It’s a Wonderful Life – 2060
The chapter introduces Juniper Blakely, a 34-year-old man living in the year 2060, and details his structured yet technologically advanced daily life. Juniper uses an implanted pacemaker-like clock to regulate his sleep and follows a routine that includes automated meals, AI-assisted work, and leisure activities like gardening and model train building. He works remotely for Enstro Technologies, fact-checking global news reports and ensuring the accuracy of communication in a world heavily influenced by AI. His wife, Leonder, also works from home, creating pottery that decorates their distinctive home. The chapter explores themes of nostalgia, the challenges of modern technology, and the human need for escape, as Juniper reflects on the complexities of his work and the world’s precarious state. Despite the advancements, he finds solace in his hobbies and fleeting moments of prayer, yearning for a simpler, better life.
It’s a Wonderful Life – 2060
Chapter Eight - It’s a Wonderful Life
In Chapter Eight, Juniper Blakely faces the fallout from his overly ambitious presentation to the Pittsburgh Planning Commission. While his vision for a miniature world centered on Pittsburgh's industrial history initially garners excitement, his premature claim about animated figures from M-Bots backfires, leading to a sharp rebuke from John Sayre, the company's executive director. Juniper's mistake jeopardizes his credibility, alienates his friend, and risks his career. However, a surprising call from Faye Gunther, Executive Director of the Indiana County Tourism Bureau, offers Juniper a chance at redemption. Faye proposes a new project to transform Indiana, Pennsylvania, into a nostalgic recreation of Bedford Falls from It’s a Wonderful Life, blending history and imagination to attract visitors. As Juniper grapples with his misstep, he finds hope in this new opportunity, setting the stage for a fresh chapter in his journey.