The Runaway

Her name is Maelynn

Suddenly the doorbell rang, Mileena quickly turned off the TV, and turned off the light. The guests froze, motionless, almost holding their breath. Aunt Pasha showed Nikolka a gesture, as if she were breathing in air and diving under water. Nikolka understood that this was a game: "who will be able to hold out in silence the longest." He loved to win and adored this game, but he had no idea that this game sometimes cost citizens their lives. Every evening before a quiet hour, until the city was de-energized, the "night patrol" "raided" random apartments, when citizens did not suspect anything. Thus, sometimes they managed to catch the "demolitionists".  Those who were opposed to the regime and allowed themselves to joke, despise or criticize the Mikado state party. When judged for the above actions, they used the wording "Suspicion of participation in opposition activities". In ninety-five percent of cases it was the safest move to the court, ending with isolation under strict supervision.

Mileena looked through the peephole. On the threshold stood her neighbor, a childhood friend. She stood and silently picked up a bag full of sweets. Mileena looked very scared in the direction of the kitchen, and carefully turned on the light everywhere. The guests breathed a sigh of relief. Chaplina opened the door, and the guest stepped into the hall, modestly smiling in a silk pale pink blouse with flowers and a long skirt of textured corrugation.

- Hello, "Aglaya Lyudmilovna," or what were they calling you there today?

- Enough is enough. Work is work, and in my free time everything is in order.

- I thought so. - Mileena said, and took the bag, inviting her friend to the kitchen.

- Dear comrades, get acquainted - my childhood friend.

- Hello, I'm Maelynn. Nice to be in your company.

She went through and before sitting at the table drew attention to the little "red-book", which was lying on the table in front of the TV.

- Oh, the Great Dea's questionnaire! Have you decided to refresh your memory?

- N-no. This is a party gift.

- Clear. - Maelynn said. - Read it, this is a handbook in every home in our country. - she said, but without catching the support of the audience she said - What, did you believe? I'm kidding. This is the answer to question 104.

Mileena looked reproachfully at aunt Pasha, who shook her head in the negative.- Well, what are we sitting? Let's watch TV already. - said the hostess of the house and turned on the device.

The TV show "Evening Song" began. A presenter in a blue puffy dress came on stage and said with a smile:- Hello, and welcome. I am infinitely pleased to realize that on this good evening, dear comrades, you have chosen to spend your time with us. I will be the host for today - Margarita Svetlanovna Zhuk. And our evening is opened by Honored Artist of the Union - Ennit Ansude. Composer - Aleftina Yanovna Vasilekova, lyrics - Larisa Larisovna Zimovskaya. Song - "Only Once!" performed in weston language!

The music began and a beautiful lady appeared on the stage with snow-white hair, eyebrows, eyelashes and ruby-colored lips. Dressed in puffy beige dress and black pashmina covering her breasts.

- Look, you also need to become an honored actress! - said aunt Pasha. - In the same way you will apply your makeup like a clown, you will become even whiter than you are now!The singer circled on the stage and sang in a very bright voice, confessing her love to the Great Mother and the mighty power, the leading country of East Asia. And when the song ended, Mileena said:

- You know, I can also sing a song. I have one text I wrote myself, looking out the window at the last triteynik. (third day of the week)

And she asked Richie to play the guitar. The guy played some kind of melody, and Mileena sang in a weston language:

Ya khochi va amune si, (I want to know what this land is)Para chori va domme mo, (Where happiness reigns in every home)Suju ya ne glyadachi, (When they look at our back, they feel sorry for us)I skorostno jaro na mi. (And quickly tears run down the cheeks)Ne znaju pani sudzu ne, (I don't know where to look)Sandaru te, rimaru ne, (Where to go and where to hide)Karaniku, samaniku. (To sigh and survive)Zanakila ru ne? (Is there such a place?)Kay by zatremika hanayra. (I wish the train was waiting for me)Fru terina ne ke wa. (And the sweet sceneries outside the window)Zame ri ka, gatoni saboda, (Behind which freedom and spaciousness is)Para svet bryo na gada. (Where the sun wakes me up in the morning)

Maelynn sat and looked reproachfully at Mileena, clearly not approving of this act, but when the song ended, she applauded and cheared up with everyone else.

- Oh, and you look what I brought to you! - said Maelynn, taking out boxes and chocolates from the bag.

The first on the table was a box of cookies with chocolate chips and orange, followed by a bar of chocolate with sunflower seeds, then five jars of drinking yogurt with strawberries, five packs of Oreo ice cream and a box of ChocoPie.

- Where did you get all this? - Richie was surprised. - It can only be seen on a New Cycle celebration!

- Yes, yes, I understand. These are the rarest products from the "Number One Department Store".

- Where did the money come from? - asked Mileena.

- Actually, I work at the National Agitation Service. Nevermind that, let's dance! - suggested Maelynn and turned on the TV.

The host of the "Evening Song" announced the next song, and the girl held out her hand to Richard and invited him to a dance.

- Come on, Richie, go ahead! Maybe you'll finally get married with a real pioneer, my God! I am the happiest mother! - she said, and hugged Nikolka, who was eagerly eating sweets. And Mileena sat down closer to Pavla.

- Aunt Pasha, and tell me more about your school time.

- What is there to tell. It was a terrible time, we never traveled outside Yongsaang. I told you that it was possible to go through the checkpoint only if you had a party work book in your hands that contains all the stamps.

- What stamps? - asked Mileena

- Well, the stamp of the "National Flower Fest", the party stamp on the exit certificate, a medical certificate of excellent health. Ah, and the interview at the checkpoint had to go, it was very funny when I blurted out ...

- I see, I see ... What about the school?

- Well, what about school. The teachers were women - this is natural. Now men can at least work as waiters, bartenders, cashiers or janitors in state institutions, and when I studied, men were not allowed to crowded places at all. They were not trusted to babysit, they were not trusted to do any kind of a houseworks, and if a boy was born in the family, then this was generally a tragedy in the family.

- Really? So serious?

- Yes. And when I gave birth to Richard, I found this time. When they brought him to me in a diaper, they immediately offered to refuse him, and they said that the party would take my decision with understanding. It was proposed to me to inject a hellish dose of something to kill him or to give him to the "embrace" of the party, as they called it, do you know what that means?

- This is when they give the child to another family?

- Not really in the family but in the "Baby House", but my friend gave the child back there because of the pressure from the district police officer and patrol, because she was a single mother, and single people can not raise children.

- Why? - Mileena was surprised

- Because a woman is alone, she must work, she cannot leave a child alone. And then the cell of society is split. And unformed families have no future! Dea's ordinance of 7446Mileena just gasped

- Well, actually, not many things have changed since that time. As we were evaluated on a four-point system, so are you, right?

- And what were your grades? Excellent, good, satisfactory, unsatisfactory?

- Yes yes yes. Nikolka is lucky for now. - said Pavla and stroked his head. - He has only stickers, berries, cars in his preschool group.

- Aren't you afraid for Nikolka at school? - asked Mileena - In the same place preparations for the "Distribution Ceremony" will begin.

- To be honest, I'm not afraid, but worry. Because I can make only as much effort as the party allows me. And I'm afraid that I won't educate Nikolka but the party will instead.

- Is this bad?

- This is terrible, darling! Think about it, the party is raising your child. Worse than this is only the "Baby House". The most dangerous manipulations will begin from school: the instilling of love for these Mothers, this "red-book" ... you know yourself.

Chaplina only nodded in the affirmative and sat back wearily in a chair. And Richard hugged Maelynn, and asked:

- By the way, what presents from the party did you recieve for New Cycle celebration?

- I was presented with a new plasma TV, a coffee machine, a new work dress, and a set of badges. What about you? - she looked and smiled modestly

- Same as all men in this country. - he said and smiled

Maelynn only laughed softly and snuggled up to Richard:

- Forgive me for today's morning incident. You understand that at work we carry out the state assignment. Our task is to convey the truth to the public, so that they are up to date with all the latest news. And you must be prepared to neutralize anyone.

Richie only nodded affirmatively and closed his eyes, and Maelynn laid her head on his shoulder. Mileena at that time asked aunt Pasha:

- Have you ever met my parents? Do you remember me when I was little?

- I remember that. - Pavla said sadly - They were full of strength, real pioneers of labor. Your mother was ... an ordinary union woman, not a "flower of the nation" like you, but a simple one. But your dad was a product of the "Flowers of the Nation" and except for that he was also a member of the "Atlantis" organization. He was whiter than you, his height was hundred and ninety centimeters, broad-shouldered, your eyes are exactly the same as his were, as deep and bright ... and his muscles were amazing. To admit, when he lived with us in this exact apartment, I myself tried to draw his attention to myself. You should have seen him.

- But how did he meet my mom?

- And your mother was the foremost engineer in a bread factory. She spent a lot of energy on this factory, and one of the party's gifts for her services to the Union was your father.

- That is, they didn't even meet? And ... wait, I don't understand anything ...

- My dear, you are already an adult girl, and I see doubts in your eyes. If you don't want to ruin your life, then forget all this evening, but if you still want to truly understand where you live, then ...

- Guys, guys! The time is already late, and tomorrow we have Volunteers Day! Tomorrow is nedelya (the ninth day of the week). And we all need to clean the territory of our area. - said Maelynn.

Everyone got up from the table and bowed to Mileena and headed for the exit. And aunt Pasha turned around and showed her a conditional gesture, meaning to make a phone call. Everyone left and the apartment was empty. Mileena looked at the clock, there were five minutes left until the sixteenth hour, when the electricity was about to turn off. She really liked that the guests nevertheless ate almost the entire cake, which means that she doesn't need to hide it in the refrigerator. After everything was cleaned and washed, the girl remembered that she wanted to call Pavla Zinaidovna to find out the whole story about her parents. She sat in the hallway and dialed her number. Pavla picked up the phone:

- Hello, Pavla Obraztsova at the apparatus.

- Pavla Zinaidovna, this is your neighbor from above.

- Oh, yes, I remember. Listen carefully, I remember that you came to me for salt, but I will only go to the department store tomorrow, so come up after work, okay?Not having time to answer anything, the light in the whole house went out. Mileena hung up the menacingly, and ran to the kitchen window, drew back the curtains and saw a dark area. Everything descended into pitch darkness. Only the monument to the Great Idea shone as a new star in the middle of the square, along with it a panel depicting Dea and Elizabeth West was also lit by powerful bulbs.

The red letters of a certain store shone brightly under the windows, and in the distance various paintings, symvolitsa and other things appeared on the hardly visible from the window - Konhateb Palace, which pierced the sky. Mileena lit a candle, drew the curtains in all the rooms, and went into the bedroom. Chaplina's bedroom didn't look very rich:One small bed, a work desk, a bookshelf and an expanded scroll with symvolitsa, which read: "Fill the tree with young blood, and it will bear fruit!" To the right of the bed, under the ceiling, were portraits of Dea and Elizabeth, and on the windowsill were the same fresh flowers. She flopped into bed and did not think about anything. She simply breathed under the covers and was afraid to move. From the street through the closed window came the sounds of the national lullaby, written especially in honor of Elizabeth. Mileena fell asleep from fatigue.