Laughter was rare. Funniness was considered unique, and thus, if the people laughed, everyone laughed because everyone was being funny. No one wanted to be considered unique, or have one of their close acquaintences be labeled "unique" either.
It was hard to explain, that forced funniness that wasn't actually funny at all, just a sickening choking feeling of laughter that wasn't happy.
Amy had never understood it, she had only known that she had to laugh when others did. Her face itched under her mask and she squirmed uncomfortably.
Strange, no one else had that problem. She had never seen anyone squirm or scratch underneath their masks, as she did so often.
Her guardian admonished her, saying, "Your mask is for your own, for the sameness of the people." But she had looked scared when she said it.
And then there was the matter of Amy's hair. It was a deep red, like the sky at sunset when the Council deceided tomorrow would be a fair day.
When the sun shone on it, golden strands were illuminated in the bright light, unlike everyone else's mouse brown hair that gleamed dully.
Amy had asked why she was different, and had been told simply that "no one knows. You were born normal, and your hair changed color suddenly, along with your eyes."
The elders had decided three years ago that Amy was to be allowed full citizenship in the community, despite her oddities, but her seed could not be used for another child, lest the "bad blood" be passed on to another generation.
Amy could care less whether her DNA was saved for the next generation. Her female guardian told her it was a rather painful process, involving needles into the stomach and lots of blood.
Someone next to her began laughing and Amy joined in, hating the dullness of it all. The adult in front of the room laughed too and then rapped on the electronic desk with her knuckles.
"Minors!"
The laughter ceased abruptly and the room went still. Amy fidgeted, bored by the lesson on Daily Life in The Community.
As if she didn't know what daily life was like . . . boring.
Get up, go to learning center for a period, to eating center for the first meal, go back to learning center, repeat until curfew, and then bedtime.
The boy next to Amy shifted in his seat uncomfortably. Amy was surprised, no one besides her ever seemed restless.
"Please pay attention, minors." The adult said, using the formal term for children who were too old to be called children-past puberty-but not yet old enough to be called adults.
To be called an adult you had to take place in a special ceremony that was secret, reserved, and hidden, although everyone knew it had something to do with your mask.
As soon as class let out that day, the fidgeting boy came up to Amy. "Want to go to the studying edifice with me?"
Amy blinked. "What's an edifice?"
The boy had beautiful amber eyes with a stirring of melted gold in the middle. They were beautiful. They were unique. They were forbidden.
"Edifice." He recited. "A structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permenantly in one place."
Amy blinked, which was the only emotion her mask allowed. "Where'd you learn that? I've never heard anyone use such . . . unusual words."
Unusual. That was also forbidden.
"The learning building. You know, the library."
"A library?"
"Yeah, it's filled with books. Lots of books, about before the Great Destruction, the Rebuilding, and finally, our civilization as it is now, the present."
Amy's curiosity was aroused. If this boy knew so much (she still didn't understand where he could have ever learned a word like edifice.) perhaps he could teach her, and she could have a shot at some of the more desirable positions, such as Instructor, or, Engineer, rather than Laborer or Preparer of Food.
Still though, she knew she would have to be happy with the position the Council assigned to her.
Why, she realized, if she tried hard enough, learned enough from this boy, perhaps she would be assigned permanently to the Council!
"Yes." She said. "I will accompany you to the . . . edifice."
The boy laughed, and Amy joined in, for once feeling as though there was something funny to laugh about.
I know this chapter seems awkward, with the awkward use of the word "edifice" and the other chapters will the same.
It's written oddly intentionally, to illustrate a point which I hope you'll be able to figure out yourself.
This is kind of a test... like to see if my symbolic-ness can be discovered, or if I'm the only one that sees it...
But anyway...
Would you believe I've written and published 175,981 words in the time I've been on here? I just went and checked and my mouth fell open. (less than 25,00 more and I'll be at 200,000!)
Thanks for the beautiful and amazing and heart-touching reviews. (iHeartNYCity... we are going to be great friends... I know it!)
Guest... thank you for pointing that out! I never did think about it that way and I'll go check it out and see about fixing it. :DDD (Also... this reminds me of Giver too!)
Champ, was it really that good? I tried really hard sooo... THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME FEEL AMAZING.
Ruby... like the US eh? I like that... I'm glad you can see that it's going to be symbolic.
Anywayyy...
Toodles!
Addict.
