Unga & Bunga

23 May, 2024

Amidst a starry night, Unga sits alone, until Bunga aproaches with a smile. "Do you know what the internet is?" he asks, the word stumbling out of his tongue.

Unga, puzzled, shakes his head. "No."
Bunga grabbed his arm "Let's ask Grandfather Rob, he knows many tales."

Together, they venture to their grandfather's hut, where Robby, with wrinkles mapping stories onto his face, sits by the fire.

"Grandfather," Bunga starts, "we want to know about the internet."

Rob chuckles, a sound like dry leaves being shuffled. "Ah, the internet,", his eyes twinkle. "Imagine a magic box, not one you can touch, but one that connects all minds. Through it, people could speak, share tales, and see each other without traveling."

"Like sending thoughts through the air?" Unga asks, wide-eyed.

"Yes, exactly," Rob nods. "It was a web of minds, connecting everyone, everywhere, like a vast, invisible net."

Unga leans forward. "But Grandfather, what could people do with this 'internet'?"

"Oh, many things. They could learn about far-off lands without leaving their home, talk to a friend on the other side of the world as if they were sitting right beside them, and even watch stories unfold on screens."

"Could they see the stars and the depths of the ocean too?"

"Yes, my boy, they could explore the stars and the sea, all from this magical box. It was a portal to endless knowledge and wonders." Robby explains, gesturing with his hands as if drawing the vast network in the air.

As the fire crackles, Unga and Bunga sit in awe, trying to grasp the concept of such a world. After a moment of silent wonder, they step outside, their minds racing with thoughts of this invisible magic.

With sticks in hand, they draw lines in the dirt, pretending to connect them like the intricate web Rob described. Picking up stones, they imagine sending thoughts to each other, laughing as they mimic talking into the stones.

"Look, Bunga, I'm sending you a vision of a great beast!" Unga exclaims, holding up a stone.

"And I'm telling you about the stars!" Bunga responds, his stone held high.

They could only wonder about this world, vastly different from their own.


Originally written for a thread on Agora Road, this short story has been submitted to Agora Road Travelogue (May '24) at the request of an user.