Anchoring

Part 3 • Manager

"First things first, my name is Luke, not Manager of Society."

That's the first thing I tell everyone who works for me. Everyone follows that first order except for my family.
Today, I have five interviews. The job: intern bodyguard. I'm very careful when I have this particular decision. They need to be nice and tough at the same time.

I finally get back to my Pod today. I walk in and my Old Sister, Jasmine and Old Brother, Edward are doing Financials. Currency. Hate it.
"Well, hello, Manager of Society," Edward says.
"I told you. It's Luke," I yell at him, startling both of them.
"Okay. It's a sign of respect, anyways."
"I didn't get The Choice but you did. How dare you tell me what's a sign of respect and what's not," All of the sudden, I get picked up off the ground.
"Stop," My head bodyguard, Garrett, says in his low, calm voice. I begin calming myself down so then my feet get connected back to the floor.
"Let's go into my Sleep Room, Garrett," I turn to look at the other bodyguards and say, "You all can go home. Tomorrow, you don't have to work."

I didn't eat dinner. I didn't welcome my parents home. I didn't get out of my room. I didn't allow Garrett to go home. I didn't do anything but look at the applications for my intern bodyguard. After 5 hours of that, we found Jim, 25 year old who worked for the Official Financials Department for 2 years. Then, was an Official Currency Bank Security Guard for 8 years. I let Garrett off work at 7:25 P.M. Then, I fell asleep a little after that.

Once I was deep into my sleep, I started to have a back flash:

It was my 13th birthday and I was invited to the Chosen Ceremony and The Choice Ceremony. Which was odd, but I obeyed the Council. When I opened the door to the Ceremony Room of The Building, the Council was waiting for my family and I. Once we walked up to the desks, Council Official Pierce said, "We have Chosen you as The Special. Your new name is Manager of Society. Tomorrow you will need to come to The Building again and go to the Job room. We will show you your office and give you your first list of assignments."
"Why me," I ask him.
"Because your test scores were higher than the average Society School Student."

I woke up screaming no. Mother walks into my room.
"What's wrong, Luke," She was the only person in my family who calls me Luke.
"I had a vision."
"About what," She shuts the door and sits on the edge of my bed.
"About how I became Manager of Society."
"Oh," She starts looking at Jim's application, which was right next to her, "Who's Jim?"
"He's going to be my new intern bodyguard. David is going to become a Senior and will retire."
"Oh. Garrett is about to show up so you might want to get some breakfast. Jasmine made cinnamon rolls."

After I ate 4 cinnamon rolls, Garrett shows up at my family's Pod.
"Good morning, Garrett," Mother walks into the kitchen and he asks her, "Mrs. Rays, may I have a cinnamon roll?"
"Yes, Garrett. Just promise to work hard today."
He starts walking towards the stove and says, "Always do, Mrs. Rays."
Mother laughs at Garrett's horrible sarcasm. She always does that. Ever since Garrett became my head bodyguard.
He sits down next to me and asks, "Are you ready to work another fun-filled day as the Manager of Society?"
"Sure, why not," I look at him and he's laughing. I wasn't even trying to be sarcastic.

After eating in silence for an hour, I say, "Garrett, it's time to go to work."
"Okay. Let's go."
We both stand up. Bringing his half-eaten cinnamon roll, Garrett starts going for the door of my family's Pod and I follow him.
"Have a good day, both of you," Mother says when she sees us leave the Pod.