Le Chat Noir and Bank of Tumbolia
The Black Void - Episode 302
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"Excuse me sir. Do you take American dollars here?"
I am at the front counter of a restaurant called Le Chat Noir. The black cat, if I remember my French correctly. It has the feel of a jazz club, especially with the poster stating "Live Jazz Every Night 6-10!" However, at this time of day they're just serving sandwiches and drinks. The man behind the counter gives me a strange look, as if he doesn't understand what I'm saying. I pull a crisp green bill out of the wallet in my shoulder bag. "Dollaires Americains?" I do my best to translate into French. It's probably wrong, though. Not to mention horribly pronounced. "George Washington?" I ask, pointing to the picture on the bill. "Oh no, mademoiselle, I completely understood you the first time." There is a slight hint of a French accent in the man's voice. He laughs. "I am not used to people asking me whether we take real world currency, since we, and every other restaurant I know of, only accept the Tumbolia Citizen's Card." The What-What-What? "What is that?" "Well, what with all this spare change appearing in random places all the time, it's hard to establish a uniform currency. Plus, since different currencies show up in different frequencies on different days, we can't exactly make an exchange rate. So, your money is pretty much worthless here. The Tumbolia Citizen's Card is our way of trying to correct that. The people at the Bank of Tumbolia will figure out about what your money would buy you in the real world and give you the right amount of Tumbolian currency in a debit account. It's the easiest way to run everything, you know. All currency is virtual--no checks to forge, no cash to lose, just a debit card that only you can use." "But I already got one meal at the high school without this card!" I neglect to mention the book. I don't want him to know about that unless he has to. "Oh dear, that is a small problem. The people in the cafeteria are so lazy about checking those cards. Anyway, you should get one. The Citizen's Card also serves as your identification card and library card, and records your medical history. It's a truly amazing piece of technology." "But I only get a little bit of money for this. I'm going to need more soon. And what happens to all the smaller kids that need this card?" "Well, until the senior year of high school, everyone is subsidized either by their parents or by the child care center--we like to not think of it as an orphanage. The senior year, people begin a work-study program so they can begin to learn fiscal responsibility. They then enter this new profession when they graduate, or go to Tumbolia College where they can choose the same or a new one every year." "Wow! Thanks for your help! I'll be back to order after I get the card!" I really am impressed by the help James and the nice French man have given me. Everyone seems so nice here--well, except for the lady in I-Wing, who was more disinterested than anything else. The nearest Bank of Tumbolia branch is across the street. I walk across the street and through the automatic glass sliding doors into the lobby. I enter my name on the sign-in sheet as "Holly Jordan" and put my reason for visit as "Tumbolia Citizen's Card," then sit down in one of the comfy chairs waiting for someone to call my name. After a few minutes, I hear my name called. I go with a woman to a desk. The bronze plate on the desk says her name is Rita Morales and that she once won an Employee of the Month award. "What can I do for you, Miss Jordan?" she asks. "I'm new here, and I was told to come here to get a Tumbolia Citizen's Card." I am surprised by how calm I've been throughout this whole harrowing experience. "That shouldn't be a problem at all. We'll have you fixed up in no time. Just fill out the information on the screen." She gives me some privacy while I complete the form. It takes a few minutes, and I have some questions (for instance, what to put in the 'address' field), but on the whole it's an easy process. "Good, Miss Jordan. Now all we need to do is upload a picture of you. If you'd just smile for the camera here...thank you. Do you have any real-world currency you'd like to deposit?" I give her the $101.46 I find in my shoulder bag. I am told this translates to 67.64 'Tumbos.' I think that's a funny name for a currency. I'm now ready for my card to come out of the printer, and it does. Rita Morales explains all the features of the card, and quickly changes some information as I tell her about having taken the book out of the library. It seems I've now officially checked the book out. I turn to leave, but Rita stops me. "One more thing, dear. Your paperwork cleared at the school, so you're officially in grade twelve now. That means you have to choose a work-study program." I was fearing that. I really don't know what I want to do with my life. "Can I change my program if I decide I absolutely hate it?" I ask Rita. I don't want to be trapped in a job I hate going to. "Of course, but you have to come here to officially quit and re-hire yourself. Any other questions?" I can't think of any at the moment. "Okay then, here seems to be what there are openings for at the moment." I look at the screen and see three jobs that catch my eye. I decide I would like to start off as:
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unknown adventurer
12/11/2004 11:38:19 PM
1648852 episodes viewed since 11/21/2004 7:16:57 PM.