The Canadian Empire

IV, The Meeting

Only a year ago, Thomas discovered Kidville in the Library. It was intentionally hushed amid the noise of the Related Cultures section and, to their surprise, was marked by a famous title name: Alden Alexander.

During lessons, whenever someone asked who this ghostly man was, his occupation, and why he bore the same title name as Sir Nick, they were told, "Think of Albert, a genius in theory. He treated polynomials like enchanted sprites; also Nietzsche. He was an engineer, oiling and maintaining his own philosophy. Alden Alexander is an extension of the two, devising ephebenism, an entirely different social and political theory from the past. America – and the entire world – agreed to follow his theory, and here is its outcome. Ephebenism suits our ordered world best."

In the past, Thomas was a Kidism devotee, nearly his entire life engulfed in its propaganda. 'Immorality' – or boredom – was his motivator for borrowing Kidville. Affirming most of his questions and suspicions, it impacted his difference towards the High Council. In Alexander's words, quote, "Here is my prediction. To begin, I will die; whether that is a month, year, or even decades after the Year of Life, only God knows. Two major revolutions will change the world's government system before one day, a questioning member of his society will pick up these books, study its writings, beginning Society's next quest into either light or dark."

Thomas's rebellion, like the desire to poke at a bruise just to feel how much more it may hurt, grew into an avaricious manifestation, not only in mutiny but to also learn the truth. This piece would motivate him to begin his weekly soirées, entertaining only food for thought. Dishes included Huxley, Aurelius, Orwell, Koestler, and Bradbury.

During the meeting, Thomas asked, "Can anyone picture a world where religion is separate from state, its own name did not suggest centralization, and where he, Man, I quote, 'may speak on his own word, without worrying too much about what is right, wrong, or okay?.' From the moment we're conceived until Judgement, have we ever enjoyed the inherent freedoms that result from our sparse likelihood of living instead of having this beautiful thing be labeled as some privilege and wrongly treated as such? To make an example of us of this injustice... almost half of you present still do not know their mothers. We should be given what we are due!"

"You're a traitor, you know," said Ayline Blake, one of the girls present there, a devout Icurisologist. Thomas didn't respond, however, in his mind he rebuked her for mingling amongst them as an active devotee.

"Alright, everyone, strap in! Pray tonight you won't be pulling all-nighters," he humored. "So you all remember that girl who went missing years ago. Charlotte Blackheart? You know.. chick on all those milk cartons during PU lunch hours and the "MISSING KID" billboards posted around Kidville?

"Seriously... Okay, so since childhood, she was very brilliant; did basic algebra and calculus at twelve and entered college at fifteen. Pretty neat for a kid who, as a conspiracist, earned names such as 'stupid' and 'ignorant' by peers for her abandonment of Icurisology.

"So guess what Sir Nick did? He bypassed the law, legally requiring her to undertake another year of schooling until 16, where she'd enter Society at 18."

Their chatter drew to a close after this. Joanne, though she wouldn't like to admit it, was scared of this. Ferris assured her she'd be alright, blooming a short-lived feeling of resolve in her, but soon she couldn't hold things in any longer. She put her hand up, this display of confidence eaten up by the hungry eyes of attendees.

"Joanne right?"

"Mhm."
"..Alright, what's up?!"

"I'm curious as to whether Charlotte's affair with Sir Nick necessarily warrants our attention. If he's simply balanced her years of education to even out things with the less intelligent folk, then your next words must explain the meaning of his action, correct?"

"Correct indeed," Thomas smiled. He indulged in her ignorance, seeing that Joanne didn't know of good showmanship; the host spoke before transitioning into their allegory.

"Alright everyone, so to answer her question, Sir Nick did not intentionally bypass the constitution through his grace for Kidville's subordinates. He feared Charlotte, as until his executive order, for another two years before legally turning 17, she could say and operate as she pleased in and outside of school. She was a major threat to him.

"So before turning eighteen, Charlotte Blackheart was sentenced to Roo—"

"--..m 202," finished his crowd, everyone's faces turning white. Throughout Thomas's history of week-based meetings, he always referenced this place reserved for trouble-making kids. Though Alden Alexander had given names like "Placement 202" and "Room 202," among them, its true location was unknown.

"Room 202, yeah. Alright, so I'm sure many of my guys have heard this before. 17-years are selected in a lottery system, receive three days to study their jobs, then are whisked away. One of fifteen men become Post Guards; one of hundred becomes a parliamentary officer for the High Council; and of two, one enters the Society while the other, shall I put them, must legally 'husband' one of the girls."

Joanne descended into dead silence. Kidville hadn't admonished sexuality then preached the exact opposite for nothing. From what was said, she and Ferris were committing treason.

"But there's more. With only a percentage of women being spoused, and most of their children dying in Society, Kidville demands a wealthy fertility rate from its trouble and strife. That number is five. Five children. After this, women are either assigned as an orphan's 'parents,' enter nursing, or become a governess, but five is the required number. If this cannot be fulfilled, there are alternative sentences."

For a while, Joanne pretended not to notice Ferris's intense gaze on her, instead focusing on Thomas's blue collar. She eventually cracked, whisking around menacingly to shout, "Stop frickin' looking at me like that!"

Startled, Ferris fell from his seat into the grass. "Crap.. all me, Joey. I was zoned out for a sec. You know... seeing how you'd respond after learning..." Guilt stopped him from continuing. "I'm sorry," he said.

"It's fine, dude," she returned sharply. Ferris pressed his thumbs into her palms, warming her tone. What happened next, however, reversed this.