The Bureau of Dreams to be Continued by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

The Bureau of Dreams to be Continued

Page 86

and said; “Go ahead, now. You’ll meet lots of new friends.” She quickly turned and left, not wanting her little one to see the tears in her eyes.

Zeke stood at the gate and watched his mother disappear into the crowd at the corner. He ran to that side of the schoolyard and gripped the chain link fence. He could see her cross the street and go back to their apartment building. He started to cry, perhaps instinctively knowing that the best part of his life was officially over, the horror now born, like the strange beast slouching its way to Bethlehem. As he cried, he thought; “Mom, you’ve already taught me reading, writing and arithmetic. Don’t let these ‘professionals’ foul it up, at least not yet. God, they’ll probably try to socialize me, too.”

The tears got worse as he looked around to see all the other kids, now on the opposite side of the schoolyard, right next to the school. “Wasn’t there already an adequate supply of willing victims?” he thought. He saw some kids cross the street running and laughing, probably not wanting to be late for the hanging. “They couldn’t possibly want to be here, could they? If this is an improvement, I’d hate to see where they’re coming from.”

His crying became even more intense as he stared at his apartment’s entry, hoping that at any instant Mom would pop out,