Note From the Author: I wrote this story as a project for my 9th grade
English class. We were to read the short story Harrison Bergeron and
continue to story as if Harrison had not been shot. Harrison Bergeron is a
magnificent story, detailing a frightening future where everyone is equal
in every way, and nobody challenges the way they live, except Harrison
Bergeron. If you haven't read the brilliant short story by Kurt Vonnegut
before, I urge you to do so, and a copy can be found on Yahoo I believe.
The story intrigued me to no end, and thus, with a little bit of typing, Je
Ne Mourrais Pas was born. It's a bit longer than I would have liked, but I
am proud of it none the less. Have a nice day, and I hope you enjoy the
story. (Just a side note, I've just started writing on fanfiction.net and
I'm afraid I haven't totally learned the formatting part of the uploading
section. So please excuse any messy transitions, and I hope that won't
deter you.)
Disclaimer: I do not own the short story "Harrison Bergeron", nor do I own any of the recognizable characters or settings. They are simply the brilliant work of Kurt Vonnegut. I also do not own the title to this story. I borrowed it from a line from one of my favorite fanfiction.net stories. A Maurader's tale known as Forever Alive by Mordred. I strongly suggest that you read her story as well, and I hope she does not mind that I borrowed her sentence.
An Unseen Circumstance
"You have ten seconds to get your handicaps back on!" Diana Moon Glampers shouted to the musicians on stage. The scene around her was devastating. An attempted revolt against her equal world had taken place and now two dead bodies lay on the ground. Harrison Bergeron, a genius with a godlike face that could carry 300 pounds was dead, and with him, his empress. They had ruled the world for five minutes. Now, the Handicapper General Diana Moon Glampers was attempting to squash all future rebellions. She would teach them all a lesson.
"Cut the television connection!" She shouted, and their channel lost power. She directed her loaded gun back at the musicians, who were struggling to replace their handicaps. She nodded in the direction of the two dead bodies. "Let this be a lesson to all, that equality is here to stay! Anyone who dares challenge it may stand up now!" Only one man stood up. A musician in the back by the name of Jonathon Tempers rose quickly from his chair. "Down with equality!" he shouted, and he managed to fiddle out four notes of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" before the poor man's blood mingled with that on the floor. No one else rose.
Diana smirked. She had been worried for a brief period, but now all order was restored. Her world of equality returned. Diana called for her H- G men and prepared to leave the TV studio.
"What should we do with the bodies, madam?" one man asked her.
"Leave them. We will loop the video of their deaths and leave their bodies to rot as a warning. Equality is here to stay."
***
Hours passed and eventually the TV studio was empty. All was quiet. The lights were off. There was no movement. Then, a slight quiver came from the back of the room. Something was there.
Harrison Bergeron, the 14-year-old giant slowly sat up. He rubbed his head in pain, trying to comprehend what had happened. He had been dancing, kissing. He was emperor. Then shots, explosions, pain, and darkness. Harrison had been shot with a slug; by all rights he should be dead. Quickly, he eyed his chest and found an empty birdshot bag. When he had ripped off his handicaps in front of the world, he had left one twenty-five pound bag of birdshot draped over his heart, just in case. (A man does not wear giant headphones because he is stupid.) When the Handicapper General had shot him, she had been aiming for his heart, and her aim was good.
1% perception and 99% luck had saved Harrison's life.
When Harrison was shot, the impact of lead on lead had pushed him back in midair. On the way down, he had hit his head on the corner of a table. Unconsciousness had followed.
Now, Harrison sat still, observing his surroundings. No one was around, and it was obviously late. A body of a man lay on the ground next to him and next to that body was...
He rushed over to the empress, her natural beauty still radiating on her pale face. She had not been so lucky. Harrison stroked her hair with his immense hands and spoke.
"You were a wonderful dancer, too beautiful to die..." Harrison balled his hands into large fists and cried out in anger.
Later that evening, two pairs of footsteps reverberated throughout the studio. People were coming! Harrison resumed acting dead, but eavesdropped on their conversation. The two men who entered were in their late thirties and carried no handicaps. They were either close workers of the Handicapper General, or incredibly average.
"She's closing this studio? Why?"
"She doesn't want people to be inspired by that, thing that happened earlier."
"People could get inspired?"
"Of course! Instead, she just wants the video of those two getting shot played over and over. You can't have two different programs on a channel at once!"
"Why not?"
"Well, you just can't!" The rest of the conversation carried on dully, but Harrison took in every word they said. The two nailed up every window and door, sealing the place permanently. When they finally left, Harrison got up again and grinned. The studio was completely closed. No one would bother him. What better place to hide out then the place you "died" in?
***
Harrison passed the time watching the television in the studio. He flipped through the channels, trying to decide what his next move would be.
Click, a perfectly average sports game where no one won.
Click, a debate in which neither side was stronger than the other.
Click, a movie with mediocre actors, playing their part no better than anyone else.
Click, all of this equality was making Harrison sick.
Click, Diana Moon Glampers. Harrison sat up quickly and paid attention to this woman on the screen. She was addressing the nation, explaining what had gone on the day before with Harrison. She spoke as if it was a tragic event, but her point was clear enough. Try what that bozo did and suffer the same fate. Harrison Bergeron's blood boiled just watching her.
Diana had been the one to enact the equality amendments, claiming it was for the good of society. Harrison however detected a more selfish reason. Diana was as average as they came. She had an average intelligence, an average strength, and average looks. She did not have to wear any handicaps. Diana Moon Glampers was the model totalitarian ruler. In order to feel above the people you rule, force those who are better than you down. By making everyone at her level, she would feel more powerful. It was not a matter of equality that made everyone wear handicaps, but rather a vain leader.
This realization hit Harrison hard, and his fists clenched just looking at this woman who had tried to kill him.
"Glampers, mark my words I will stop this madness..." But how could he? He had already tried to overtake the government, and it had almost cost him his life. Harrison began to pace around, thinking. A direct approach had not worked... However, his near-death experience had in a way humbled him. He wasn't willing to rush into things, or force the world all at once. Now he would be sneaky. People thought he was dead, so he could make his plans secretly... This time he would be more careful... This time he would have supporters... This time he would not fail...
Disclaimer: I do not own the short story "Harrison Bergeron", nor do I own any of the recognizable characters or settings. They are simply the brilliant work of Kurt Vonnegut. I also do not own the title to this story. I borrowed it from a line from one of my favorite fanfiction.net stories. A Maurader's tale known as Forever Alive by Mordred. I strongly suggest that you read her story as well, and I hope she does not mind that I borrowed her sentence.
An Unseen Circumstance
"You have ten seconds to get your handicaps back on!" Diana Moon Glampers shouted to the musicians on stage. The scene around her was devastating. An attempted revolt against her equal world had taken place and now two dead bodies lay on the ground. Harrison Bergeron, a genius with a godlike face that could carry 300 pounds was dead, and with him, his empress. They had ruled the world for five minutes. Now, the Handicapper General Diana Moon Glampers was attempting to squash all future rebellions. She would teach them all a lesson.
"Cut the television connection!" She shouted, and their channel lost power. She directed her loaded gun back at the musicians, who were struggling to replace their handicaps. She nodded in the direction of the two dead bodies. "Let this be a lesson to all, that equality is here to stay! Anyone who dares challenge it may stand up now!" Only one man stood up. A musician in the back by the name of Jonathon Tempers rose quickly from his chair. "Down with equality!" he shouted, and he managed to fiddle out four notes of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" before the poor man's blood mingled with that on the floor. No one else rose.
Diana smirked. She had been worried for a brief period, but now all order was restored. Her world of equality returned. Diana called for her H- G men and prepared to leave the TV studio.
"What should we do with the bodies, madam?" one man asked her.
"Leave them. We will loop the video of their deaths and leave their bodies to rot as a warning. Equality is here to stay."
***
Hours passed and eventually the TV studio was empty. All was quiet. The lights were off. There was no movement. Then, a slight quiver came from the back of the room. Something was there.
Harrison Bergeron, the 14-year-old giant slowly sat up. He rubbed his head in pain, trying to comprehend what had happened. He had been dancing, kissing. He was emperor. Then shots, explosions, pain, and darkness. Harrison had been shot with a slug; by all rights he should be dead. Quickly, he eyed his chest and found an empty birdshot bag. When he had ripped off his handicaps in front of the world, he had left one twenty-five pound bag of birdshot draped over his heart, just in case. (A man does not wear giant headphones because he is stupid.) When the Handicapper General had shot him, she had been aiming for his heart, and her aim was good.
1% perception and 99% luck had saved Harrison's life.
When Harrison was shot, the impact of lead on lead had pushed him back in midair. On the way down, he had hit his head on the corner of a table. Unconsciousness had followed.
Now, Harrison sat still, observing his surroundings. No one was around, and it was obviously late. A body of a man lay on the ground next to him and next to that body was...
He rushed over to the empress, her natural beauty still radiating on her pale face. She had not been so lucky. Harrison stroked her hair with his immense hands and spoke.
"You were a wonderful dancer, too beautiful to die..." Harrison balled his hands into large fists and cried out in anger.
Later that evening, two pairs of footsteps reverberated throughout the studio. People were coming! Harrison resumed acting dead, but eavesdropped on their conversation. The two men who entered were in their late thirties and carried no handicaps. They were either close workers of the Handicapper General, or incredibly average.
"She's closing this studio? Why?"
"She doesn't want people to be inspired by that, thing that happened earlier."
"People could get inspired?"
"Of course! Instead, she just wants the video of those two getting shot played over and over. You can't have two different programs on a channel at once!"
"Why not?"
"Well, you just can't!" The rest of the conversation carried on dully, but Harrison took in every word they said. The two nailed up every window and door, sealing the place permanently. When they finally left, Harrison got up again and grinned. The studio was completely closed. No one would bother him. What better place to hide out then the place you "died" in?
***
Harrison passed the time watching the television in the studio. He flipped through the channels, trying to decide what his next move would be.
Click, a perfectly average sports game where no one won.
Click, a debate in which neither side was stronger than the other.
Click, a movie with mediocre actors, playing their part no better than anyone else.
Click, all of this equality was making Harrison sick.
Click, Diana Moon Glampers. Harrison sat up quickly and paid attention to this woman on the screen. She was addressing the nation, explaining what had gone on the day before with Harrison. She spoke as if it was a tragic event, but her point was clear enough. Try what that bozo did and suffer the same fate. Harrison Bergeron's blood boiled just watching her.
Diana had been the one to enact the equality amendments, claiming it was for the good of society. Harrison however detected a more selfish reason. Diana was as average as they came. She had an average intelligence, an average strength, and average looks. She did not have to wear any handicaps. Diana Moon Glampers was the model totalitarian ruler. In order to feel above the people you rule, force those who are better than you down. By making everyone at her level, she would feel more powerful. It was not a matter of equality that made everyone wear handicaps, but rather a vain leader.
This realization hit Harrison hard, and his fists clenched just looking at this woman who had tried to kill him.
"Glampers, mark my words I will stop this madness..." But how could he? He had already tried to overtake the government, and it had almost cost him his life. Harrison began to pace around, thinking. A direct approach had not worked... However, his near-death experience had in a way humbled him. He wasn't willing to rush into things, or force the world all at once. Now he would be sneaky. People thought he was dead, so he could make his plans secretly... This time he would be more careful... This time he would have supporters... This time he would not fail...