Run ● Jump ● Fly

Run.

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I live in a perfect world. Well, I'm meant to anyway.I live with my mum, dad and my 14 year old brother. We have a perfect age difference- I'm almost exactly 2 years older than him. We live in City 6, a nice quiet place. There are 13 Cities in -(DUNNO)-. I get up, my dark hair scattered across my pillow. As I rench myself out of bed, I walk down the small set of stairs. I enter our Living Space as four packages appear through the Air-Tube. I pick the one up Labbeled clearly withASHLEY S. HARPER. Inside is a plastic container filled with a gloopy mixture. I sigh. Porridge today. As I start eating I look at the second thing contained in the package, a leaflet concluding my daily activities.

Name: ASHLEY S. HARPER | Age: 16 |

City: 68.45AM - Oral Health Check (HEALTH ROOM 9)

9.00AM - History (EDUCATIONAL ROOM 4)

10.00AM - Mathematics and Problem Solving (EDUCATIONAL ROOM 24)

11.00AM - Short Breack (GARDEN 6)

11.45AM - Gym and Physical Education (GYMNASIUM 2)

12.00PM - Lunch (LUNCH ROOM 18)

12.30PM - English and Languages (EDUCATIONAL ROOM 14)

13.30PM - Socialising (SOCIAL AREA 3)

15.00PM - General Skills (GENERAL ROOM 9)

I huff. History at 9.00AM? Not my idea of fun. I finish with my Porridge and I place my container in the Ash-bin. The lid is scanned then the container is burned and taken down a chute. I walk to the stairs and meet my brother, Ross, on his way down stairs. "How's your planner today?" He asks. By the look on my face he knows. "Ah. History." I smile. "You know me too well." I ruffle his hair - he hates that. He mocks slapping me then continues on his way to the Living Space.After a quick shower I jump into my Day-Clothes. Day-Clothes are mass produced clothes free to everyone. Male Day-Clothes are Black trousers, a white shirt with a black tie. On top they wear a light Jacket. Females wear pretty much the same, except they wear a black skirt instead of trouseres. The skirt must sit just above the knee's, no more and no less. If your skirt is too long or too short, you are sent to the EDO (Educational Deputy Office)and you are issued an offical warning. Its not something you want - three of them equal suspension, and 5 gets you a trip to the House.I'm not going to speack about the House.I scoop my dark hair into a messy plait. I have very long hair, and it compliments my semi-tanned skin. I have a slim build, though I am tall and quite muscular. I have a small nose and Bright, Bright blue eyes. My eyes are my best feature - They are bold and forgiving, so I'm told. As for my personality.. I usualy have my head in the clouds. I'm not afraid to fight for what I beleive in, or burn down anything that gets in my way. I guess thats why they call me 'Ash'. I goes with my name too, I suppose.A bell goes in my head to remind me that I'm due in Health Room 9 in quater on an hour. I grap my Day-Sack, and head out for the Air-Train. I call back to my mum and dad. "Bye!". I rush over as the train pulls in weightlessly. I hop on, and grab onto the bars. After a few short minutes I step out onto the school yards.We only have 1 school In city 6. I walk down the Cobbled pathway and enter the building. The building is imaculate - germs spread dissease. In our society, we have cured almost every dissease known to man. Apparantly there was once a dissease called Cancer, and it took them decades to cure it. I've heard that tons of people died from it. Thats the only History I find interesting - about life before Goverment took over. Everything sounds so weird, so sorrowful, so unfair. I've been told that people died at different ages, some before others. There were these things called 'Casual Wear' and people could wear whaterever they wanted. There was also a thing called a 'Shop' where people would give you foods for special paper and round peices of metal called 'Coins.' I just can't imagine it. Everything is fair and proper now. We live to be 100, then we are put to sleep. We all wear Day-Clothes so there is no in-equality. There are no shops to buy things, as we get everything we need anyway. The closest thing we have to a shop is the Market.The market is a secret trading comunity. It's very hard to find a Trader, as trading and selling has been banned in society for four-teen years. To find a Trader, look for someone who carries a breif-case. Then, to wordlessly ask them if they are, hold out your palm. A Trader will draw a circle in it. As trading is difficult and dangerous, you would think that not many people do it. There is the fact that we are issued everything we need, but all precious items are banned, like jewlery, books and orniments. My mother had a ring once, but when they were banned she had it destroyed. Not any people know about trading, as it isn't discussed. Most people keep it within their family, Mother to daughter, Father to son.I loud bell rings and I enter Health Room 9. I stand in the short que as we are inspected. My friend, Anna, walks up behind me."Hi!", she smiles brightly."Hey!", I return with a grin. I like Anna, we are put in alot of the same classes. She is funny and we get along. Though she is almost the opposite of me, she is like a sister. Instead of long dark hair she has medium leanth blonde hair. She has green eyes, and she's quite small, and well built. She has the cutest dimples and she's really smart. I've always wanted a sister, and I guess she is the closest thing I have to one.We smile and chat as the que grows smaller. Finaly we reach the front, and I step up to be examined. First I am weighed. All the information is kept until the end of my examinations, so stress doesn't change any of the outcomes. Next my blood is tested, then my eyes. We are finished off with a final health inspection - How clean my hair, teeth and nails are. I pass to the information collecting are and I sit quietly. Anna walks over and sits beside me as out results are called out. "James Patterson, Avarage weight, Clean blood and Perfect eye-sight. Good Oral Health. You may pass to class."I nervously bite my lip, a habit of mine. I'm next."Ashley Harper, Underweight, Clean blood and Perfect eye-sight. Good Oral Health. Please pass the weight counter as you head to class."I sigh and head over to the counter. I'm not worried, this has happened before. I sit down as the Weight Official raises her eye-brows."So Ashley, how come your sitting infront of me?"Its the same converation every time."I'm a little underweight."She sighs. "Why is that, Ashley?""I don't know."She sighs again. "I've looked through your records - your a sporty one, aren't you?"I nod. "Yes I am, I guess.""I could maybe organise larger meals then?"I nod. Everyone gets a personalised meal, containing everything they need. My meals are normal right now, but larger meals will help to get the Weight Official off my back. "Yeah, that sounds good."She nods and scoops up my documents. "Okay, that can be arranged." We exchange a quick no and I escape the room. Outside I wait on Anna. When she appears she dosen't look happy."What's up?" I ask."Weight. They're cutting down my meals." She sighs. "And more Gym time."I smile sympatheticly. "Oh well then, it can't be that bad. Cheer up." We walk on, into the History Department. Anna is in a different class this morning."See you," she says as we part."Yeah, see you," I smile.I enter the room to see it's already half filled. I take a seat in the middle of the Classroom next to a window. I start to unpack my day sack, taking out a bottle of water and my Electra-pad. As I look up a guy with dark hair slides in next to me."Harper," he says. As soon as the word is out his mouth I know who he is."Fleet," I reply sharply. I look round to find he is grinning. I smile cheeckily. Ross Fleet, my dads best friends son. Ross and I are good friends. He's cheeky, and I guess I like that. He's popular, the kind that goes on alot of dates. He has no intrest in me, but we play a game of annoying eachother."Are you coming round with your dad tonight?" he asks. I shake my head."No, I'm busy," I say. He pouts at my responce."Please? I have something to show you," he says, giving me a mysterious smile."I don't think so, cool guy," I hit back with a slight blush."Aw, your no fun, Harp-" Just as he is about to finish, Mr Nutberg walks in. He is my History teacher, one of the most boring men alive. He walks in, wearing his usualy grey suit. I sigh. here we go.