I wasn't born when they went into power. My grandmother was my age though, she remembers every detail. The sky turned from a bright blue to a foggy grey. She remembers the exact date it had happened, when this had started April 3rd 2013. She would tell me stories about children playing outside, only caring about their games and their school studies. Games and schools... It actually makes me wonder about life before the one I'm in. Games are not permitted other than on the one holiday we have a year, Giving Day. School here doesn't exist, they were used as government buildings after the takeover, were only allowed to learn basic things. We learn to read and write, and use simple math like addition and subtraction. My grandmother would work on more advanced math with me sometimes; she would teach me things like Multiplication and division, sadly it never quite stuck. My grandmother said that our "government" if you would even call it that, banned harder mathematics with science. They are afraid that we will become too smart and try to takeover. If their people stay at a certain level of intelligence who will be able to overcome their reign.
Children should know how to read, write, and how to do basic math by the time they are 7 or 8 years old. After their eighth birthday they are considered able to work, often getting jobs that are too difficult. My brother is turning 8 in a week, he will have to choose where he wants to spend working for the rest of his life. Thus is really the only choice we can make for ourselves, when I was his age I was scared about choosing.
They make you walk to city hall located in the heart of our city. I held tight to my dad's hand with my right hand, my left hand was occupied by my mother's right. In her other hand, supported by her arm was my sleeping brother. I sighed heavily before taking the first shep, working was not something I had dreamed of doing. My parents would come home tired with blisters from their old tattered shoes. We are not even close to being in the rich community. Th rich community is mostly made up of government officials and the division supervisors. Only a couple original city inhabitants were lucky enough to get a job working in a branch of government. They live a life luxury while the rest of us has to do back-breaking labor. The working conditions are terrible, since our food is delivered to us we work for clothing or if really needed extra ration money. You can work for up to four dollars a week, which is not much to get by on. Especially since most places only pay their workers $2.50 a week. If a division supervisor is feeling generous enough they let their employees work 2 hours overtime for a $1.50 bonus, which is why I say four dollars is roughly the most you can make.
Finally reaching the door that would lead me into city hall, I pushed it open revealing a huge hall filled with people in business suits rushing to a destination. My parents and I seemed very out of place in our faded jeans and stretched t-shirts. We made out way to a mean looking woman behind a desk in the center. "Yes," the woman said peering over the glasses on the end of her nose. "May I help you?"
"We need to sign up our daughter for work." My father said as he pointed me out to the woman.
"Very well," the woman said looking away and reaching into a file near her desk. "Fill out this paperwork with her and I'll send it to be processed."
My father just nodded, taking the clipboard with the paperwork and pen on top of it. He took my hand and led me to the chairs parallel to the woman's desk. Sitting down I peered over his arm looking at what he was writing down. "Daddy, Daddy, " I whispered pulling on his sleeve to get his attention, I was curious about what he was writing on the paper. The outcome of my life was practically in his hands at the moment.
"Here,you need to fill out the rest of the work'" My father said handing me the clipboard with the pen following after.
I looked down at the paper,my father had already filled out the information pertaining my age, height, and weight. Now it was up to me to pick my career choice and sign my name. The list of jobs went on for two pages. Each job division has about 10 different jobs that is available. I already knew what division I wanted to work in, and what job I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I wanted to work with my mother in one of the agricultural divisions, working as a berry sorter. My mother once told me that sorting is one of the easiest jobs you can have. My eyes found the column I was looking for "Agricultural-fruit". My shaky hand hovering over the sorter check-box, finally and quickly checking off the box with a sloppy check. I looked at my mother who was watching me make my selection with a big smile on her face. Drawing my face back to the paper in front of me I signed my name, Isabelle Winters.
My work was approved and the next day we got a letter saying I was starting work the day after. Since then I've been working ever since, living the same boring day over and over. Except for Sundays which is the only day we actually get off. On working days though I get up at the crack of dawn pull on my uniform and go downstairs to meet my family in the kitchen. Like today for example.
"Good morning Mom, Dad, Cody." I said walking in to the kitchen and making my way to the counter to cut off a small piece of bread to spread jam on for my breakfast.
"Good morning sweetheart," my mother smiled, coming over and kissing my forehead while I chewed my breakfast.
"What time is the truck coming today?" I asked in between chews.
"They will be picking us up in about five minutes so hurry," my mother stated.
By the time I was done we heard the beep outside, the truck was sitting there waiting for my mother and I. Behind ours sat my father's to take him to his division, the building division. We grabbed our lunches and started to head for the door, leaving Cody home to do the chores.
(Not finished, but i might delete!! Comment if i should keep it!!!)
