Common Sense

Today is election day. Soon my district will receive notification from the state representative on which candidate earned the greatest number of votes. I am not certain if I won or not. I am embarrassed to not even be sure if district elections are rigged; this country has a history of corrupt behavior, especially in politics. I can still hear the frightening alarms that suddenly blared in the middle of band practice a decade ago. Everyone panicking. Who knew we would be near proximity of a nuclear strike? That was not something to have cross my mind during high school. Not even the history lesson of my high school being built during the cold war could have braced me for that kind of horror. Luckily for us but not for many, we were able to retreat to the school’s fallout shelter. The capacity was large enough to hold all the students and staff who were deciding to spend their lives together after school hours, instead of doing anything else in the world. Unfortunately, my school was the only black building with a fallout installed in this urban area. We were spared, a lot of people vanished. Other countries attacked a few of our federal reserve banks and depositories. It wasn’t until we launched a few nukes of our own to countries overseas, which led to a nuclear peace treaty.

Still waiting for the state rep to arrive with the voting results. It is gloomy and everyone is outside in the streets, joyous to be able to gather for an occasion other than labor assignments. This election was sudden, as the last district rep was recently charged with treason against the United Federation. I am not sure what he had done to be charged, but the state rep knows that my district people deserve further explanation. We can get a little rowdy at times here in district one. The armed ground enforcers are currently shielding me from the rest of the crowd. They are the only people who still appear to be in a depressed state while the crowd seems content. It is common to see everyday people appear depressed, but it was not rare to see a few people able to smile and sing every now and then. Finally, the state rep’s limousine is seen coming down the street with large trucks surrounding it. They approach the crowd, and the heavy trucks begin unloading a platform with a podium for the state representative to speak. Everyone is quiet. He walks up to the podium and begins speaking.

“Good evening citizens of district one.” He says with forced enthusiasm.

“I stand before you today with the announcement of who your new district leader will be. All of your votes were carefully counted, and I now have the results of who you’ve selected.”

The audience is silent, which incites the state rep to continue speaking.

“Before I announce the winner” he said adding suspense, “I know you all may be wondering about the status of your former district representative, for he has been charged with treason for illegally communicating with the country below the border and conspiring against the UF. As you all know, we have been at war in over a decade for the misery, destruction, and turmoil in which that country and their interest has brought to us.”

I began paying close attention. I never knew the former DR, but I thought I had precise judgement of his character.

“During our investigation,” he continues “We have discovered intel that your DR was trading material below the border for profit and other personal gains. Material that you as the people work so hard to mine and collect. I would like to remind you that if it were not for the labor and everyday work that you as the people put in, our nations shortage levels would be even more low. Thank you district one for your hard work and dedication that you show to keep us functioning as a country all around. We are in this together.”

He continues quickly.

“Without further ado, I hereby announce your new representative. Dwight Walker!”

“Well, here I go,” I mumble to myself as people began clapping while I walk my way towards to the podium. I’m not sure why I’m not so excited. I began my speech anyways.

“What’s good, how y'all doing today? I am honored to be voted in as the new district rep. I’m going to keep things brief with you guys because I am so eager to get started. I would like to let everyone here know, that my mission is to ensure everyone gets their fair share in collections from all the hard work you guys do in your respective assignments. We will receive everything that we work for. I promise that together, we can achieve quality living in our given circumstances. That means more food, more medical supplies, an increased water limit, anything that we need. We work so hard so we will get our money’s worth. Thank you everyone!”

The state representative smiles and pats me on the back and I stand there with a straight face as everyone cheers. He ends up taking over the podium and I walk away.

“Congratulation’s district representative Dwight Walker, I know you’ll make everyone here proud. I’m looking forward to our ceremonial dinner later this evening at my location. See you soon! Thank you all, good people of district one.” He walks off the platform with satisfaction and retreats to his limousine. The trucks gather all their equipment, and everyone leaves to their respective lives. It was sort of anti-climactic, but there was nothing more to expect.

Moments later I received a call from the state secretary who is under the state rep. She provided me with an address and a time for me to arrive for dinner. She didn’t sound as enthused as her superior, but her voice was somewhat calming. It gave me a sense of comfortability which I appreciated because I was certainly on edge about having dinner with this man. Before the time approaches, I take a ride on the district route to get a reminder of potential topics to discuss during dinner. A lot of the area in the district is still riddled with radioactive signatures which is why a decent amount of people ends up getting cancer. The safe areas are crowded with hospital tents, tenement homes, and a few markets. Children normally play outside, but no one is allowed to travel freely around the entire district besides the DR. The ground enforcers are around to make sure nobody gets too obnoxious. There have been times where people would find themselves “starting a rebellion” just to be prosecuted and sent out for labor or war. One could earn for their family thorough labor. The assignment jobs are in different locations, providing opportunities to receive limited collections in a day. Jobs in this district included steel manufacturing, road building, cotton harvesting, and distilleries. A bus comes twice a day to pick up anyone willing to work, and the workers are chosen on site at each job. I drive past a workforce of guys laying down concrete on a new road. They all look like programmed zombies as they did their tasks.

I finally arrive to the dinner. I pull up in a long driveway that leads to a beautiful mansion. There’s even a stone water fountain outside of it. I am greeted at the door by the secretary who looks very alluring. She looked very familiar. Her eyes look stressful with slight baggage, but that look is the norm for today’s society.

“Hello Mr. Walker, my name is Rebecca Lewis. I am pleased that you have arrived on time. My boss tends to get nervous when things doesn’t go according to schedule.”

That last line sort of threw me off. I also noticed she was shaking my hand slightly aggressive for a woman.

“No mention it. Do you mind?” I asked for she was still holding my hand.

“My apologies. Right this way,” she then lets me into the house and escorts me to the dining area.

I couldn’t help but to notice a heart-shaped locket around her neck. Something dared me to ask about it, but I assumed it was given to her by a lover. I asked anyways.

“I like your locket charm, where’d you get it?” I asked bluntly. I was hoping that she would assume that I’m not used to seeing such jewels where I come from.

“It’s from my father, he died in a steel factory accident.”

“I’m sorry” I responded awkwardly.

We finally get to the dining room where the state representative was already seated and waiting.

“You’re late,” he said rudely. “Please sit so we can discuss urgent matters.”

I sit down without responding, interested in what was pressing him. He waved his hand and signaled his secretary to leave the room. She left without making any further eye contact with me. He began speaking

“Your district is currently falling short on many of its productions. This is due to past negotiations your former DR made while in office. The UF won’t be able to supply your district with the same amount of collections until we regain our losses.”

“Sir, I am not sure if receiving less collections will push my district to produce any more material,” I quickly responded. “It doesn’t make sense.” He cuts me off.

“Do you know how war works? The United Federation must give reparations to some of our allies and other ruined countries. We distribute some of our material produced in this country to make up costs for some of the worldly damages.”

“Does reparations include some of that extra water being spilled out of your precious fountain outside?” He frowns.

We were both speaking with hostility. He changes the subject.

“I’ve said enough already, how about we just eat and discuss further.”

I sat and thought for a moment.

“How did the former DR conspire against the UF?” I asked.

He looked at me like he was unsure to reveal that kind of information, but he spoke anyways.

“He was illegally trading with the country below the border.”

“He wasn’t making sure they received reparations?” I responded.

That seemed to tick him off. He threatened me.

“Mr. Walker I think it’s best that you’d leave. There’s nothing I’d like to discuss with you.” He said as he started pouring wine into a glass.

I got up and exited his dining room. As I was walking through the hallway on my way out the door, he yelled.

“Rebecca come in here!”

I stopped and looked at her. She was fearful. It was almost as if she’s been in this situation before. She looked at me like she didn’t want me to leave so soon. I don’t know what was so familiar about her. That’s when I realized, she was also from district one, and something wasn’t right here. I walked back into the dining room and socked the state representative dead in his jaw, knocking him clean out. Rebecca ran in after me to see what I have done. She seen the unconscious man and began crying.

“You must go, you picked a fight that you cannot win,” she said.

“I don’t care,” I responded. “It’s obvious that he’s stealing from the districts, and it’s obvious that he has some sort of sensitive control over you. There’s something he’s not telling me about the last DR. I don’t know how’ll I will get out of this, but I have enough common sense to stop this guy while he’s ahead. Tell me everything you know about the country below the border.”

The End.