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Strange "storm" of Computer Glitches Hits Silvertree, Bewildering Residents

Alberobello Developments Go Underway in Silvertree and Alberobello Forest

After several weeks of speculation and debate over the Alberobello Developments, culminating in a Town Council vote which ultimately decided in favor of the developments, work has begun this week in both Silvertree and Alberobello Forest to make the new, modern town promised by Clarence Industries a reality.

Though not without controversy, the planned developments have now been fully embraced by the Town Council, and residents of Silvertree can expect to see new stores, spas, gyms, luxury resorts, and other entertainment venues opening within the next few weeks and months. Although some of company CEO Frank Clarence's plans will take closer to one or two years to fully complete, the face of Silvertree will begin to change very soon; to both the delight and dismay of some townspeople.

According to an informal poll conducted by this news site, by the time the vote was finalized, 53% of town residents were directly opposed to the developments. Despite this relative divide in public opinion, the Town Council has expressed their confidence that their decision best represented the wants and needs of residents. However, there is still no consensus among the people we have spoken to about whether or not these developments will prove to be a good thing for Silvertree's future.

"There's no question; we need these developments if we want to keep Silvertree going," said local small-business owner Rachel Young. "So many people I know have been asking for something like this for a long time. I just hope the Town Council carries on listening, and carries on creating more jobs and giving us more reasons to keep on living here."

Another resident, teacher Greg Vickers, offered a contrasting view:

"The Town Council may think they're helping young people and older workers find jobs, but all they're really doing is making more opportunities to put money in the hands of a big corporation. Expensive spas and resorts will cost residents more than they pay them, and will only benefit those who have enough money to use them in the first place."

You look up from the computer as Arctus nudges her food bowl, doing her best to attract your attention. Giving her an affectionate smile, you go to make sure she has everything she needs—and then, once she's happy and fed and ready to take a nap, you find yourself looking out through the kitchen window as you stretch your arms. The sun is pouring onto the grass, and even if you hadn't already been planning on heading into town today, it would be difficult to resist.

Just for a moment, as you gaze out at the yard, you're struck by a long-forgotten image of your grandma tending to her plants, trimming the tree branches with shears and spreading fertilizer over the ground. You have no doubt that she would be out there right now if she were here at the house; but the thought quickly reminds you that you still don't know when you might see her next. You haven't heard a word from her since last week.

Glancing back at the kitchen table, you can't help but linger on the laptop screen with its headlines blaring out at you—but after a decisive moment, you fold the lid down, and walk straight for the front door. As good as it is to be informed, with only so much time in a day, you'd rather enjoy as much of it as you can away from the news.

Just before you reach the door, however, your eye is caught by the potted plant you put just by the stairs after unpacking all of the old boxes. You're so used to having plants all around you that you might not normally notice it, but this time you happen to see that its long, pointed leaves are starting to turn brown near the ends. You realize that at some point you must have forgotten to water it—or else it just isn't too happy in its current spot. Glancing toward the front door, you think to yourself that you don't have time to find it a new home right now; but you might be able to help it another way.

Putting your hand against the plant's main stem, you close your eyes, focus your breathing, and: