Utopia

Grace

Grace walked down the street with her backpack hanging from one shoulder her book in front of her. Her long, wavy auburn hair was in a braid and she wore a dark green t shirt with a grey cardigan sweater and black leggings. Her glasses fell forward and she pushed them up her nose. She blew a bubble with her gum and didn't look up from her book as she turned abruptly and walked down a walkway. She put her bookmark in and knocked on the door. Mrs Harris answered and first looked puzzled then said "Oh! Grace, darling, didn't you hear? There's no need to walk Jasmine to school today." Grace tilted her head in confusion. "I sent her to reformation camp." Grace dropped her book and stared at Mrs Harris as if her hair just turned green. "You- what?" She had to process this. Her one of a few only companions had been sent to reformation camp? Mrs Harris looked stunned by Grace's response. "Why yes. You didn't know she was having terrible thoughts?"
"But-but she was my friend." She whispered. Mrs Harris's eyebrows shot up. "Young lady what did you call her?" Grace shook her head. "Sorry, sorry. She was my companion." Mrs Harris smiles, obviously satisfied by the correction. "Well go along on your way or you'll be late for class. And I don't think you'd really like to do that." Grace picked up her book, still in shock. "Yes sorry, I just, um- when will she be back?" Grace had known people to go for years, but some only months. "Well sweetie you should know that well by now. It depends upon the stubbornness of people. Some just can't stop thinking bad thoughts." She closed the door and Grace ran to make up the time she had lost. She didn't want to be late for class.
When she got to school she had three minutes to spare. She went to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. It's fine, she thought to herself, the friends know what they're doing. It's all for the best of Utopia. Jasmine must have- been having bad, harmful thoughts. Though this was comfort, she couldn't help but have a strange feeling in her stomach. She grasped the sides of the sink and stared into her reflection. Just then the door opened and three chatting girls walked in. Grace whirled her head around. When the girls saw her they stopped talking. Instead, they smiled and sauntered up to Grace. "Well well, If it isn't miss bookworm." Said the leader of their popular pack. "And what's so wrong with reading?" Retorted Grace. The girl scowled. "Look Grace, you and I are from different worlds. My dad is a government official. Your mom is a store keeper. Yeah, we may be 'equal'" she said with air quotations, "but that doesn't mean I'm not better than you." And with a flip of her strait brown hair, she and her posse left laughing.
The bell rang and Grace ran to 1st period History. She opened the door just in time and plopped her bag down next to a desk. She sat down and just then a tall boy with wavy brown hair ran in and took the seat next to her. This boy was Gabriel Sanders her neighbor and good companion since her child stages. "Greetings Grace! Have you seen Jasmine today?" He asked. At this Grace suddenly buried her face in her long cardigan sleeves that went past her finger tips and started crying. Gabriel jumped up worried "Oh my gosh I'm so sorry what did I say? Is there something wrong with Jasmine?! What is it?" Grace looked up and sniffed. "I-I'm Sorry. I'm being foolish. Jasmine's mother sent her to- to reformation camp. I-I'm sure it's for the best of Utopia, and I-I'm sure it's for her own good and-" she choked up and tears over flowed her eyes making her bury her face in her sleeves again. "Grace-uh- Oh my gosh, Jasmine! Oh-d-don't cry! I-I'm sure it's fine! You said so yourself." He gave a weak smile of encouragement and they sat down. Me. Birmingham walked int the room. "Alright students. Today we will have a guest speaker." The class stood and everyone, in unison, thrust their right hand in the air, made a fist, and brought there hand back down. They slid their fisted hand across their mouths and stood with their elbows bent and their fists at chin level. (This was a sign of respect in Utopia which was often used to show respect for elders and friends and speakers.) Mr Birmingham gestured for the guest to enter, and a friend came in and stood in front of the class. Once every year a friend comes to all the classes to tell them about Utopia and how they protect it and the fairness and equality of our society. Graces eyes were still wet and red, so she took off her glasses and wiped her eyes with her sleeve. She put them on again and adjusted them on her slightly freckled nose. One kid, in kindergarten, once said she had a disease and was contagious because of her freckles. Everyone avoided her for weeks until Gabriel and Jasmine came and sat with her at lunch. They bonded and became good friends. Thinking of this, Grace's eyes welled up with tears again but her quickly wiped them away. No crying in front of a Friend, she told herself, he'll only punish you.