Copyright – Raina Ng
Carolyn was exhausted but satisfied with her efforts. Her floor gleamed; her sink shone. Her table was inviting, with its folksy cover and flowers, and assorted mugs and bottles were arranged appealingly along painted wooden shelves.
The room was perfect. A few odds and ends remained, scattered about, but a kitchen should be alive – the vibrant, nurturing heart of family life. Soft sunlight and distant ocean sounds filtered in through the adjacent hallway.
Stressed-out city workers would pay plenty for a taste of this reality.
Carolyn slipped off her visor and sank into an armchair. ‘Cottage kitchen’ was launched.
*****
I’ve gone way out on a shaky limb with this story. I’m hoping that those who are in the know about realities virtual or alternate can be patient with my blunderings into this unfamiliar technological territory. It’s all I can do to find my way around WordPress and Windows, let alone such adventurings as my research for this story has shown me.
If you have 25 seconds to spare, have a look at this New York commuter who can’t wait to get home to escape his particular version of the rat race.
If you have a minute and a half, this video shows the shopping reality of the future. If there’s a dollar to be harvested from our virtual bank balances, someone will figure out a novel way to do it. Shame it’s never me.
This is another story for Friday Fictioneers, hosted so diligently by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Writers contribute 100 words in response to a weekly photo prompt.
Onto the page 
I think you did fine 🙂 I particularly like the ‘soft’ approach to Virtual Reality you suggest. Most games & applications so far are action oriented & I like the idea of a relaxing VR ‘sea change’. Nice work
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Thank you, KT. I’m encouraged by your feedback. I nearly put in some smells and tactile sensations, after reading that apparently this is possible, or nearly so. It’s quite amazing.
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Nicely done! Did she make a success of it?
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She did. I suspect she’s about to have a very successful career. Thank you for your comment.
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For someone working so hard, I’m sure success will be guaranteed ….
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I guess as long as she taps into what the players want she’ll continue to succeed.
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Very nice virtual reality story!
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Thank you, OnChi.
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Hope it works for her. Great concept.
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Thank you, Patrick. I hope it works for her too.
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Finally some real use of VR.. no dragons or monsters,, but a a quiet country chicken.. wonderful place.
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No dragons or monsters for Carolyn. I hope her potential customers can see the appeal. Thank you for commenting, Bjorn.
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When I first read your story it made no sense to me. Watched the links- the light bulb lit. Wonderful shaky limb you tiptoed on. Well done!!
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I’m so glad you read on, then, and I’m glad you worked it out. Virtual reality is one shaky limb, and avoiding obscurity is another one. It’s quite a balancing act in 100 words. Thanks for commenting, Alicia.
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Dear Margaret,
It sounds to me like she’s found a gold mine. Nicely written.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle. She’s like me – hoping someone out there likes what she creates. Gold mine? That would be lovely.
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Brilliant idea. That can be a business idea even without virtual reality being involved. If people can pay money to breathe oxygen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen_bar) then they can pay money to see a homestyle kitchen. Nice one.
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Wow! I’d never heard of oxygen bars. I’m astounded. It doesn’t sound too safe, actually. So Carolyn’s idea is quite within the bounds of possibility, as you say. Thanks for the interesting link and for commenting, Subroto.
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I’m guessing it will prove very popular. Not all VR has to be about killing zombies!
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Of course it doesn’t. There’s room for some gentleness and peace in there, and in the real world as well. Thanks for your comment.
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It’s a technology I’m not familiar with either but I take it soon I will be able to go on holiday and not have to leave my living room. Wow. You’ve given me food for thought.
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No packing, no dog sitters, no travel chaos – the idea has lots to recommend it. Thanks for reading, Irene.
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Very interesting story that really got me thinking.
The guy on the train looks so weird, but when I’m reading I’m also in a virtual world – it’s just not so obvious (apart from occasionally when I embarrassingly talk back to the book).
I think I do virtual country kitchens all the time – there’s a lunchtime TV programme called Escape to the Country I’m addicted to, so I’m always snooping around other people’s kitchens. I think in the end all this virtual stuff is fine, even beneficial, until it stops being playing and becomes a reality substitute.
Good story!
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Do you really talk back to your books? That’s funny. You’re right – books achieve a great escape into another reality, and probably one that’s much more stimulating and good for the brain than VR. I love your comment about the TV shows – I know the one you mentioned. I also like to watch it, and the ones where they redecorate and transform people’s homes. I’m really glad my story got you thinking and I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for leaving a comment.
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As long as I think of it as Science Fiction it works great. There’s not much reality in virtual reality just yet. “Aesthetic” will have to wait.
I love that the guy in the second video buys the toy even after it’s knocked down the vases. LOL
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Yes – you’re right. What I found when I searched around the internet was pretty much about monsters and super-heroes, with a lot of shooting and crashing. I did see a few stories about the use of VR in surgery, however. That was interesting. The VR shopping concept is mind-boggling. Anything to get us spending with as little effort as possible. Thanks for commenting.
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Oh, the virtual calories that are cooked into the comfort food from that virtual kitchen. I love the relaxing atmosphere. You painted a calming scene. Well done.
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Virtual calories only add virtual inches to the waistline, so that’s a comforting thought. Thanks for your feedback, Russell.
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All the Best for Cottage Kitchen
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Thank you, Gravadee.
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Cool concept.
Are the peanuts in the jar?
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You want peanuts? You get peanuts. Thanks Elephant.
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Nice. As a Sci Fi and Tech geek, I’m very much clued up on the incoming Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and the Samsung Gear VR, so this story is pretty relevant to my head space at the moment. All you need is to stick the smell of freshly baked bread under my nose and it would be perfect.
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I’m so glad you commented, Weltchy, and that my venture into the unfamiliar territory of VR is sufficiently credible. I did read that smell and touch are possible, because I wanted to have some fragrant ocean breezes wafting in through that open door, but I decided against it. I must admit I didn’t think of baking bread, but that would have been fantastic. It’s quite amazing to discover what people are doing out there.
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I love this, Margaret. A kitchen should feel alive. It sounds like a perfect getaway for me. I don’t think I can ever get used to this virtual stuff. It’s the strangest thing, but I’m sure someday it will be “normal.” I’ll never take a vacation that way though. That won’t be the same thing at all! Great story.
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I said a virtual kitchen won’t be the same thing….except for the Cottage Kitchen. It would be a nice place to have a spot of tea and read a book! You should do it, Margaret! Ha ha.
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