"Jean!" Casey's voice rings in my ears. We walk to the Beta's changing room together. "What are you doing tonight?"
The cheerful tone in her voice reminds me of how sad my night will be. I swallow half a soma tablet.
"Peter is not free tonight. Now I can only stay at home. I am only 18, and I have to spend a night – alone! Imagine that."
I take off my coat angrily and put it in the laundry. An hour ago an old lady vomited blood on it when I helped her to inject poison into her skin.
"Oh, it must be horrible." Casey says. I am not sure if she is referring to my coat or my night. "Just now an old man was grumpy as well when I turned on the wrong music while I injected the poison. He should have taken soma before he came here."
"Yes." Working in the hospital to inject poison so that the old ones can rest in peace is a way to stabilize our society. But I like my time outside the hospital better – I dislike the smell of chlorine.
"Jean, would you like to have a drink and play Obstacle Golf? Kia is not free tonight."
"Oh, sure." My face lights up in joy. Finally, I have someone to accompany me. I don't have to spend the night, alone, in agony.
We put on our mulberry jackets as we walk to the helicopter, surpassing the Gamma girls. I am so glad that I am not one of them. I am a Beta Minus. If I am a Gamma Plus, everything will be different. I will be one of them – it is horrible! I don't need to work as hard as Alpha does, and I don't need to be slaves like Gamma. Being a Beta Minus is just perfect. "Jean, how lucky you are." I whisper to myself.
The entrance of the golf center lights up in dazzling neon colors. Casey and I walk straight into the bar and order a drink.
"You know, I haven't played Obstacle Golf for almost three weeks. Can you imagine that?" Casey says, rolling her eyes. "Kia always likes to go to bed."
"Casey." I speak cautiously, "Don't you think you spend a bit too much time with Kia? I mean, my dear, you are only 17. You should get another man."
"Maybe." Casey rolls her eyes. "I am not as popular as you, Jean. I am a dirty blonde. I am not like you; I don't have big blue eyes and flowing brown hair. You can get a dozen boys. I can't."
"And none of them is free tonight." I reply, sadly. I swallow another half of the soma tablet.
Casey pats my back, gives me a look of pity, and both of us burst out in laughter.
How happy life is – when you have a friend, Obstacle Golf, a few men (if they are free) – and a gramme of soma!