Awaiting the Freedom Boat - Part 1

Awaiting the arrival of the ship that would transport them to freedom, the people on the deck were rather silent. Each person had a disability of some kind. They hadn't passed the (NRT) New Regime Test that had been mandated by the dictator of their country for every citizen to take. Oddly, they hadn't been told that they hadn't passed though. They had been informed that they had won the randomized lottery system. Part of 'winning' included a trip out of their country into a different country that wasn't apart of the ongoing war conflict.

Casta, a little girl with a flattened face and upward slating eyelids, looked up at her caretaker, and asked,

"What's the ship gonna' look like?"

"I'm not sure."

Casta fidgeted and started rocking her body back and forth while sitting. She was trying to be patient. She looked at a shadowy figure not far from them and asked,

"Who are you? Are you nice?"

The caretaker pulled Casta closer, whispering,

"Leave that man alone!"

"But why? I just wanted to know if they were nice."

Rocking back and forth, she looked back at the stranger who had not answered. The stranger reached into their long jacket pocket and pulled out a small daisy. Handing the flower to Casta, she smiled and clapped her hands with a pure excitement.

"Oh, it's beautiful - I love it! And I love you too!"

The man that had given her the flower was actually a teenager who appeared to be older than he was. He didn't look at Casta but avoided eye contact the entire time. He sat very still and then blurted,

"I have autism. There are thirty-two umbrellas up there. I counted them three times to make sure."

"Oh! You count good. Can I hug you?"

Before letting him answer, she grabbed him and hugged him tight as if they had been friends forever. Meanwhile, he just stood there awkwardly, with little movement in response to her tight hug. It seemed as if he were frozen and speechless at the same time. Casta smiled again, looking at the flower. She twirled it in her hand and let the petals tickle her nose.

"I'm Casta. What's your name?"

He stared intensely at the water. He spotted the boat that was supposed to take them to freedom. Finally, after a long pause, he answered, still without looking at Casta or Casta's caretaker who shifted her deformed left leg.

"Robert."

She smiled but didn't quite know what to say next. Casta's caretaker whispered in her ear.

"You could respond with. Good to meet you, Robert."

Casta shook her head and then looked at Robert.

"Good to meet you, Robert!"

He didn't respond back because he was eyeing the boat.

"It's here. The freedom boat!"

One by one, the people on the deck boarded the boat that had come for them. They were like blind gullible sheep for the slaughter, all the while they had been told that they would be led to freedom. Every person that boarded the boat was overjoyed but where were they really being taken was the burning question?

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Author’s Note:

To read part 2, written by Komal, please follow the link listed below: