Wire Fence

Chapter 2 - Breaking Rules

-- This chapter does contain some offensive and/or triggering language. --

Chapter 2 -

"Momma, Dawai told Elyse tha-that she was pretty," Pilot said slowly and breathlessly, the way six-year-olds usually spoke when they were over-excited about something. "Momma, what does that mean? Is the Leader gonna have Dawai marry Elyse?"

"Pilot, don't talk nonsense. Elyse and Dawai aren't allowed to talk, so I don't know where he found the time to flatter you sister. And, anyway, the Leader doesn't pair two people who compliment one-another. He wants us to learn how to cope with people we wouldn't want to spend a lifetime with," Mother responded the way an annoyed and stressed mother of three usually did. She was the only woman in Alridy who had less than five kids. We were a rare sort of family, and we were usually judged for it. The Leader wasn't very happy with us either, and told Mother that with each month she wasn't pregnant, her food rations would be cut. Although he hasn't kept his word completely, we still weren't receiving the same amount of food as everyone else in Alridy.

"Uh-uh! Elyse told me Momma! She was in the bedroom, all happy, and she told me that Dawai said she was bee-u-tea-ful! Momma, I really think the Leader is going to grant Elyse and Dawai marriage, and then I'll have a baby brother to play with!"

I laughed at the excitement coming from my little brother, and the cluelessness as to how relatives worked, but there was really nothing to laugh about. Pilot had just revealed my greatest secret, and there was still the possibility that Mother would suddenly come to believe him. Pilot had never lied before, but lies were not uncommon in Alridy. It was one of the most-broken rules within families. I mentally punished myself for allowing my overjoyed heart tell Pilot -- who I assumed would eventually forget the news before the day was over -- about Dawai's simple and potentially meaningless compliment. Not to mention, my mind was still focused on the news Dawai refused to tell me as well. He had never been so serious about anything before, and he looked genuinely frightened.

"Be quiet, Pilot. I don't want you talking about whatever it is you're going on about. And don't go start talking to that man. I told you kids that I didn't want you talking to him," Mother stated, turning around and brushing her flour-coated hands on her apron. "Elyse, make sure Pilot doesn't start talking to the man. And go tell your brother to come down here and set the table."

I pushed away from the counter angrily, my worry suddenly gone, and threw my hands in the air, "Are you serious!? Mom, Pilot is six. I'm pretty sure he can stay away from Dawai on his own!"

"Exactly, he's six. He's my little boy and I don't want that strange man filling his head with lies."

"Dawai doesn't lie, Mom."

Shit.

Mother had turned back to the sink before I had spoken, but now she was facing me once again, and the look in her eye was one that you would see in the eyes of a rapid wolf. It wouldn't take an elder to tell that she was furious. Mother despised it when her children talked back to her, as I'm sure many mothers do, but it was the single thing she would not overlook. She also despised my rule-breaking, but this was not a rule she had created for me; a rule that wouldn't earn much punishment when broken. This was a rule the Leader had created. And that made her that more enraged.

"What do you mean Dawai doesn't lie? How could you possibly know whether Dawai lies or not?" She asked, taking slow, gentle steps towards me. But her whispers came through gritted teeth and each soft step seemed to pound on the floor as she neared. "Elyse, have you been talking to Dawai?"