The Ministry of Forgetting (July 2023)

"Where's all this stuff going?"

"See that chute over there?"

"You mean they're gonna trash all this?"

"That's what they said. Everything's gotta go. The whole library."

"Some of them books go way back. Gotta be a lot of history here. Why throw it all away?"

"Don't need it no more. It's a new age. Ministry has to 're-invent itself.' Gotta leave the past in the past."

"That's nuts! So, all the money—tax money from mooks like us—it took to write them books is gonna go straight to the dump?"

"At least they're not incinerating the lot. 'Bad optics,' I heard. Ministry of Education burning books—wouldn't look good."

"Musta cost a fortune to pay people to write this stuff. I hear the salaries here are six figures."

"That's what everybody says. You know, my old dad told me to get a government job like this. Told me, 'Son, you'd never have to work another day in your life.' That's what he said."

"Yeah, but you couldn't do a job where all you do is stand around—"

"Mostly sit around and talk about working but never actually do anything."

"And if you do do something, like write one of them books, it gets chucked out the window one day."

"You read the papers. They don't need folks to write stuff no more. Computers are gonna do that. They say it'll be a whole lot cheaper ... and just as good. Lotsa white collar folks'll be looking for work then."

"Yeah, I've read about that. That's why I'm telling my kids to get a trade. Not like their old man—a real trade. Work with your hands. Plumber, electrician, carpenter. It'll take a lot longer for the robots to replace guys like that."

"Think so? What about robot factories? My car was assembled by machines. You've seen my car. It's not exactly new."

"I hope you're wrong. Otherwise, you know what? I wouldna had kids."

"That may be coming."

"I'm afraid THAT'LL be up to my kids ... or grandkids. Not much of an inheritance is it?"

"Hey, break's over. Let's get back to it. Floor's gotta be completely empty by five. Overnight crew's starting construction tonight."

"I think I'll take one of them books. Look! This one's from 1867. Still in good condition. Like it's never been opened."

"Keep it as a souvenir."

"Might be worth something someday. You think?"