The Great Plague of Vienna

The Fourth Plate

My father was the first of our household to be summoned to the hospital. On that very morning two JOY enforcers awaited him at the door and the same two returned with him just before noon. There was a particular strangeness about him at supper, it was his new-found inattentive disposition that made me feel so dismayed. Madame Perridone mirrored my own uncertainty as she dressed the table with an apprehensive look. The maid set down a fourth plate, a routine symbol of respect for my late mother. A confused expression encapsulated my father's face.

"For your wife, sir." explained Madame Perridone, noticing the same as I.

"I do not have a wife." replied my father with a careless tone as he began to eat his supper.

"Do you not remember Mama? pray tell us you do!" I questioned, the silverware quivering in my hand.

"Pardon my love, I do not recall."I felt my stomach turn over as my father's clouded eyes met with mine, he seemed to look on through me with a false sense of contempt. I realised at this moment, the horrid and exasperating truth, that he was not my father, but a numb and lifeless version of himself. Madame Perridone reached for my hand, squeezing it in a similar alarmed way. My father's voice startled the both of us as he placed his cold hand on top of ours, "The doctors tell me that you are to be summoned for your treatment tomorrow morning."

"Father I do not wish to go, I fear you are quite unwell as a result of it" I replied shakily, removing my hand from under his, rising to Madame Perridone in search of reassurance.

"Nonsense my love, JOYare ready for you." His fingers claspedaround my wrist pulling me back towards him, the sudden ferocity of his actioncaused me to stumble forward out of fear of my wrist snapping off. My attemptto retaliate in any form failed as his unfazed clouded eyes held me hostage. Drawing me in, baring his teeth,he spat, "Ungratefulness for JOY'sgenerosity will not be tolerated." The familiar words pierced through my skull as iwas forcefully sat back down at the table.