The Life Act

Ruby

Ch. 2

My earliest memory was as a small child. I can't remember the age exactly but I think it was before I started grade school. Anyways, my mother had taken me into the city away from our farm on our monthly visits to the market. It was our bonding time, full of leisure and excitement.

We made our usual stop at the fruits section to get my favorite food, avocados. Just as reached for a plump one at the top, the entire cart came tumbling down onto my small body. My mother quickly came too my aid making sure I was ok, and I was. Just as we got up and started to help with the avocados scattered everywhere, I learned what true abuse was.

The fruit farmer's wife was in charge of the cart. So when he came around the corner to see what the ruckus was he took matters into his own hands. By the time he was finished with his wife we weren't sure if she was alive or not. My mother payed the man for the rotten fruit and we quickly hurried home.

We didn't go back to the market.

When I got home I had cried my eyes out, not understanding what had happened. My father, a very kind man, cradled me in his arms and explained things to me.

"Shhhh. Ruby, nobody will ever hurt you." He had said to me.

"But father, why did that man hurt that woman? It wasn't her fault," I questioned," it was mine. I didn't mean too."

"Dear Ruby, there are things you won't understand until you are older. And that's ok. Don't worry about it. Everything will be explained in time."

That memory soon left my mind for years. It only came back as I started M.S.W.

That stood for the "Marriage School for Women"

After learning the core basics of knowledge, reading, writing, math, and science, for 7 years we moved on. We went to M.S.W. until we turned 18. It taught us everything from sewing and cooking to how The Contest works.

It was important to go to M.S.W. If you failed The Contest, your fate was nothing but pain.

***

I slammed myself down in my desk. This was bullshit. I didn't deserve this detention. according to the Life Act I could do what ever I wanted. Damn this school. Damn this world. Damn my parents for having me. Most of all, damn Mrs. Perkins.

"Stop pouting Ruby. It's not lady like. And sit up too, no man like a girl that slouches." Mrs. Perkins said.

"This is stupid! Why do you care what I wear to school?"

"Hush! Never raise you voice! You are a lady!" She said with fake shock. Her eye brows rose so high I thought they'd go straight into her hairline.

I rolled my eyes and started to write my paper for History of The Contest. I had been given a detention for wearing pants. It wasn't the fact the I was wearing pants, it was because that certain pair was black.

Rule no.1 at the academy was "Never wear dull colors! It creates a dull personality!"

I however, didn't agree. And because of that I was sitting in that stupid detention room writing my paper.

"Mrs. White you are free to go." Mrs. Perkins finally said.

Great. I stalked out of the class room in a hurry to get going. I had only 2 weeks until my 18 birthday, and I planned to use them well. I half-ran down the hallway to the bathroom. There I met up with the crew.

That's what we called our selfs. By "we" I mean, Cassie, Rebecca, and I. We were the insuperable three. We were best friends since day one when we started out in Mrs. Riches class.

"Took ya long enough! Here put this on." Cassie said.

"Yeah, I know. Mrs. Freakin Perkins wouldn't let me out on time." I said as I yanked off my clothes and put the new ones on.

I looked at my self in the mirror. My long brown hair was still stick straight from the morning. I had on tight black dress that barely covered my ass. Usually I would reject wearing it, but at that point I couldn't care less.

"You look goregous!" Rebecca gushed.

"Thanks! Y'all too!" I said seeing we were all matching."Ready to party it up?"

Hi:)

It's kinda short and I didn't really update like I said I would... But honestly I didn't expect to get any readers.... Oops!

Bye