Them and Us by Paul Schueller - HTML preview

Chapter 3

Sam wandered around the city for much of the next day thinking about what his dad had said.

There were people everywhere but he had never felt more alone. He finally shuffled back into the apartment. There was no sign of his sister but his parents were sitting at the kitchen table as if they were waiting for him to arrive.

Sam stayed aggressive and initiated the conversation. “Have you changed your mind yet?”

“Us was planning to talk about you and your future.” John shot back.

“That’s not what us agreed to last night.” Sam stated.

“You said that was what you wanted but that doesn’t mean us agreed.”

Sam was defiant. “First I think you owe me an explanation.”

John and Addie glanced at each other and then Addie began to speak “Ok then Sam. We’ll do it your way. I have a real hard time letting someone tell me what I can do with my body, and your dad, he struggled his whole life with trying to fit in. Sometimes he just doesn’t and was happy to support my decision.” They look lovingly at each other and held hands across the table.

Sam was more open knowing his parents had respected his priorities. “Trust me, I get that but you still have to live within the rules. Each legitimate gets 85 years if they last that long and you used your replacement years on me and Erica. What’s not to understand? Do you have any plan here at all?”

Addie continued. “Us really don’t other than trying to get to six months. Maybe us won’t be able to keep the baby but they won’t force an abortion then.”

“Well, then us agree that you don’t have much of a plan.” Sam stated.

Addie responded. “It’s not your problem. Let’s talk about your future plans instead.”

“I don’t think you get it. This is my problem! They could sterilize me or take away my right to have a kid or access to the money for selling my offspring rights.”

“The city would never do that!” Addie stated.

Sam was incredulous. “Seriously? The city is going to get their years one way or another. It’s still an extra life above quota.”

John jumped in. “OK. Us gets it. Us will figure this out. Your mom is only a couple months along.”

Sam wasn’t letting go. “I could trade my life for one in a dumpy city somewhere else in the world then you’d only be a little bit short. Maybe a couple of your parents could terminate early and then you’d have enough money to buy a full life credit. Or I could get sterilized and you could use my offspring credit. That would get the city’s ledger back in line.”

“Us are not doing any of those things.” John stated.

Sam continued to probe for solutions. “What if one of our grandparents has a long-term illness?

We’ve all heard the ads about the city paying a premium for the last 5 or 10 years of someone’s life if their illness is going to run up big medical costs. Better for the city to pay to terminate rather than pay for expensive treatment.”

“That’s crazy.” John yelled.

“Is it? They will be old enough soon that you will have their power of attorney. You can do whatever you want with them once they are 70.” Sam said.

“Well, right now us want to do nothing.” John said.

They sat without speaking for a couple of minutes as Addie wept quietly and they each thought about the ramifications of their limited options.

Finally, Sam spoke up again knowing that portion of the conversation was over and hoping to head off the next subject. “I’m not too interested in talking to you two about a future I might not even have.”

John regained his composure and said. “Well, you just listen then. I tried to lie and hide who I was and look what that got me? They weren’t comfortable that I could be outside the city and wouldn’t run. If you do that same thing they’ll know you’re lying and won’t give you a chance.”

“What choice do I have?” Sam asked.

“Embrace your genetics. The odds that the Wander Gene gets passed down are getting pretty remote. I’ve read that there are very few like you coming into the workforce this year and even less in the future. I think if you’re upfront you’ll have a chance. Let them know you’re not afraid of being out there and willing to do anything for the city. They might just be desperate enough to give you a shot.”

“Thanks for the advice but I’ll have to figure it out from here. You have enough to worry about.”

Sam said as he looked at his mom. “This could end very badly.”

Sam got up and left the room.