Bliss

2 - Ingrid

"Ingrid!" I hear Maya calling from somewhere downstairs.

Slowly, I open my right eye. I turn to the right towards the window, and squint, even though barely any light is shining through. Then, I close my eye, resuming my peaceful relaxation just before I have to get to work. I shiver, already knowing it's a breezy day today. The sun is hidden from the clouds, which is very unusual.We don't have a heater, the wind easily intrudes from the outside into our house.

Maya calls for my name again. I rest on my back. My bed is cold, but the sheets are warm. It's better compared to the couch that I will sleep in tomorrow. Since soldiers are going to be stationed into our house a little after noon, they will surely take this bed. They are actually coming. Coming home from war. I am not as nervous as I was before, and this time I am ready to do whatever

"Ingrid!" the old woman yells again, a little louder. Both eyes open. Her voice is hoarse and old, but it's as smooth as chocolate. Then again, I don't remember what chocolate looks like. I was only seven when my teacher let me have the first bit of it. Of course, we don't have too much anymore. It was outlawed when I was eight. Treats can lead to obesity and there isn't anyone slightly obese in our city. But I remember chocolate tastes sweet and nothing like I've tried before.

I get up from my small bed, a bottom bunk, and make it as neat as possible. I look around for any sign of messiness. It is unacceptable for soldiers coming into a messy home. You only make the mistake once. I change out of my white nightgown and into jeans. I also put on a gray sweater and navy blue sneakers. I put my brown hair into a nice and neat bun towards the top of my head. I glance at myself in the mirror, but not for too long.

Maya always serves pineapple on Mondays. Even for me, it isn't too much of a breakfast. But knowing the rules, you must have exact amount of food per meal to remain healthy. I brush my teeth and wash my face in our small bathroom and then step downstairs into the kitchen. Maya wipes the counter top with her frail, old hands.

"Good day," she tells me.

"Good day to you too," I say giving her a closed-mouthed smile. I open the cupboard and look for the canned pineapple.

"Finally someone uses her manners," Maya mumbles and I give a slight laugh.

"What did Sky do this time?" I ask, looking the cupboard. There is no canned pineapple, so I grab canned peaches instead.

"Oh, nothing," says Maya. "Just that girl always has her head in the clouds." Maya always uses such strange phrases. I'm used to them by now. "And as for you, Ingrid, you have a good head on your shoulders." I usually guess that's a compliment. Since she's around eighty five, she has really old expressions.

"And as for you, Ingrid, you always use your manners."

I suppose so. I open the can and start eating the soggy peaches with my fingers to tease Maya. Maya smiles and hits me lightly with a napkin to clean up the juicy mess. Then, she hands me a fork.

"Eat up. You better get a move on, and remember you have to come early today," Maya says. "I've already talked to Sky, but I have to remind you to be on your best behavior." Maya sounds like a teacher, but I know for a fact she is completely right. I nod and give her an assuring smile.

I check the time.

"I'd better go the the mailroom," I say. "I'll be back soon," Maya smiles at me, and I leave the house.

Today isn't as breezy as I thought it would be. It's more warm. The mailroom isn't that far from our house, only a couple of blocks. Instead of taking my bike, which I bought instead of renting like Sky, I walk. Barely anyone is out today. It's arrival day of the soldiers back from protecting our country, and station day since the barracks are full. Only a certain amount of jobs work today, the important ones. Like mine and Sky's. Sky works at a factory, helping with the canned food. Her job is easy and boring, packing canned food into boxes that can be shipped out into our city and soldiers far away.

"Do you realize everything we eat is canned?" Sky asked me a long time ago. I actually didn't think about it. Everything we eat is canned. Canned fruit, vegetables, meat, and beans. The only things we don't have canned, is bread and liquids, and the Sunday meal. Sky says it annoys her, but I don't understand why it's such a big deal. I don't mind.

"Do you ever wonder where it comes from?" Sky's curious voice plays in my head. I did once, but I don't bother to dwell on it anymore. But where does it come from? I don't let my curiosity get the better of me, or else my "head will be in the clouds" like Sky.

I just got this job when I turned eighteen, two months ago. And I actually like it. I know everyone in the city, or at least try to, since I'm the mail girl. I sort and deliver it. Today I only deliver it to the soldiers who will be stationed at 15:00 in the afternoon. I continue to walk on the sidewalk, and I look around at the houses. All the same. Sky told me she dislikes it.

"Do you have to hate everything?" I would ask her when she would complain.

"Yes," she would nod. But what's so bad about it? It's our way of life. Same houses, same amount of food and payment. Same bikes, and basically everything. I don't mind. I asked my teacher when I was little and she gave me this whole speech on why. I remember her words.

"Humans can get greedy," she said. "They always want to be better than everyone else, and that leads to conflict and war. And if everything is the same, everyone is fair and everyone's happy." I believed her.

Even though Sky hates everything, we are still best friends. We were placed in the same house ever since we were little. Despite our differences, we've never been in a fight. Even though fighting and conflict in our community isn't encouraged, people still manage to have small arguments. Though Sky and I never did.

Maya says we're polar opposites, which I believe we are. Sky is sporty since she loves to run, but lately she never does it except in the morning. She's always been calm, and sort of anti-social. Sky's always wanted my job since I'm running around all day.

Sky's rebellious, but only in her mind. Since she's eighteen, she'll have to find a spouse by the time she's around twenty one soon. She would probably get be very beautiful if her eyes weren't so cold. Instead of a sky blue that matches her name, they are an icy dark blue. She's an inch taller than me, and she has long, blonde, silky hair.

I'm not as pretty, but being vain isn't encouraged. My hair is shoulder length, and a little wavy. I mostly wear it up. I have big brownish gray eyes and fair skin. And I guess I am fit, since I walk everyday everywhere.

After a couple of blocks of sameness, I get to the mail room. The city has twenty main buildings. They aren't tall, but they're large. They consist of schools, hospitals, the mailroom, the business building, city hall, and other buildings to use for the arts. All the main buildings are in the center of the city, and outside the buildings are the neighborhoods.

When I get to the mailroom, I am luckily on time.

The mail room consists of five big rooms. Room number one, the sorting room. Room two, printing. Room three, the information room. I don't know what room four and five are for. My job here is only to sort mail and deliver. I should know but I don't. All the rooms are a creme color, and they are extremely neat. I look up at the digital clock above the entrance.

Almost 10:00. I check in, and my boss greets me. Marta, an older woman with bright red hair.

"Ingrid," she says. "Good morning." She's a bit tense today since the soldiers come. The mail department is in strict responsibility to deliver the information and schedules to the soldiers.

"Good morning," I reply. "Should I start to--"

"Ingrid, I have a very serious matter to discuss," Marta says coldly, suddenly. "My office please." I nod slowly. I look around the mailroom. Everyone is busy, rushing everywhere, printing things and putting mail together. I follow Marta towards the small room. My stomach tightens up when I enter her office.