The Future Needs a Cable
Dev had been standing in front of the printer for twenty minutes, and it still wouldn't print.
“Right,” he said. “I've tried turning it off and on again. Twice.”
His flatmate Sam looked up from the sofa. “Is it connected to the network?”
“It says it's connected. The little light is on. The wireless is fine — my phone works, your laptop works, everything works except this one stupid machine.”
“Did you try downloading the new driver?”
“I downloaded it. I installed it. The computer says the printer is 'ready'.” Dev pointed at the screen. “Ready! It's lying to me, Sam. It's a digital liar.”
Sam got up and looked at the screen. “What does that message mean? 'Error 0x000006.'”
“I have no idea. I searched it online. The internet doesn't know either.”
“Have you tried the cable?” Sam asked. “The actual cable. Plug it straight in.”
“Who uses cables in this century?” But Dev found the old cable in a drawer and plugged it in. The printer made a happy little sound, and a page slid out, warm and perfect.
They both stared at it.
“Wireless,” Sam said slowly. “Connect everything. Trust nothing.”
Dev held up the printed page like a prize. “The future,” he said, “needs a cable.”