what is it with mystic temples up on top of mountains, anyway? You can’t be an oracle in an air conditioned office, with high speed internet and close to the bus lines?”
“Think upon this and you will know the answers, child.”
“Oh… Yeah, good point,” she conceded. “So, I guess you already know why I’m here. Would you like me to tell you anyway?”
“I think you should say it aloud. In a single breath, why are you here?”
“Others have helped me and I figure it’s my turn.” Blunt but to the point.
“Mm, yes, that’s a good one. Sometimes we feel our karma is unbalanced. But is yours needing attention from within or without?” The oracle leaned in and considered Jenny, her total lack of gaze disconcerting.
“I sense you once saved your world’s computer inter-network.”
“What, the Eye of Tripoli thing? Yeah, that was me. Someone was going to have to, I was just in the right place.”
“And you fought your mirror self to her death.”
“That! Damn, of course you know about that! Hey, can you tell me--”
“No,” she said firmly, holding up a hand. “I cannot. You learn nothing about that today.”
Jenny swore quietly and pouted.
“But that is not why you are here. And that was not your only battle. Only recently you thwarted the one called Professor Awesome.”
“Thwarted? I guess, yeah. Like I was going to let him run around with a de-pants-icator. But how much of a threat is a thirteen year old mad scientist?”
“Results do not always follow from intentions. You learned that in Shangri-la.”
“Now that wasn’t my fault...”, Jenny protested. It wasn’t her proudest moment, either.
“You got banished from Shangri-la for putting the ram in the Rama Lama’s ding-dong!”
“Hey now--” Jenny bristled and the oracle waved off her protests.
“I know, I know. I am just pulling your leg, Jenny. We all have adventures like that.” She laughed, grinning widely. It made her look a lot less like a mystic oracle and a lot more like a Jenny Everywhere. “At least if we’re doing it right.”
“It wasn’t as if I planned it that way…”
“The best adventures never are. So we can agree that you’re not useless. But you still want to help out other Jennies?”
“Yes,” she agreed firmly.
“Good. I’m glad you’re sure. Since you were coming I made up a list…”
A few minutes later Jenny left with a full schedule and a shopping list for her appointments.
Continued in part two!
