The Selection

Chapter 15

"WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT OF the United States during the Third World War?" Silvia quizzed us.
This was one I didn't know, and I averted my eyes, hoping Silvia wouldn't call on me. Luckily, Amy raised her hand and answered. "President Wallis."
We were in the Great Room again, starting the week with a history lesson. Well, more like a history test. This was one of those areas where it always seemed that what people knew was varied, both as far as what was fact and just how informed they were. Mom always taught us orally when it came to history. We had pages and worksheets to master for English and math, but when it came to the stories that made up our past, there was very little that I knew for sure was truth. "Correct. President Wallis was the president before the Chinese assault and continued leading the United States throughout the war," Silvia confirmed. I thought the name to myself. Wallis, Wallis, Wallis. I really wanted to remember this to tell May and Gerad when I went home, but we were learning so much, it was hard to keep it all straight. "What was their motivation for invading? Celeste?" She smiled. "Money. The Americans owed them a lot of money and couldn't pay them back."
"Excellent, Celeste." Silvia gave her a doting smile. How did Celeste wrap people around her finger like that? It was so annoying. "When the United States couldn't repay their massive debt, the Chinese invaded. Unfortunately for them, this didn't get them any money, as the United States was beyond bankruptcy. However, it did gain them American labor. And when the Chinese took over, what did they rename the United States?" I raised my hand, along with a few others. "Jenna?" Silvia called. "The American State of China." "Yes. The American State of China had the appearance of its original country, but was merely a facade. The Chinese were pulling strings behind the scenes, influencing any major political happenings, and steering legislation in their favor." Silvia walked through the desks slowly. I felt like a mouse in the sights of a hawk that was circling ever closer. I looked around the room. A few people seemed confused. I thought that part was common knowledge. "Does anyone have anything they'd like to add?" Silvia asked. I piped up. "The Chinese invasion prompted several countries, particularly those in Europe, to align themselves with one another and make alliances." "Yes," Silvia replied. "However, the American State of China had no such friends at the time. It took them five years to regroup, and they could barely handle that, let alone trying to forge alliances." She tried to express the hardship through an exhausted look. "The ASC planned to fight back against China but was then faced with another invasion. What country attempted to occupy the ASC then?" Lots of hands went up this time. "Russia," someone said without waiting to be called on. Silvia looked around for the offender, but couldn't pinpoint the source. "Correct," she said, slightly unhappily. "Russia tried to expand in both directions and failed miserably, but this failure on their part provided the ASC with an opportunity to fight back. How?" Kriss raised her hand and answered. "The entirety of what was North America banded together to fight Russia, since it seemed clear they had their eyes on more than just the ASC. And fighting Russia was easier because China was attacking them as well for attempting to steal their territory." Silvia smiled proudly. "Yes. And who headed up the assault against Russia?"
The whole room shouted out the answer: "Gregory Illea!" Some girls even clapped. Silvia nodded. "And that led to the founding of the country. The alliances the ASC acquired had formed a united front, and the United States's reputation was so damaged, no one wanted to readopt that name. So a new nation was formed under Gregory Illéa's name and leadership. He saved this country." Emmica raised her hand, and Silvia acknowledged her. "In some ways, we're kind of like him. I mean, we get to serve our country. He was just a private citizen who donated his money and knowledge. And he changed everything," she said with wonder. "That is a beautiful point," Silvia said. "And exactly like him, one of you will be elevated to royalty. For Gregory Illéa, he became a king as his family married into a royal family, and for you, it will be marrying into this one." Silvia had moved herself to awe, so when Tuesday raised her hand, it took her a moment to acknowledge it."Umm, why is it that we don't have any of this in a book? So we could study?" There was a hint of irritation in her voice. Silvia shook her head. "Dear girls, history isn't something you study. It's something you should just know." Marlee turned to me and whispered, "But clearly we don't." She smiled at her own joke, and then focused again on Silvia. I thought about that, how we all knew different things or had to guess at the truth. Why weren't we given history books?