I skate with ease across the sidewalks of Garden Wake, town of everlasting dreams.

That's what they call it, anyway.

I am Layla Woods, fifteen years old and loving it.

The date that flashes on the bank I pass reads January 1st, 240x.

I stop when my ring beeps.

My ring is an invention invented by some dude two hundred years ago, and I don't know if that's accurate, but hey…it works.

Anyway, my ring is an invention called the Trans-Ring, or the TR for short. It's a girl-only model, while the boys get something that resembles an armband.

I press my ring and holograms spring to life.

One of the many monitors reads, One new call. Accept?

"Yes," I say aloud, "Patch me in with video view, please."

The monitor disappears, revealing the face of my mother on the phone.

"Hey, mom, what is it?" I ask.

"About the fireworks, La," Mom says, calling me by my nickname, "They've been cancelled, but you can still look at the sky in the park."

"Thanks, mom," I say, rolling my eyes.

A New Year's without fireworks? You've got to be kidding me.

I notice the sun setting and say, "I'm heading to the park right now. Don't call me unless you need me before…"

"Midnight's the curfew," Mom says, "You know that."

"YES, mother," I say, cutting the connection and sighing.

I love the fireworks of New Year's! Why is it cancelled? Cause some 'psychic' saw the future and determined rainy nights for a week?

I activate my TR and say, "News please."

Headlines pop out in front of me, one explaining that New Year's fireworks was cancelled because of news of overly active EM waves tonight.

So what? It'll mess up the TRs and TAs, sure, but so what? That's just not fair.

I turn off my TR and begin skating to the park.

Overly active EM waves, I wanna know why you're active tonight!