This short story is from <Heartwarming Collection of Short Stories for Seniors: 2 Books in 1> by Bradley Windrow. It is perfect for seniors, even for dementia patients. Be sure to read until the end, as there’s a special gift waiting for you! hope you enjoy it!
Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master. –Christian Lous Lange
George sat in his worn recliner, staring at the sleek new smart TV that his son Dan had given him. It was supposed to be a marvel of modern technology—voice commands, endless streaming, and apps George had never heard of. Dan had assured him it would make his evenings “easier and more fun.” George wasn’t convinced but figured he’d give it a try. After all, he had been watching his old, clunky TV for years. How hard could this be? He picked up the futuristic remote, squinting at the tiny symbols.
“Alright, let’s get this show on the road,” he muttered. Confidently, he pressed the power button. The TV sprang to life, but instead of his usual channel, the screen filled with a grid of apps, weather updates, and streaming suggestions. George frowned. This wasn’t what he had in mind.
He pressed a few more buttons, hoping to find something familiar. Instead, he ended up on a French cooking show with subtitles in German.
“What in the world?” he grumbled, poking the remote in frustration. The living room lights dimmed. George froze.
“Is this remote controlling the lights, too?” Another button press and the thermostat beeped, dropping the temperature to a chilly 60 degrees.
“Am I running the whole house with this thing?” George sat back, bewildered. He tried pressing more buttons. The volume suddenly shot up, booming the French chef’s voice throughout the room. Closed captions appeared in three languages. And before George could stop himself, he had accidentally ordered a pay-per-view boxing match.
“No, no, no!” George exclaimed, jabbing the remote again. But it was too late—the TV seemed to be mocking him. Finally, in defeat, he grabbed his phone and called Dan.
“Dad, how’s the new TV?” Dan asked, clearly amused.
“Liking it? I think it’s possessed! The remote’s controlling everything but the TV,” George grumbled.
Dan laughed. “Why not use the voice command, Dad? Just say what you want.”
“The voice what?” George squinted at the remote.
“Press the microphone button and say what you want to watch.”
Skeptical, George did as instructed. “Turn on the Golden Hour,” he said, unsure. To his surprise, the TV obeyed, and his favorite show appeared.
“Well, I’ll be,” George muttered, sinking into his chair. But as he relaxed, his hand accidentally brushed the remote, switching the audio to Spanish. George stared at the screen for a long moment, sighed, and turned off the TV.
“At least paper isn’t complicated,” he muttered, reaching for his book.
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