At roughly the same time Susan was climbing the stairs, Jon and Linda were returning to the kitchen after exploring the spacious back yard, discovering a well maintained yard, a large shed with a workbench, assorted tools, a mini-fridge, and a slightly shabby armchair. The whole thing screamed man-cave. There was also a patio running along the back of the house, with a small circular fire-pit and a brick barbecue built next to it. The most exciting thing they had discovered was a decently sized swimming pool. However they hadn’t really discovered anything to do with anyone’s roles, so had decided to join Karyn and Mikey upstairs.
As they moved into the hallway Jon noticed Sarah still sitting defiantly on the sofa, and shrugged as he followed his mom to the foot of the stairs. As soon as they reached the first step they heard the sound of a door closing upstairs.
“Maybe they’re having better luck up there” Linda said to Jon who nodded thoughtfully. The two of them made their way up until they were stood on the spacious landing. They’d already spotted the ‘Michelle’ door sign on their way past, and now they were staring at the ‘Keiron’ and ‘Simon’ name plates.
“That can’t be right” Linda muttered, “Those all look like children’s rooms, which means…” she trailed off as she turned to face the final door at the end of the landing. Jon followed her gaze and his eyes fell on the last wooden sign.
‘MOM & DAD’ hung there as if it was teasing him.
“I mean, one of them could be Sarah” he offered up weakly.
“Still means one of us has some clues in there” Linda said, a slight hint of nervousness in her voice. They both stood there, neither of them wanting to move as the reality of what possibility lay behind that door hung around them. Then, as if to hurry them along, the door swung open a crack.
“No sense in delaying the inevitable” Linda sighed as she strode down the landing and in through the doorway. Jon glanced down the stairs, thinking about going to join Sarah and Susan in their protest.
“Jon, you better come here sweetie” he heard his mother call from inside the room. Not knowing what else he could do, he dropped his shoulders and slowly followed after her.
The room was a very spacious master bedroom with its own en-suite bathroom on the right hand side that seemed to share a wall with the family bathroom just off the landing. There was a two large bay windows with curved windowsills letting in lots of natural light, with a plush armchair sat within the left hand window, and a small computer desk with high end PC sitting on it in the other. between the two windows were two identical chests of drawers, five drawers high each. On the left hand wall was a large vanity covered in various products, and a mirror with a strip light around the edge hung on the wall above it. On the wall opposite the windows was a king size bed, which had two sizeable oak wardrobes on either side, with some over bed storage cupboards running between them. Above the bed on were two individual reading lights, and there was a small shelf on the side of each wardrobe. Linda was stood next to the closest chest of drawers where there was a deep blue coloured square seemingly hovering in the air with one line of text inside it.
LINDON JEFFERSON - WEAR ME
“Well I guess this is your room” Jon grinned half heartedly. His mother turned to look at him, and an almost apologetic smile formed on her face. She took a step back to reveal another box hovering in the air, this one was a light pastel purple colour, and had a similar line of text inside it.
JOANNE JEFFERSON - WEAR ME
Jon stepped over and saw the box was seemingly being projected by a delicate ladies gold watch, and the blue box for his mom was coming from a durable looking men’s watch with a chrome timepiece and a brown leather strap. As Jon neared the centre of the room, the door shut behind him, and they both heard the unmistakable sound of the lock engaging. The two of them stood there hesitantly for a moment, and then both watches sounded, with ‘Lindon’s’ making a standard digital beep, and ‘Joanne’s’ making a chiming noise. Jon’s whole body flinched as a jabbing pain flashed behind his eyes for a moment. He looked over at his mother who was now pinching the bridge of her nose. The text in both their boxes changed.
WEAR ME - 1/3
“What the hell was that?” Jon groused, squeezing his eyes shut for a second.
“I think that may have been one of those nudges we were told about” Linda replied.
“So, what, we either do what they say, or we get…that” Jon waved his fingers in front of his forehead to emphasise his point.
“It certainly seems that way” Linda said quietly. She picked up the men’s watch and fastened the strap around her wrist. She then picked up the gold ladies watch and held it out for Jon. He glared down at the delicate glinting metal and scowled.
“No thank youuu-OW!” He recoiled as the watch chimed again and the text shifted to 2/3
“Ok, that was worse than the last one” he grumbled, “fine I’ll wear it” he took the watch from Linda’s hand and fumbled with the clasp for a moment before it sat perfectly on his wrist. Both watches sounded again and the text in the boxes changed again
IDENTITY CONFIRMED
NAME: LINDON JEFFERSON
GENDER: MALE
AGE : 48 YEARS OLD
FAMILY ROLE : HUSBAND/FATHER
PROFESSION : FOREMAN- NEW LIFE CONSTRUCTION
To avoid further nudges or corrective measures, it is advisable to act within the parameters of this given role - WLV Management-
Hovered in deep blue above the watch on Linda’s wrist, and in the pastel purple light from Jons watch, the text read
IDENTITY CONFIRMED
NAME: JOANNE JEFFERSON
GENDER: FEMALE
AGE : 45 YEARS OLD
FAMILY ROLE : WIFE/MOTHER
PROFESSION : PA - PART TIME - LITTLEWOOD INVESTMENTS AND EQUITY
To avoid further nudges or corrective measures, it is advisable to act within the parameters of this given role - WLV Management
Jon and Linda stared at each other in silence for a few moments, until Jon finally found his voice.
“Wait…so I’m supposed to be your…”
“Wife, yes” Linda finished his sentence “and I’m your husband? I’m in agreement with Susan, this really isn’t what we signed up for”. The watches sounded again and the text changed once more, now both boxes read.
NEW TASK
SELECT AND WEAR ROLE APPROPRIATE ATTIRE
