Papcio the Dwarf"

 

For several years now, classes aptly titled Information Technology have been offered in high schools throughout the Third Polish Republic. The reason is simple. Computers are slowly permeating every aspect of our lives. These complex devices operate, calculate, archive, and provide entertainment. They are everywhere. Sometimes it's scary to open the refrigerator...

However, the problem lies in our approach to computers. Most people have the false impression of complete control over this machinery. In our daily lives, we don't realize the risks our contact with information technology carries. And believe it or not, it's enormous...

Adam Salicki was born in Łódź in the year of our Lord 1988. In 2004, a computer assigned him to the G. Narutowicz Secondary School No. 2. The family was proud. Although the school was quite a distance from their home, that wasn't a problem. Adaś eagerly awaited the first day of September. He was particularly interested in pursuing an education in Information Technology. After all, he'd had a computer at home for over five years and used it quite often. He walked to his first class a little excited...

***

Adaś pushed open the front door. When he reached the hall, he immediately turned left, straight to the cloakroom. He quickly found his class number on one of the cubicles. There were a few potential classmates inside, but Adam ignored them. He quickly changed into his clothes and was standing in front of the lab. First, computer science. A thrill ran down his spine.

Soon, the professor appeared. He opened the room with a special key, hanging on a "lanyard." The students streamed into the room and took their seats. Adam was assigned to a computer located in the very corner of the room.

After a short organizational lecture, work could finally begin. Adaś leaned slightly over the monitor. The message was clear:

"Norton AntiVirus suggests scanning hard drives for malicious programs."

Our hero froze. Oh, man, this is so bad," he thought. If the professor sees this, he'll think he'll be in the mood for jokes on his first day. He had to take a risk. Without a second thought, he clicked OK.

***

He was awakened by singing. For a moment, he couldn't believe his ears, but when he opened his eyes, his suspicions were confirmed. It was dwarves singing. They were sitting at strange machines with an incredible number of colorful graphs, controls, scanners, printers, and other complex technological tools. The room squealed, buzzed, and scraped. And the dwarves were singing.

They sat in tiny armchairs, facing tiny keyboards, sweeping the floor with their long beards. Some set strange machines in motion and periodically jotted down graphs and readings. All to the rhythm of a lively melody. One of them, clearly the brightest, with the tallest hat and the longest beard, approached the boy and shook his hand.

"Welcome to Papcio Skrzat's computer lab," he said formally, with as much seriousness in his voice as the dwarf could muster.

"Uh, hi. Can you tell me what I'm doing here?" Adam asked.

"What do you mean? You'll be scanning hard drives with us soon," the dwarf replied. "We're just waiting for Papcio's order and then we're on our way.

" "What do you mean? Isn't Norton doing the scanning?" Adam asked, surprised.

The dwarf fell into thought.

"Hey Norton! Are you scanning with us today?" he called.

"Uh... I don't feel like it," a voice from somewhere in the back of the room replied.

"You see. Norton doesn't care..."

Adam couldn't gather his composure. He wasn't allowed to rest, however, because Papcio entered the room. He was a tall, well-built man, around 30-40 years old, with a lush head of hair. His beard wrapped three times around his waist, and the tip trailed far, far away on the ground. Around him was a multitude of giggling elves, playing with the curled locks.

"Hello, my elves!" he shouted, standing in the doorway.

"Hello, bearded king!" they replied.

"Today, my dear elves, I've planned a disk scan for you," he began. "And don't even try to get out, Norton, you naughty elf!" Norton cursed under his breath. "We have this boy here to help us. I brought him in because I think people should finally take an interest in our work. Elves should finally reveal their life-giving, caring work!" The human race will finally appreciate the efforts of the parallel beings and their technological advancement. They probably still think computers are programmed by them." The room roared with laughter.

"Okay, elves. So as not to take up too much of your time, I'll get to the point. Norton's team is going to scan. The rest of you, get back to work!" Several elves ran to the closet, pulled out their spacesuits and flashlights, and ran out of the room. Adaś was among those dragged there.

Adam was shocked. First, they stuffed him into a spacesuit designed for a height of about 120 cm, then they shoved a flashlight into his hand (the only one in the entire team without batteries) and let him go ahead. After hours of wandering through various coils, plates, cables, and various other unusual locations, the elves found the threatened sector.

"Time for you, old man," Norton said, pushing Adaś forward.

Suddenly, a monster jumped around the corner. Three meters tall, its paws tipped with claws, and the remains of half-eaten clusters still protruded from its mouth. The gnomes scurried off to the sides, Norton put on his invisibility cloak, and within seconds he was hurtling towards unknown sectors.

Adam couldn't handle the pressure of the situation. He fainted.

***

This time, the bell woke him up. Terrified, he looked at the monitor.

"Norton AntiVirus found a malicious file. Do you want to delete it?" "

Yeah, Norton found it, right," thought Adaś. Without a word, he headed out of the room. The professor stopped the class for a moment and concluded,

"I hope my cooperation with you will be as successful as with my gnomes."

***

Adaś was the first person in the school's history to apply to be removed from the Information Technology class due to his PC phobia. The fear was so great that he was afraid to pick up a calculator. Psychologists could not determine the exact cause of such a violent illness...

Moral of the story:

I beg you, man, be careful what you click on!

One mistake and you disappear in a few moments.

You will quickly penetrate two equal worlds,

Papa's dwarves will cuddle you to sleep.

The Great Crown Graphomaniac.