The Other World

Chapter 2

"Dad I don't see why we have to move again," Claire whined and folded her arms across her chest as she followed her father around their small, modern-looking house. Her dad was walking around the house, trying to find his work shirt, as the government only supplied each worker with one shirt, and this shirt was to be worn every work day.

"I know I left it somewhere around here," he mumbled as he started rummaging through the pile of dirty clothes in the laundry basket placed in the built-in nook in the hallway leading to the bedrooms.

"DAD ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?" Claire yelled and threw up her arms in exasperation. Jack shuddered, startled by Claire's presence.

"Oh hi honey," he said while pushing his rectangle-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Why are we moving?" Claire asked again, a hint of annoyance began to show in her voice.

"Honey, I have no idea. I just got an e-letter from the housing department saying we were being "relocated" on the twenty-seventh of August. From what I know, Zone 12 is fairly close to the center of the city and the houses there are much bigger than the ones out here," he expressed with a sigh, still looking for that dang shirt.

"Did it have anything to do with tha-"

"Ah ha! I found it!" Jack exclaimed, holding up a simple, gray, collared button up t-shirt, with a few creases and wrinkles from being mushed in between other clothes in the pile. Nothing a little ironing couldn't fix. Claire stared at her father disapprovingly with her dark brown eyes, her mouth set in a frown.

"Oh come on honey! That's all I know! I swear!" Jack raised his arms in playful surrender, dropping the shirt on the floor in the process.

"Well at least listen to me," Claire didn't wait for his response, "Did it have to do with that survey with that creepy lady at the research center?" she continued, "Because that was super shady, like especially when she asked us all of those weird ques-"

"Honey it was a survey, it's supposed to have questions," Claire was interrupted by her dad yet again as he chuckled, but this time Claire knew he did it on purpose, though.

"I know but still, I know the government is up to something," Claire huffed out.

"Stop with that nonse-"

They both were interrupted now, this time by the slam of the door and the beeping of the automatic built-in security system as it locked the door and re-armed the alarm mechanism. They both walked back down the hallway, Jack picking up his work shirt in the process, to find Claire's mom, Jill, putting her stuff from work away and settling down.

     "Hey mom, how was work?" Claire asked as she took her mother in an embrace.

     "Oh it was fine honey, just a normal work day," she said with a sigh, looking very tired. Jill Austin was a petite woman, with dark brown hair, and a heart shaped face. She worked running her own business and this took a toll on her visible appearance. She looked exhausted, with dark circles under her hazel eyes.

Jill kissed Jack on the cheek as she walked to the bathroom to get changed into comfortable clothes. Jack began to prepare dinner from the daily food supply. Ever since the Second Civil War, the food supply was lower than usual, so each household only got a certain amount of food each day. As Jack picked up the bread from the pantry, the door closed and opened again, and the next item appeared, which was cheddar cheese. That was apparently all they were getting, as when the door opened again, the area where new food was to be, was empty except for three small mayonnaise packets. Wow, they couldn't spare a couple more for us. Claire was about to complain, but her father spoke first.

"Honey, I know that look on your face. Don't complain, be grateful we even have bread. Remember when they used to only give us cheese?" Jack scolded. It was true, though. When they lived in New Virginia, they only received cheese some days. Claire snatched up the mayo packets, and realized that they were the government brand, which tasted like liquid cardboard. Claire walked over to their small wooden table that came with the house and threw the packets down in frustration.

"They can't even give us the good brand! I hate the government!," Claire finished with a huff and pulled out a matching wooden chair and sat down. Jack ignored her and went to the counter and began to prepare the sandwiches, just as Jill peeked around the corner in her pajamas.

"Ooooh what are we having tonight?" she questioned, giddy with excitement. Jill Austin was known for radiating happiness wherever she went, even during tough times.

     "We're having cheese sandwiches with mayo," Jack replied.
   
     "Well it's better than just cheese, right?" Jill responded, which Claire got a laugh out of. She thought of her parents and how they were so alike. Jack proceeded to cut the cheese (teehee) and put it on the slices of bread he laid out on the counter. They all grabbed their plates and sat down at the table.

     "So how was your day hon?" Jack asked with a mouthful of bread wedged in his mouth.

     "Oh pretty good. I had this wonderful lady come into the shop and donated 20 dollars! Didn't even buy anything! Ah, you don't see people like that these days."

     Claire found it interesting that her mother, when asked about her day, always replied with a positive event. Never that she had a nasty customer, or that someone spray painted the building. Always something that made her day better.

     They finished devouring their food, and Jack headed to the living room to watch the news, which started at 7 o'clock sharp. Claire decided to watch with him tonight - she had heard that a special announcement was to be broadcast sometime during the show. Claire sat down next to Jack, crossing her legs underneath her. Claire was about to ask her father a question, but the national anthem started to play. Jack waved his hands across his body, shushing Claire.

     "I didn't even say anything..." Claire muttered to herself.

     "Good evening, citizens of America!" the words blared through the house, "This is your president speaking," Mr. Corbett stood in front of the dark brown podium, speaking clearly into the microphone. 

     "I would like to say a few words before the newscast begins. First of all, I would like to congratulate the Vice President, Mr. James Spencer, and his wife, for the birth of their daughter, April. I send my best regards to him and his family, as he can not be here tonight," The live audience clapped in response to this.

     He seemed to ramble on for hours about government things that were apparently more important than the actual news. Claire pushed herself off from the white fluffy sofa and started to walk to her room, but something from the broadcast caught her attention.

     "And now, Mr. Rose will come out and relay a...uh, special message."