“It’s a wonderful day in our beloved Division as our new comrades and young adults join us in the working field. We can expect sunshine for most of the day with a 60 percent chance of light showers in the late afternoon. With a high of 68 degrees and a low of 54, we know it’ll be a great way to kick off the new working year and welcome our new members. Let’s all take a moment today and congratulate our new peers.
I’m Jackson Fischer, wishing you a spectacular Monday morning.”
Dad smiles into the camera until they give the cue that he’s off the air, letting a scowl replace it right away. “I hate this time of year. Every sector gets purely incompetent children that don’t know what they’re doing for at least a month.” He says, bitterly.
“Thanks for that dad.” I mutter under my breath, knowing that everything I say around him has a consequence. Thank God this is the last time in a long time that I’ll be seeing him. I hate him. I don’t care how many times I hear people say that he’s an amazing person with a real gift in his job. I hate him.
For years I have taken his own hatred at me and at the world and I’ve had to deal with it but now I won’t have to anymore and I am beyond relief.
“What was that?” He asks me, his face flicking over his shoulder to stare daggers into me.
“I didn’t say anything, dad.” I reply, shaking my head after he’d turned away and was unable to see me.
I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for Macy, who’s practically the love of my life. I had come over to her house early in the morning to open her cream colored letter with her and find out what she was to be. To my dismay, the letter read Reporter which meant she would be working alongside my dad as long as they both lived. She’d wanted me to drop her off there before going to my assigned apartment to open my letter and go to my job. I was willing to see good old dad for her, though. She is amazing.
“Well if you have nothing else to bother me with, you should probably go off to work. Thank god I got you that tutor. At least you won’t be a failure.” Dad shakes his head and walks away to get ready for when the commercials are over.
I feel like punching him in the face. I feel like walking over there and strangling him. But what do I do? I turn around, clenching my fists, and walk over to Macy. “Hey, I’m gonna take off now. Don’t want to be late on the first day, you know?” I said, giving her the “what can I do” face and shrugging.
Macy smiles at me and nods, giving me a hug. “Good luck, Sam. Come get me after work and we’ll go celebrate.” She suggested, bright eyed as she steps back from the embrace.
“Okay, my treat. Wherever you wanna go.” I say, rubbing the back of my neck where my mark is, casually. It’s been bothering me lately.
“Italian?” She says.
“Of course. I’ll see you then.” I tell her, pecking her lips before walking out of the building.
