This interview was one of the most humiliating, worse experiences of my life- far none. The room was eerily quiet when we entered. These three older men wearing the most expensive suits I'd ever seen were all seated already and studying their clipboards. Their heads simultaneously lifted the moment we arrived, and they were immediately glowering.
As they flipped through their papers, a butler promptly came over to take Loid's and my coat. Loid didn't say anything, but I made the unfortunate blunder to mention "thank you". This earned another leer from the men, reprimanding me as if I'd broken some unspoken social etiquette. I grimaced internally as one of the men flipped to a final page on his clipboard. "Member K-212?" He inquired in a deep, DEEP tone. Loid's head gave a single elegant nod. "Yes, sir." "Hmmmmmm," the first guy began to write something down while the other two continued to glare at me. One of them stuck his fat forefinger up in my direction.
"Is she even allowed to be on the property?" The second guy sneered rudely. The third guy sighed, dropping his shoulders a little. "Under normal circumstances, no. But since she is married to a party member and it's only an interview, I suppose it's permitted for the time being." "Nugh," the second man ran his board hand across his face, clearly displeased. "Let's just get this over with," the first man muttered to himself before motioning to two cushiony chairs behind us with his hand. "Please have a seat," we were told.
My husband and I instantly sat down, with Loid folding his hands calmly in front of him and me bunching up my hands together nervously on my lap. This was worse than being called into the boss's office when I was working.
The men all looked at their paperwork for a few minutes, taking their sweet time to officially start the interview. When they finally did, they turned to Loid first. "It says here on your file, Mr. Forger, that you are a government psychiatrist. Is that correct?" "Yes, sir. My practice is at Berlint General Hospital. I've been stationed there since graduating from medical school." "Hmmmmm, at the University of Berlint?" "Yes, sir." "Funded?" "Of course, sir. I received the National Unity Party psychiatry scholarship with the understanding that I would work where directed after I graduate." I kept my mouth shut this whole time but discreetly side-eyed Loid in amazement. He was handling these questions so well! No stuttering or stammering. It's like he anticipated what they were going to ask, he was that good. I wish I sounded so confident….
The three men nodded and turned back to their clipboards. The third man brought his finger up under his lip contemplatively. "That scholarship is very competitive. You must have been the top of your class to have won it, Mr. Forger." The second man tisked unimpressed. "But he's still merely a psychiatrist. There's the question of prestige and income. We make more in a year than he'll make in his lifetime," uh, my husband's sitting right here, I inwardly frowned. Talk about rude! And these bigwigs are always going on about us paupers having no class. They didn't care if Loid was insulted or not!
The third guy nodded his head again in a thoughtful manner. "True, but his salary is still more than ninety percent of Ostanian citizens, which is considerable in of itself. He'll never be at our level, granted, but it is a remarkably high level as is." "Let's continue with the interview, gentlemen," the first guy told them before shifting his attention back onto us.
"So why do you want to join our club, Mr. Forger? I can't imagine a man in your profession has much free time for such…. luxuries," his lips lingered on the last word, making me a little sick. Loid's back arched to full attention as if he was expecting this question to come quite soon. "Sir, it is my adamant desire to become more well acquainted with the top members of the National Unity Party. This is not for my benefit, nor the benefit of my wife. My sole intention is to learn more about the most valuable men and women in this country. Every member here is invaluable and irreplaceable, not just to the party but this nation's progress, cohesion, and security. Without the National Unity Party, Ostania would be at a loss and left to the mercy of those warlords in Westalis."
Now, I knew Loid well enough to know that he was lying through his teeth. He obviously didn't believe a word of it. But I was also understood that you wouldn't know this IF you didn't already know my husband. He spoke wish such sincerely and determination that it would have convinced me the day I met him. And thankfully for us, it seemed like he had convinced the three men opposite it. It was truthfully a disgusting sight to behold. These creeps puffed out their chests and sat there in an aura of grandiose and superiority. Yeah, they ate up every word Loid say because it was easy and convenient for them to do so. They believed him because they want it to be true- the bastards.
The first guy, stifling a satisfied, self-serving grin, cleared his throat. "Admirable words, Mr. Forger. You may not rank as high as us, but you have a clear understanding of the party's hierarchies. Please, continue," ugh, gross! He just wants to hear Loid praise them more, which he will. My darling husband knew how to play these guys like a fiddle, and all without them catching on. Not sure if that speaks to Loid's intelligence…. or their stupidity.
"You ask me why I want to join the Garden of Eden club, sir. It is only so that I may serve my party and country better. By becoming a member of your club, I will have the ability- nay, the privilege- to survey the best and most elite in our society. This rare opportunity will allow me to adjust my psychiatry techniques, so that I may serve and treat any party members as efficiently and quickly as possible. I reiterate: you are the most indispensable citizens of Ostania. Your health and wellbeing must come before all else, lest this nation fall into chaos. I took a pledge when I entered medical school to serve this country to the best of my ability. If I can serve gentlemen and ladies such as yourself, then I am honouring that vow."
Wow! I couldn't believe how eloquently Loid raptured just there. He was so good, he nearly convinced me- nearly. I still knew this was all an act, but a very good one. The men, for their part, all looked like they've been given a shot of opium. You could practically feel the endorphins radiating off them. It was revolting; I'd never seen such self-delusion before. I didn't even know it was possible to be that delusional! These men were sick- they were so wrapped up in their own private, elite bubble that they had no idea what the real world was like or what real people thought of them. It's easy to lie to yourself when you hide away from reality, I guess.
Loid sat back in his seat at this point; I think he was done. The men, all flustered and not-so-secretly overjoyed with him, cleared their throats in union. Then they scribbled more down on Loid's file and beamed up at him with approval.
"That'll do, Mr. Forger; I think we've heard enough. Well, frankly, you are not the kind of man we usually admit into our prestigious club. But, seeing as your intentions are pure and oriented towards better serving the party, I suppose we might make an exception in your case," the first guy announced. The second guy's hand immediately rose in defiance at this. "Hold on, there's still one problem," and his fat finger again pointed sharply my way. "Her," he growled through his teeth. The half-grins on the other two guys' faces instantly soured as they glanced to my side of the room. "Oh yes, the "wife". I almost forgot about you," the first guy groaned. "Perhaps we might admit Mr. Forger exclusively," the third guy suggested but first guy shook his head. "No, it's couples only. He was such a good candidate too….." He let out a sigh.
All three men moved their legs in such a way as to face me directly. This was an intimidation technique, and it was already working. First guy cleared his throat yet again; I think that was their signature gesture.
"Now then, Mrs. Forger. Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but there doesn't seem to be a party file on you. Any idea why that might be?" Uh oh…. "E-Erm! W-Well, I'm not a member of the party…. A registered member, I mean! I whole-heartly support the party in spirit!" That's a lie, though I hope it sounded genuine to them. I doubt I was as good at this as Loid.
The men uniformly scowled. "So I take it that your father wasn't a member either?" "N-Not to my knowledge, no." "You know, I haven't been able to find any files on the Briar family. It's like you don't exist, like the thousands of other peasants in this country," second guy bitterly remarked. I winced; oh boy, here we go. First guy digested what his colleague said, eying me suspiciously and rubbing his forefinger above his chin. "Tell us about your parents. Where are they now?" "U-Uh, well… They're both…. Um, they both died, sir…. Back when I was child." "A child? So I take it then, that you and your brother- she has a brother, yes?" He asked third guy, who nodded. "You and your brother went to a state orphanage?" He finished his question, and I looked down embarrassed. My hands rung together so hard, I thought I might burst a blood vessel.
"N-No, sir. We didn't have the money to go to an orphanage." "You didn't?! Are you telling me that your parents left you with nothing? Just what kind of work did your father do, Mrs. Forger?" "He was uh….. a….. a train driver. He worked for the national rail company his whole life." "A train driver? But the party eliminated all rail workers' benefits and pensions over twenty years ago," second guy stated flatly. My hands balled into tight fists as I stared down at them. "I-I…. I know." I might have only been five years old at the time, but I still remember my mother crying for hours after my father told her. I knew perfectly well what the National Unity Party stripped away from him at his job.
Second guy tisked, scratching something off his clipboard. "A train driver's daughter…. Why are we even having this conversation? This is just a waste of our time." "Now, now, you mustn't be so harsh, James. The poor can't help their situation in life, and you must remember that they are the backbone of this country. Society needs rail workers just like it needs factory workers and mechanics," third guy gently chastised his friend. Second guy scoffed defiantly. "That's all very well and good, but her place is out there with the rest of the indigents; not in our regel club. Really! What are women like her good for anyway?"
"James, how could you say such a thing?! Impoverished women like Mrs. Forger here serve a great purpose in society. Why, without them, who would mother the front-line soldiers?" Second guy unhelpfully explained, making me even more ill. Front-line soldiers?! Seriously?! That's all these freaks think I'm good for? Birthing a bunch of sons they can use as canal fodder?! So my children can die in wars THEY declare? No! Absolutely not! No son of mine will ever fight for any of these people. Never; not while I'm alive. Even Loid was starting to appear visibly uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation now, though I don't blame him for not inferring. There was still a chance he might get in, but obviously without me now. I don't know why they insisted on continuing the interview, though I had the distinct impression it was so they could roast me without consequence. I doubt they had many interactions with "poor people" on a daily basis, after all…
First and second nodded thoughtfully to third guy's explanation. "That's true. But look! She hasn't even accomplished that. She's been married for some time now and hasn't borne any sons to serve Ostania," second guy's finger flung out at me yet again. "Your story doesn't even make sense, Mrs. Forger. If you and your brother didn't go to an orphanage, how did you possibly survive out there on your own?" First guy half-questioned, half-accused me. "He's right. I've heard about girls like you; children turned away by orphanages. Course they mostly end up….." That's when second guy gave me the most disgusted, reviled glare I'd ever seen. It didn't take long for the others to catch on, also grimacing in repulsion.
"Oh I know how you survived." This absolute wave of dread washed over me as I realized what he meant, and for the first time, it was Loid who was confused by the whole affair now. My eyes grew to the size of dinner plates as my mouth shot open to defend myself. "No, I didn't! I worked in factories! I worked as a labourer since I was a child! I never turned to the streets!" And Loid got this sickening look across his face. He believed me- without a doubt he did. He was more appalled that these creeps would accuse me of being a streetwalker, if you catch my drift.
These bastards glared red-hot daggers at me, obviously convinced that I was lying. "You're telling me that you turned down such easy money- that you were in the position to turn it down? Especially when you had a younger brother to care for?" "I didn't! I swear I didn't! I worked for as long as I could to put Yuri through school!" "So you never considered it? Even once?" First guy inquired maliciously. My mouth shot open to say "no", but those two instances in my past flashed through my mind…. Those two damn moments of weakness when Yuri and I were almost starving. Nothing ever happened, thank goodness, but I still considered…..
Oh boy, did that change the atmosphere in the room. They took my reluctance to answer as a silent omission, and they were looking at me now like I was a monster, a creature dragged in off the streets. Second guy even stood up out of his chair to tower over me. "You filthy girl! You're a fallen woman!" "But I never did anything!" "That doesn't matter! The fact that you were willing compromise your morals so unalterably is sinful enough. You're like all those other street urchins, willing to sell your soul for a bit of food and worldly comfort." "But we would have died!" I cried out. "And?! You think that's a good reason to soil yourself, to loosen your morality? No, that's no excuse! Better to die with honour and decrease the surplus population! That's how you can serve your country," his finger rose high in the air like he was giving a sermon. That's when I got mad. Realizing that Loid likely wasn't getting admitted into the club now anyway, I didn't see a reason to hold back anymore. Much to everyone's surprise, I too jumped out of my chair, more than ready to defend myself and the countless other women this party's failed.
"Serve my country? What do you know about serving our country?! I only considered it because there were no social security nets to catch us! I was a child when my parents died! Where did that leave me, and Yuri, and all the other orphans this party conveniently overlooks and ignores?! Even if I did turn to the streets, I wouldn't have compromised my morals. Everything I did was for my brother- everything! If I did so, it would have been for him!" The men all gawked at me a moment in shock; I doubt anyone had ever spoken back to them like that before. But second guy puffed up his chest soon enough to yell at me some more. I did notice that his big hands were clenched into fists now; something about me standing up to him seriously irked him. Good!
"You little whore. It's women like you who are bringing this country to ruin! Your immorality is like a virus, spreading across the nation!" "There's nothing immoral about it! Those are good women who do what they can to help their families survive!" I screamed in his face, shutting my eyes for a minute. Second man looked like he was about to blow his top, but to my surprise, he paused for a second to take in some deep breaths. When he spoke again, his tone was much quieter and frosty. I'd never seen anyone look at me the way he did in that moment; his eyes filled with nothing but hatred. Pure, unadulterated, ample loathing. He took another long inhale, and it's like we were all dreading to hear his reply- even his friends. His eyes narrowed dangerously onto me. "There is nothing good about you, Mrs. Forger."
Out of nowhere, a fist suddenly went flying through the air. It made contact with second guy's cheek with such a force as to send him hurling back into his chair. He landed against the chair and fell back onto the ground as it swung with the impact. We all stood there speechless, ogling the man as he was now nearly unconscious on the floor. The only one who was audibly exhaling was Loid, the man who'd thrown the punch. The was breathing VERY heavily and glaring daggers at the guy.
"How dare you?! If you ever speak to her like that again I'll ripe your bloody jaw off!" Loid shouted at the top of his lungs. This stunned and scared the other two men, who were cautiously backing away from Loid now. I wasn't afraid and took a step towards my husband. He flinched as my hand lifted up to rest on his shoulder, and he blinked wildly at him; his own expression one of stun. "Loid? It's ok…." I cooed, keeping my hand in place. His lips flapped a little, like he hadn't realized what he'd just done; it was like he was in a rage-induced daze. "M-Mrs. Forger…?" He trembled slightly, his eyes now locked onto mine.
Third guy hurriedly rang a bell while first guy pointed directly at us from across the room now. "Get out! You two, leave the premises this instant!" "I'm calling security!" Third guy proclaimed. The shimmer in Loid's eyes revealed one of panic, like he was just starting to realize what this meant for his career- and likely his and my life. As he turned to glance back at the two terrified men, I kept my stare solely on my husband. I took a step towards him this time, taking hold of his arm with both hands. "Loid," I said with calmness, anxious to help in any way I could.
Before anything else could happen however, a brand-new voice bellowed from down the hallway. It was so loud that we could hear it with the door closed, and these were thick wooden doors. All of a sudden, both doors burst open with ample force. A presence revealed himself underneath the doorway, and he did NOT appear happy. "What is the meaning of this?!" He thundered.
All of us blinked to see the finely dressed man standing there.