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The best thing that the government has done is to keep us from becoming like them. We see them on TV every night. This other universe is terrible. Everything is chaotic and violent and horrible. Apparently that's what this world was like before The Last War in 1914. The Terran government did the right thing. No one fights now.
I walked to school on the usual path. At the cafeteria, I met up with the other 8th grade boys. Michael initiated conversation as always, "Today's discussion topic is the episode of Earth Divided that aired last night. I thought that the way everybody was fighting over things that didn't concern them was abhorrent." Michael is always using big words like that, it's his role. He will be a Leader when he grows up. We continue the discussion in our assigned order. David goes after Michael, "I agree, everyone was tearing at each other's throats, eager to point out flaws and misconceptions." David would be a scientist one day. I was next, "I don't see why they allow anyone to pick their leader, what if they choose wrong?"
The discussion continued around the 8th grade boys until we got to Julian, who was very nearly late, the worker. Workers are usually a bit odd, but Julian took it to another level. Everyone stared at him, wondering what he would say today. "I thought that they should have stopped yelling at each other. Maybe if they stopped yelling and talked in calmer tones, they would be able to understand one another." Julian had lost us. Did he not see how they had fought? How could they ever get along? We passed Julian and proceeded to Jesse. Jesse gave an acceptable response, so we continued to talk until the bell rang.
The first part of class was Personal-Worktime. During Personal-Worktime, we studied our careers. Every student was given an assigned job when they entered 5th grade. I am going to be an instructor of seventh graders when I grow up. Leaders will study politics, scientists will study math and certain branches of sciences, office workers will study statistics. Workers go out of the room to train. I study all areas, but not very deeply. Just enough so that I will be able to teach seventh graders.
Marcus, our instructor, came over to check in with me, " How are you doing today, Carter?"
I replied, "I'm doing very well. I am studying The Last War, and the effects it had on our planet."
Marcus asked me a follow-up question to make sure I was studying at the approved rate, "What can you tell me about the after-effects of The Last War?"
"The Last War ended in 1918. Almost every country was involved. Afterwards, the leaders of every nation agreed that, to keep from having another war, all of Earth would be one nation, Terra. They ensured that no one was different, so no one would have any need to kill or hate.
"The Earth we see on Earth Divided is a universe where they never took these measures, resulting in the chaos we see on television. Nowadays, everyone gets along in their societal place," I smiled finishing my monologue.
Marcus grinned back at me, "Great job Carter, You know enough about The Last War, so why don't you move to sciences?" I spent the rest of Personal-Worktime taking notes on the periodic table.
When Personal-Worktime ended, Everyone came to sit on the mat for the lesson. The front row consists of Micheal, Noah, David, and Jesse. Julian, Lucas, Harold and I sit in the second row. Mary, Catherine, Allison, and Sarah sit in the third row. Deborah, Christine, Evelyn, and Phoebe sit in the back row. I feel bad for them. Their parents probably picked the weirdest approved names there were, perhaps Michael will change the list when he becomes Leader.
We started our lesson. "Our government is made up of one leader for every town, every state has a leader, every region has a leader, and then the world has a leader. Leaders are chosen…" Julian started to shift his weight from one side to the other. I couldn't help but stare at him. Focus on the lesson! I told myself. "... Great thought goes into the decision process when choosing a leader. The current Leader of our town is…" Julian started to drum his fingers on his kneecaps. The entire class was looking at him now. Marcus stopped the lesson to talk to Julian, "Julian, could you please stop drumming your fingers and focus on the lesson?"
Julian looked up with a start, "Sorry sir, I didn't realize I was doing it." He corrected his posture and was still. Marcus continued the lesson, "Charles is the current Leader of our world. One day, Michael, here, will be-" Marcus stopped again to look at Julian, who was now chewing on the inside of his cheeks and twiddling his fingers, "Julian would you like me to call Angela?"
Julian looked up again and shook his head violently, eyes wide, but his fingers started to move faster and he chewed vigorously. Marcus went to the phone and dialed the school nurse's number, "Hello, Angela? Yes, can you come down here? Julian is having some trouble focusing in class. Thank you." The class continued to stare politely ahead, knowing it was rude to eavesdrop, all except for Julian, who picked up the pace.
A few minutes later, Angela arrived at our classroom. She took Julian by the hand and tried to lead him out of the classroom. "But I'm fine! I'm just a little stressed, I can stop," Julian pleaded eyes wide at her. "Now don't worry Julian, we're just going to take a moment to calm down." Overpowered, Julian allowed himself to be led away by Angela, talking to him in hushed whispers. All I could make out was, "Did you forget…?"
Marcus continued the lesson in peace. A few minutes later, Julian came back in. He had a small band aid inside his elbow and he seemed to stare at nothing. He shuffled over to his assigned seat and sat down. He was silent and still for the rest of the lesson. Julian followed directions for the rest of the day. We all breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Many years later…
Inside the store, a man in his late thirties stocks shelves. When he is done, there will be another task for him to complete, there always is. He hardly ever gets time to relax. At dusk, Julian's shift ends and he heads home. He lives alone, as he has never applied for a spouse. He has his dinner quickly and prepares for bed. He has to be at work tomorrow by dawn, so he needs to sleep now. Julian changes into his night clothes and enters the bathroom.
He combs his hair, brushes his teeth, washes his face, and takes his pills. As usual, Julian hesitates before swallowing the small, bitter tablets, but only for a moment. He needs the pills to keep him calm. Julian remembers in school, he wouldn't always take his pills. He would act out, and he couldn't control himself at school. Then the nurse would have to give him a shot. Although he sometimes tried, Julian could never remember the nurse's name. He forgot a lot these days. The doctors told him it was hereditary. He thought that made sense, his father forgot things too. Julian thought that his father had taken the same pills as he did, but he couldn't remember.
Julian walked out of the bathroom and got into bed. He had a nagging feeling that he was forgetting something, but he wasn't too worried. He forgot a lot of things. He fell softly into his usual dreamless sleep. He remembered having dreams once, but not anymore.
Julian had long forgotten all they had taught him at school, he had forgotten the names of his classmates and coworkers. He had also forgotten the small voice that arose whenever he would forget to take his pills back then. The voice that would scream things at him. The voice that told him, "This is wrong, this is all wrong!" The voice that put doubt in his mind and kept him from taking his pills the next day as well. The voice that noticed that everyone kept saying the same things.
Julian had never liked that voice. It was disruptive, painful, scary. When he was young they found out that the voice could find him even with his current prescription, so they raised the dosage. But he didn't have to worry about the voice anymore. The pills put it to sleep.
In the morning, when dawn arrives, Julian will go to work. He will do more meaningless tasks, without any time to think. Julian will go through his life, and he will be content and complacent, just as he is supposed to be. In his proper societal place.