Trumperica

Outside Opportunities

Rylee's POV

"Surprise, surprise, you useless pieces of filth!" Dr. Powers jeered from the middle of the Camp. "Today's Outside Opportunities announcement day! You get five more minutes of lunch break! Come get your food!" 

"Yes!" Julie smiled as we hauled out pots of Glop to the dining area, giving them to a Moderate worker. "I hope Kevin's plan worked," she smiled. 

"I guess we'll see," I said as the camp Director stepped up to a crude wooden podium. 

"Okay, time for the announcement of the list!" 

The Lowlies cheered loudly, I could tell that Outside Opportunities meant a lot to them. 

"Julie Zedd!" Dr. Powers yelled, and I cheered, patting Julie on the back as she happily skipped up to the podium. Kevin's plan was working!

"Cameron Walters!" 

Applause echoed from a table in the corner as a boy who looked about a year older than me walked up beside Julie, a grin plastered on his face. 

"April Spring!" 

"Yay! April!" Julie yelled from the front, high-fiving her as she arrived. 

"Roland Earl!" 

"Whoo! Roland!" Steve, Kevin, Rick, and Indie cheered boisterously as their friend ran up beside Dr. Powers. 

"Rylee Stone!" 

"Yes!" I gave Kevin a nod of gratitude and went up to stand beside my friends. 

"And finally, last but not least, Deanna Olson!" 

"Yay! Dee!" I gave her a thumbs up as she rose from her seat, yet she returned it with a deathly glare. She walked up silently, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, in total contrast to the excited steps of the other Lowlies chosen for Outside Opportunities. 

What was wrong?

"Congratulations to this month's six Outside Opportunities participants," Dr. Powers smiled. "You will go about the rest of today's activities normally, but you'll meet me in front of my building tomorrow."

"Yes! We're gonna be outta here!" I high fived my friends. 

"In a body bag," Dee hissed. 

"What do you mean?" April gasped. 

"I was going to wait until you got used to camp life to tell you this, but since you got selected this month, I have no choice." 

"What is it?" Julie asked. 

"Outside Opportunities isn't escape, it's a death sentence." 

"Kevin tricked us!" I flared my nostrils with rage. 

"No, Kevin was genuinely trying to help you guys," said Dee. "He doesn't know. Only I do. I didn't tell anyone when I found out, not even David. The government of Trumperica gives Lowly Camps minimal funds, and by minimal, I mean minimal. There's just no possible way they can afford to feed all the millions of Lowlies in Trumperica." 

"So...? What does that have to do with Outside Opportunities?" 

"Since the Trumpists are too...er..important and amazing, to spare even a small percentage of their budget for us," she gestured to her Cardex, "they came up with a repulsive plan to get us all fed. Outside Opportunities. What do you think the little chunks of meat in the Glop you ate for breakfast today are?" 

"Um...horse?" April raised an eyebrow. 

"No!" Dee hissed. "They're last month's Outside Opportunities kids!"