This short story is the continuation of Part 1 in our Feb. 5 issue available at: https://thebucampus.ca/2024/02/05/what-will-happen-next-part-1/

By Colin Ahern– Contributor

“But what if something new happens and changes it? Like if another ant blocks a path or something?”

“Then you will already know that will occur because you know how they will intersect. Thankfully for us,” the father tapped the glass, “no new variables are entering or exiting their little universe.”

“So if there’s no randomness, then you can follow everything and see the future?”

“Yes.” The father’s eyes glinted with pride at his son’s understanding. 

The boy’s eyes searched the farm before lighting up with a new revelation. “Does that mean people are the same? Could you predict our futures? Do we have free will?”

Another drawn silence. The boy shifts his weight from one foot to the other. 

“No. There are many problems with applying that to our lives. People are far more intelligent than ants. We have free will. Everytime you make a decision, you exercise free will. Another problem is that our universe is not fixed.”

“Fixed?”

“Yes. Our universe is like the surface of a balloon. It expands and the tension along the surface causes it to spread out.”

“So if you and I stood next to one another for a billion years?”

“We would be very old and very far apart.” The father smiles. “This means that we have new variables entering our reality. The ants don’t have that luck.”

“But… for free will. What if we make choices because of our past and our situation?” A third pause.

The father’s gaze looks up beyond the glass tank, to his lover’s face. Crestfallen, he sends his boy up to his room and starts giving his excuses.