Chapter 260
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There seemed something hopeful about sending children to their first day of school. On Tuesday September 4th thirty sector children boarded the bus for school. Accompanied by sector guards and loyalist soldiers they left the sector. There were angry voices. Some within the sector were upset. They felt that Mason's people were taking their children away, teaching them corrupt values. This pilot program required parental consent, thirty chosen out of hundreds of applicants. But even those who weren't participating feared their children would soon be forced into this. Even from her side of the wall Eve could hear angry shouts from the other side of the wall. These loyalists didn't want their children going to school with "Those people." This was discouraging. Still, Eve believed it was somewhat hopeful to see these kids go to an outside school for the first time.
Three years ago September was a somewhat mixed blessing. The summer heat was finally dying down. Not too hot, but not with the cold of winter either. But it also meant having to go back to school. This year September meant other things to Eve. It was sad to think she might be done with school. She hoped to get her highschool diploma one day, if there was enough time. It would be getting cold soon. By the time it got warm again, almost impact. With less than 11 months it kept occurring to Eve that she was experiencing the last days. Yesterday was the last labor day, soon the last autumnal equinox, last halloween, and so forth. George Stalin Mason was addressing the nation tonight. Eve would listen. But right now, she wanted to enjoy one of the last late night summer evenings of planet Earth.
When Eve returned to her apartment this night the sector police were searching the place for contraband. Julia was just standing in the corner, watching tv. Random searchings were common, it seemed unlikely there was any particular reason. The police found Julia's ciggarettes, Eve's candy. The girls claimed they lost the official receipts. The police knew they'd obtained these things on the black market. They helped themselves to a few of these things, and left. Their stealing was common. They only arrested people for having weapons or large amounts of radical propoganda. Eve and Julia were getting used to this, just another un-pleasant part of the current world. After the guards left Eve and Julia sat down to watch the president's speech.
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Mason: My fellow Americans, today we have reached an important stage in reconstruction. Children, from kindergarden to 8th grade, from both loyalist and collective families, began attending school together. This has not been without resistance. Some parents refused to allow their children to attend these integrated schools, and have begun home-schooling. Other, more extreme elements, have even threatened violence against these children. All over the country, the images of armed soldiers standing guard outside elementary schools, have already become common sights. Loyalist soldiers and sector guards have been working together to protect these schools, these children, from violence. Whatever political differences we have we all want to keep our children safe, and give them a better world than we ourselves have had, winning what satisfaction and happiness for ourselves we can along the way. It is my hope to expand this program next year. I have every confidence that the asteroid will be stopped. History will remember this day as the first important moment in our reconciliation. One giant leap towards the day when we can all become neighbors and countrymen again.