The Apprenticeship

"Avery"

"Sir, can I talk to you?" I ask walking up to Daniels' office.

"Shouldn't you be at lunch?"

"Yes. But, I have a question."

"What is it Avery?"

"Why can't we question society?"

"Avery..."

I cute him off, "Look, I know where you're going with this but, what happened to freedom of speech?"

"It hasn't been around since world war 4, you should know that."

"I get that. I know that. What's wrong with freedom of speech?"

"Avery, we don't talk about this."

"Please, it's not in the archives. I just want to know what happened."

"Avery, you were in the archives?"

"Yes."

"I thought I forbade it."

"You did. But I won't apologize. What happened?"

"You're a rebellious one."

"What's wrong with wanting to know the past?"

"Avery," he finally looks up at me, "You should really learn your place. I don't want to be the one who shows you."

"Mr. Daniels, all do respect, I don't care. I want to know what happened all those years ago."

"Sit down."

"Will you tell me?"

"I said, 'sit down'."

"No."

"Now!" He raises his voice, it scares me at first but, I don't show the fear.

"No."

Daniels stands up, he stand a foot taller than me but, I will stand my ground. He grabs my arms and picks me up, then sets me in the chair. He goes out into the hall.

He returns a few minutes later, I remain sitting. I'm terrified. I'm not going to show it though.

"Avery, you've met Mr. Ganderwal?"

He greets me with a handshake. He sits down in Daniels chair and Daniels stand by the door.

"Avery," Ganderwal says, "I hear you're having some problems."

"No problems with me, all I want to know is what happened in world war 4 that caused society to be like this."

"You see, the war started because of social media. It was a curse. That's why the freedom of speech went away."

He goes on a long explanation on what happened, why it happened, and how we came to be.

"I get it," I lie. "It was necessary for the development of our nation."

"Exactly, now Avery, on a more serious note, there has to be a punishment for your actions."

"I understand." I really don't. Speaking my mind leads to punishment now? Since when was that a thing? Wait, I know, several hundred years ago.

"I'll leave that up to Mr. Daniels to decide."

I nod in agreement, he says I should learn my place but, I've already learned it. Which is why I want to rebel in the first place.

"Thank you so much," Daniels says while Ganderwal leaves.

"No problem."

"Avery, what are we going to do with you?"