No Boundries

No Boundaries

By Theresa Chappell

Chapter 1: Warning

Theo stared out across the bridge and past the armed guards who were posted along the boundaries all around the town. One of the guards spotted him and shouted,

“Hey you!!” he sighed, why had he let himself be seen, he would have to go through the whole procedure.

“Yes, sir?” he said. The guard marched over to him and pulled out his record pad.

“State your name please,”

“Theodore Anderson, sir” replied Theo. The guard pressed the green button on his pad and typed in Theodore Anderson.

“You are cleared; please proceed immediately to your dwelling.” The guard pulled a small silver card out from his pocket and handed it to Theo. Theo trudged home slowly, stopping often, against the guard’s orders but he didn’t care, he had done this a million times. When he reached his house, his little twin brother and sister came running out. Tessa looked at the silver card in his hand and then turned and went running into the house yelling at the top of her lungs, “Theo got a warning, Theo got a warning!!” Theo sighed and looked at RJ. His little brother was looking at him expectantly.

“Did you bring me some?” inquired RJ.

“Hear, its strawberry flavor” Theo held out the candy. His brother snatched the red candy from his hand and popped it in his mouth.

“It’s a little sticky because I got…umm, held up” said Theo hesitantly.

“You don’t need to hide it; I know you got the warning from the border guard.”

“You have to promise not to tell anyone!!” said Theo sternly.

“I promise.” Replied RJ. Mary Anderson came out of the house being half pulled by Tessa.

“Mom, Mom, Theo got a warning!!”

“Again!! Theodore Anderson, this is the fifth time this week!! Is there something you’re not telling me??” Theo was shocked; his mother thought he was actually trying to go beyond the borders!!

“Mom, I would never try to go beyond the boundaries!!” His mom sighed then said,

“I know, it’s just that this is the fifth time this week.” Theo handed Mary his card, then entered his house. He walked up the stairs to his room on the top floor. He flopped down on his bed and stared at the collection of silver and gold cards on his dresser. The gold cards were the north side of town and the silver ones were the south side of town. Suddenly the door opened and RJ walked in. His mouth was sticky and stained red from his candy. RJ flopped down on his bed which was across from Theo’s.

“Theo?” asked RJ.

“What?” replied Theo, still staring at his dresser.

“Why were you down by the bridge?”

“I just was looking at the…umm water, ya, I was looking at the water…” said Theo hesitantly.

“Liar!!” shot back RJ.

“Ok, fine, I was just wondering what was beyond the town boundaries and-“

“So Mom was right!!” cut in RJ.

“No she wasn’t!! I’m not planning to try to go beyond the boundaries!!”

“Ok, fine…” replied RJ. Then he got up and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Theo sighed and rolled onto his back. What if his mother called the council this time!! He would have to undergo the questionings like his father had. What if he failed the questioning and got sent away like his father. Finally he got up and slowly crept down the stairs and peered into their dining room. He could see his mother talking on the phone but couldn’t make out what the caller-ID said. Suddenly Tessa popped up beside him. He grabbed her and covered her mouth so she didn’t give away that he was there. She squirmed around, kicking her feet but Theo didn’t let go. He whispered in her ear,