Story Ideas

Community of Caromessis

Interview type.

Another dull day, another tired evening, another hour of random TV program watching without paying any attention. Instead, time is wasted in self-wallowing and self-pity. Zero tries or effort to improve the said dull life or to bring even a minute of joy from heating the cold coffee in my hands. No, just the click of the remote and a sip of cold coffee.

The voices of people on some talk show or news resounded throughout the living room as I continued to sit on my worn-out couch and look at my ceiling. Darkness surrounded the edges of my eyes as the bright light from the TV illuminated a small portion of the ceiling I was looking at. Applauses entered my ears as I sighed.

„Welcome back to our show! Today we have a very interesting person joining us to talk about a community that well.... saved her life. Please, greet ....."

Another fucking A-list successful actor....

I wasted some energy to roll my eyes, but still lowered them to the TV. Some petite girl, barely in her 20 entered on the stage and smiled at the camera. Chills ran down my spine when I saw that smile, but didn't understand why. Frowning, I leaned in and blinked, but the girl's smile was normal.

I'm too tired for my own good.....

The girl with the show host began talking and for the first time in forever, my attention was on the TV. I couldn't tell why, but I was pulled to listen to what she was speaking.

„So, tell me something about this Caromessis community, Rose. Nobody here has heard of it"

„Oh, it's an amazing place! Me and my husband Dimitri love it! We are quite closed off and reclusive, we don't like a lot of attention, so that's why you haven't heard of us"

„Then why go live on one of the biggest talk shows?"

„Why not? We are always happy to welcome new people into our community. We have heard some insulting rumours floating around about us and we would like to clarify some misinformation. At the same time, others will be able to learn about us and perhaps even join us!"

„So, tell me, how one even joins your exclusive group? There aren't any information on how to contact you or any information about your group in general"

„Not everybody can join us. Only those who are serious in changing their livelihood will find their way to us"

„O-okay, so tell us about the community itself. How different it is from other small communities around the world?"

„Well, we live in accordance to our ancestors, who had great and healthy lives while being not tied to the government. We live off the land and forest, everyone has designated chores and responsibilities. Everything is discussed and decided by everyone in accordance to our lifestyle and rules of the community"

„So, what you mean is that, you live without electricity or running water?"

„Yes. Do you really need it?"

„Well, it's convenient and ea-„

„And your money is very convenient to your government"

„Ah, my apologies. So, the principal of the Caromessis is living off the grid and being self-sustainable?"

„Exactly! We strife to live completely off our strength as a community. Imagine, that government falls, and all commodities are cut off. No hot water, food in stores, electricity and heating. Everybody would fall into chaos while we would live like nothing happened. Because nothing would change for us from everyday life."

„I see, a very interesting concept. Could you tell us how your community works?"

„As I said, we live as our ancestors lived. Women and men have different areas of responsibilities, we have a circle of elders that keep peace and make sure rules aren't broken by the members of the community"

„Don't you feel oppressed by your set expectations and duties as a woman?"

What kind of question is that?....

I watched as the girl turned to the host and stared at him for a few seconds. Another chill ran down my eyes as I looked at the girl's eyes. They were empty. Simply dull. I blinked and the girl was smiling, everything normal. Feeling uncomfortable, I looked around my apartment and stilled.

Already 1 a.m.? Fuck, I need to go to sleep. Waking up at 6 a.m. sucks.....

My eyes turned back to the TV.

„.....nothing! Usually, women take care of the house, children and animals, prepare meals for the community festival, nurse the sick and teach girls everything they need to know. Men work in the fields, hunt, build and repair as well as teach boys what they need to know. That way, everything works in harmony and very rarely we have problems. Of course, we have some women who take their husband's responsibilities, but only if the man can't perform them."

„What about those who want to join Caromessis? What should they know?"

„Just because you get to meet us, it doesn't mean you have joined us. We give people a month to live with us, so that they get to know how everything works and spend time with people. We are tight knitted community, so trust is very important. During that month women and men will work with our members and help them out. At the end of the month, our elders will choose those who, in their eyes, will bring the most usefulness to us. Then those people are put through the trial in order for them to prove their real worth"

„What kind of the trial?"

„Oh, nothing new. They are given jobs to perform without anyone's help, but it's nothing they haven't tried during the initial month. Of course, sometimes, dire situations happen, and it is a perfect way for chosen ones to show their worth"

„How does your community manage the extreme cases? Like the last winter, for example. Countless cities in our country didn't have any food in the stores for weeks. Nobody could even leave their homes"

The smile on the girl's face came back, and I shrunk into my couch. It was like someone did something very bad and got away from that. The smile was creepy and unsettling, like a demon who tries to act innocent. Her dull eyes had a glint in them, something that meant trouble and pain. Yet, I couldn't stop listening to the interview.

„Oh, we don't have any problems apart from some snow hills. Our men are exceptional hunters. Every year we prepare food for the winter, so we eat the best kind of... meat and veggies you could ever imagine"

„Well, thank you for joining us on tonight's show. Is there something you would like to tell our viewers?"

I watched as the girl turned to the camera and smiled. She clasped her hands before her and addressed the crowd.

„For those who aren't happy with their lives, we invite you to join us. Even if it is only for a month.... we will appreciate you in more ways than you can think off."

I stared at the TV, not listening what he was babbling about. My mind already wondered off. Caromessis community....  Perhaps I should give them a chance to impress me? Despite the girl creeping me out, I shouldn't judge whole group of people because of her. 

 After all, I am unhappy with my life.