“So,” Sheldon said, “are we ready to go now?”
“Just one more thing,” Charlotte said, looking pensive. “I had another thought.”
“Another thought? Really? Are we in a story or are we in a philosophical treatise?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“OK, I give up,” Sheldon shrugged his shoulders. “What’s this new thought?”
“Well, according to Applin and Fischer, this whole complicated intersection we’re doing between ways of communicating and modes of physical existence is actually a kind of PolySocial Reality.”
“How do you even know about this stuff? You’re only thirteen.”
Charlotte gave Sheldon an exasperated look. “This ‘stuff’ is totally relevant to thirteen year olds. I mean, how do you think I got through ‘Harry Potter’? I never would have finished those last three books if I didn’t have my copy of AACSI to help me figure out what was going on.”
“AACSI?” Sheldon asked weakly.
“‘Asynchronous Adaptations to Complex Social Interactions’, silly.” Charlotte rolled her eyes. “You don’t get out much, do you?”
“I’m a ghost,” he sniffed. “We don’t do ‘Harry Potter’. I got to Headless Nick and stopped reading out of principle.”
“That’s beside the point. What I’m saying is…” Charlotte began.
“You’re wrong, you know.”
Charlotte and Sheldon turned in surprise. They had both forgotten the cat was there.
“What am I wrong about?” Charlotte asked.
“Yes, we’re in a PolySocial Reality,” the cat continued, “I mean, who isn’t?” She paused for a moment to clean her left paw. “But that’s not what’s important here.”
“OK,” Charlotte frowned, “So what’s important?”
“What’s important is that we are in a Social PolyReality.”
IT’S THE SAME THING!!!!
I know, I know. I’m soaking in it. 🙂