Viviane left Hyperextension through its front doors after class and into the open air. It was early in the evening and the sky still had light before turning into night.

I’ve never seen punching bags shaped to look like real people before! Viviane suppressed a giggle as she imagined herself as a superhero, having to beat the living daylights out of a would-be attacker. I’ll walk to the next station to cool down before getting on the train and riding home.

Viviane lived in the capital city of the United Earth Nation, abbreviated as the “UEN”. The leaders of the UEN were known for keeping things simple for their citizens; there was no need for them to think any more than was necessary. Not surprising then, the name of the capital city was “Capital City.”

No longer underground, Viviane took in the sights of Capital City. The skyline was filled with buildings of gleaming glass, while animated street signs flashed information on traffic conditions. Shop signs displayed moving ads and the names of the stores they hung above. Even the sidewalks displayed map information underfoot to pedestrians as they walked on them. Self-driving, electric vehicles sped along clean, open streets with perfect spacing. No pollution choked the air and no litter filled the gutters or streets, since automated, robotic waste receptacles scooted around constantly picking up loose trash and debris. If Capital City was any indication, the UEN was a futuristic, advanced, powerful and wealthy nation – a genuine Utopia. But even in Utopia, advertisements still abounded.

On the side of a glass building was a huge electronic billboard. An ad played for Aveline: a cute, sugary, teenage pop singer with pink and green hair. The billboard announced in great, big, scrolling words that Aveline’s national concert tour would be making its final stop in Capital City in a couple of weeks.

I wonder if Anaelle and Marielle would want to go see Aveline in concert? Viviane caught herself thinking.

Underneath Aveline’s ad scrolled another line text. This line was much smaller and was used for official government broadcasts.

UEN 10-year government transition underway.

Citizens please stay tuned for updates on our government’s orderly renewal.

The Ruling Party thanks you for being an informed citizen.

Viviane and the other citizens watched Aveline’s ad and ignored the boring official announcements from the government. After all, Aveline’s ad had video clips of her singing at her last concert and flashing, colorful pink and green stage lights. Since there was no war in the world, the workings of the government were of little concern to the citizens of the UEN. Even though the Ruling Party said it liked an informed citizenry, no one appeared all that eager to expend the energy to actually be informed. It was wishful thinking that the government could grab attention from the nation’s pop music teen-queen, Aveline Fang.

As Viviane passed the large, video billboard with Aveline’s ad, she came to a small, street-market kiosk selling electronics and knick-knacks to teenagers outside the train station entrance. As she walked through, Viviane spied a bracelet charm in the shape of a tiny fairy. She smiled and reached out to touch it. It was the first sincere smile that crossed her face all day. She bought the charm from the kiosk merchant and, with the string that came with it, tied it around her wrist.

Remembering to catch her train, Viviane hurried off to the station, where she found an empty drink carton littering the sidewalk right before the train station entrance. The sight of litter interrupted her otherwise happy thoughts.

Why would anyone drop their trash right in front of the station entrance? They should know better!

Viviane thought about picking up the carton and throwing it away before remembering what she learned in kickboxing today. Viviane set herself up with the correct stance, spun her body with her leg held low, hooked her knee, and aimed for the empty carton with her foot.

As her foot was about to make contact, an automated waste receptacle scooted up from nowhere and reached out to the carton with its dustpan arm! Viviane’s leg swung around for the kick, missed the carton and crashed into the robot’s arm instead.

The force of her kick tipped the waste receptacle over with a loud crunch of metal hitting concrete. Pain jolted up her leg - Oh no! Worse than damaging public property, Viviane had bruised one of her beautiful legs!

Ow! Viviane’s eyes bugged out of their sockets. That’s going to leave a huge mark! I can’t have a huge, black, bruise on my leg for the photoshoot!

Viviane rubbed her poor shin and hoped it would heal in two weeks. Forgetting all about her civic duty to pick up stray litter, Viviane trotted down the stairs into the underground station to catch the next train ride home.