Legacy

Ethel was reading a Hamish Macbeth novel when she heard someone knocking on her front door. "Who is it?" she called out, not taking her eyes off the page.

"It's me, Ethel. I mean it's me, it's Agnes," a muffled voice answered.

"Oh, Agnes, it's unlocked, come in," Ethel said, scanning the last two paragraphs on the page then tossing the book on the kitchen counter. 

"Ethel!" Agnes cried out as she came through the door, "Why aren't you ready yet?"

"Ready for what?" Ethel asked, unconsciously patting at her short bob. 

"Today is election day," Agnes said, pursing her lips in annoyance. "You're going senile, Ethel. It's a wonder you don't forget where your nose is."

"Oh that," Ethel scoffed. "I knew you'd come get me when it was time so I didn't worry myself with setting a date in my head."

"Well I'm here," Agnes said, "now let's get going. Everyone in the unit is going together and we have coordinated with the other units to make sure our turnout is as high as it can be - well, except for Doris in number 3, she had a fall this morning; and Elmer in 45, his horrible daughter already mailed in his ballot - but the rest of us will all be there, voting as a block."

While Agnes chittered on Ethel grabbed her cardigan and then the two went out to catch the shuttle waiting on the palm-lined street outside. The shuttle was nearly full by the time they got on, but they were able to find a seat together near the front. 

As the shuttle started down the road, a plump woman in her early 80's stood up at the front of the bus. This wasn't particularly noteworthy as the average age of the people on the shuttle was 79. 

"Hello, everyone," the woman said to her fellow riders. "My name is Phyllis, you might know me. Anyway, did everyone get a copy of their voting card as they got on the shuttle?"

She held up a card with large-font instructions printed on both sides.

"That's just wonderful," she said with a cheery smile as everyone nodded and held up their cards. "Anyway, you all know what to do," she continued. "For many of us, this might be our last election, or one of our last, so this is why we all vote together; together our votes have more power, together we can really make things happen." She held up her card as if looking over the instructions, then turned back to the people on the shuttle. "Anyway, when you vote, just follow the instructions on this card to the T. This is the state-wide platform that we all agreed upon, a platform that will mess things up for future generations as much as possible. It will take these kids decades to untangle the mess that we will be leaving behind for them. We can't live forever, but by voting together, we can ruin things for everyone else long after we are all dead and well into the future. And the best part is, none of us will be alive to have to deal with the consequences!"

At that, the entire shuttle erupted in cheers and laughter. Agnes turned to Ethel and nudged her with her elbow. "I just love this," she said. "I just love shitting the bed for these future generations."

"Agnes!" Ethel gasped with mock horror. "Language, please!"

Both woman burst into wild laughter.