The Middle

2

The lowerlanders are kept in check by uniforms who sport all white attire (they're hard to miss down here), and the field. The field is kind of like a big bubble that traps us in here. But less pleasant than a bubble. Our president, President M. Morisson tells the citizens of Brighton that the field is for the safety of everyone, to ensure the air is monitored carefully.

The field resides directly under the surface of the earth. It keeps the electricity running throughout the lowerlands. It also projects a sky to comfort the people who will never get to see the real thing, it doesn't comfort me.

In the center of the lowerlands there is a glass elevator. This elevator climbs 50 stories in 3 seconds and takes you to the upperlands. The only people who are authorized to ride this elevator are people who carry a badge with the government seal on it.

The bell buzzes as I take my seat in front of an ordinary desk.
"Okay class, how is everyone doing with preparation for the Ceremony?" Ms. T asks. Everyone continues ruffling through their bags and talking to friends. I'm the only one listening. Ms T notices I'm not in a conversation and targets me: "How about you, Alex?"

"Well, uh," I nervously clear my throat all too loudly and the class goes silent, shit, I think. "Well, I don't know how to study because they don't tell us what were being tested on" A few students snicker and I turn around and shoot them an icy glare that shuts them up. Ms. T doesn't know how to reply to my remark so she dismisses it and moves on to a new subject.

I practically sprint out of the class right as the bell buzzes again. I rush to my lock and press my thumb into the glowing grey outline on a pad. The small door clicks and swings open revealing my 'pile of random shit' as my friends like to call it. It's not a lie, I once found a shoe I was missing for a month in that pile. I suddenly feel an arm around my shoulders and I recognize the long fingers and strong hand immediately.

"Jonathan!" I swing around pulling him in a full embrace, he is twice my size and his body engulfes mine. He laughs a laugh that brings back so many good memories from the last 4 years.

"Hey Al!" he says to me. I latch onto him for a few seconds and then remember.
"How'd it go?" I ask, eager to hear if he got into uniform training or not. I half want him to get in because we both know it'll make his life so much better, but I don't want him to become a brainless government zombie. He looks at the ground and his expression changes.

"Oh. I...I'm sorry Jon." I place a hand on his upper arm attempting to comfort him the best I know how. "Well, uh, there's still the Ceremony. You'll pass. I know you will." He looks up from the ground and his gaze meets my eyes.
"Thanks, Alex." He attempts a smile and I smile back.

At the end of the day me and Jonathan walk towards neighborhood #13 where his house is. His house is considerably larger than mine because his father was a uniform before he died. If he hadn't gotten sick, Jonathan would've been born in the upperlands. Both of our mothers are friends. Not many people in Argo have single parents, it only occurs if one gets sick, which is rare, or another reason that remains a mystery to me.

It's December 31st, that means less than a month until the Ceremony.