Drunk is the New Sober

The City of Alkahaul

Isys Parabulum P.O.V.

"Good morning, Isys!", my mother exclaimed. Her face was sweaty and she looked really tired from the party last night. She leaned in to kiss me on the forehead; her breath smelled of alcohol and cigarettes. I held my breath while she was so close because I didn't like the smell.

I yawned, pushed my long brown hair out of my face and said,"Oh, good morning! How was the party last night?"

Her face brightened. She exclaimed,"Oh it was marvelous! I loved the food they had there. Oh and guess what? The rulers were there! You would've liked it too. I can't wait until it's time for you to start drinking. We will have so much fun!"

Her voice was slurring and it sounded like she was daydreaming, but every morning every adult acted like she was right now. I was used to it. I asked,"Why do you HAVE to drink alcohol after you are thirteen?"

My mother shrugged,"I don't care, it's free and it's fun. Obviously it isn't going to hurt you if the rulers insist on it. I mean, alcohol is good for the soul and it makes everything fun."

I pondered,"What if it did hurt you, but you never noticed? Nah, they wouldn't do that. But would they?" I got a headache every time I thought about that kind of business. I pushed the thoughts aside. I asked,"When is the celebration again?"

She replied,"It's always on the tenth of each month. You were born in April, so you have one more month exact. Today your cousin is going into the Triangle group."

The groups were named from shapes that had the same number of lines as your age. My cousin was turning three, and there are three lines in a triangle. No matter what day you were born, you always celebrate your growth in age on the tenth of the month you were born. I was born on April twentieth, but I celebrate my birthday on the tenth because of the law.

Our community is very organized and the only way to get around the community is the community bus. Unless you want to walk I guess. Bicycles were banned last year, and vehicles that are driven by citizens can be dangerous. You must have special training to become a driver of any vehicle.

I noticed my mom was staring at me. I said,"What?"

She rolled her eyes and replied,"Aren't you excited? This year you will be in the triskaidecagon group. It's the most important one there is, and this year it's the smallest."

The triskaidecagon group was the group that made new laws. They also got to make changes in our little community. Of course, the enneacontagon group and the rulers has to approve them... there were only two members in the enneacontagon group. There weren't going to be any additions for six years either.

I simply said,"Yeah." She glared at me.

"It's a really big deal. You need to find out what you want to change in this place. What should I have done? I should've made wine fountains in everybody's homes, but I wasn't as thoughtful as I am now.", she said.

I thought,"What if I changed the law about alcohol? Nah, that's ridiculous. Hmmm... maybe if I brought back bicycles! Or maybe if weed was restricted... I don't know, but I really want to get rid of alcohol. It's kinda gross..."

I spoke up,"What would happen if we got rid of alcohol?"

My mom's eyes widened,"That's a dumb thought! If we get ridda alcohol, we would be all stupid. Alcohol gives you happiness. It's common sense. Do something good that will help the community. Not ruin it."

I thought,"What if it would help the community though?" I didn't say that out loud, because it would be pointless.

Then my mom said,"Forget about changing that law. It's ridonkeylous."