P.S. I thought I ought to say this just in case you didn't realise it. This is a work of fiction. (Unfortunately!) That's why it was posted to TPFICT, and not TPDIS. I can't tell you how tempted I was to post to TPDIS and see what happened!
P.P.S. This is the first piece of fiction that I've posted, but not the first I've written. It came to me late one night last week when I couldn't sleep and I just had to write it down. I'm not normally quite so soppy. I'm not entirely sure what came over me. Maybe it was the lack of sleep.
P.P.P.S. I suppose I should introduce myself, I'm Helen, and I've been lurking on and off for over three years now. I have posted occasionally, but my real life is usually so hectic I don't have the time to do more. However, over Christmas, I have three weeks with nothing to do (bliss), and I hope to be able to finish some of my other stories (of which there are several). What I really need are some Beta readers who might be able to give me a kick up the backside and get things moving again. I write NS fiction, if you're interested.
Dear Friends,
First of all we should apologise for the lateness of this letter, we did plan to send it to you on the list's birthday, but unfortunately time conspired against us.
Many of you have already guessed the truth. Some of you have had the courage to air you suspicions public. A few of your group have discovered that they too are like us, they sit here with us as we write this. They send their love by the way. We are writing this letter because we want everyone to know the truth.
The TV shows are based on reality.
Well, to be more correct, the inspiration for the TV shows came from our situation. We wanted them to be made so that people would have more understanding of us. We have always been aware that one-day the world at large will learn that we exist. We don't know when this will happen, it could be tomorrow, or it maybe in the distant future. We don't know how it will happen, it could be a gradual awareness as more people come into contact with us, or it maybe that it will happen quickly. What we are almost certain of though, is that when the day comes, we could face prejudice, fear, hatred and persecution. It is an unfortunate side of human nature to attack that which is not easily understood. We hoped that by introducing the public to our existence, via the TV shows, we could remove some of the misunderstanding that might arise in the future.
As you might have guessed, the programmes are in actual fact a distorted version of reality. But the essential elements are present. TV was chosen for several reasons. We have friends in the industry who were able to pitch the idea to the right people. So we had access to it. But also, it was a medium where we felt people would receive the message of our existence, many of whom wouldn't read a sci-fi book or magazine.
The aim of the shows was to demonstrate to the public our abilities, and our limitations, that we are the future, not a threat. Until the day comes, we will not know if our experiment has been successful. You, our friends who subscribe to the list, are proof that it has potential. By expanding on our initial ideas, through fanzines, and more recently, the Internet, you have been unwitting carriers of our message. We hope you don't mind too much!
We wanted to write this letter in part to thank you for all the work you have done for us, even if you didn't realise it. We also wanted to encourage you onwards. Every year when renewal time comes around again we suffer days of agony, until the messages of support are posted. To be forgotten is our greatest fear. You carry our message to more people than we alone could reach, you have continued it long after the shows have finished. Every time you force a friend to watch the tapes with you; every time your roommate catches you surreptitiously writing fanfic instead of an essay; every time a stray surfer comes across your web page by accident, you are introducing people to our message. You are making our transition into society a little easier and you are reducing prejudice and hatred. There is hope; the world can be a better place.
For this we thank you,
The Tomorrow People.
END