CURRENT APPLICANTS
Writers
- Sadko [Entry: http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=276280 ]
- Azure Kite [Entry: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZX5572-DsHHlv25nE7NdG_AVvAFNw36njZokLH59ISI/edit?usp=sharing ]
- Acutelatios [Entry: Time of Change ]
- Reconcile [Entry]I strolled along in the walkway outside the Church in a rainy evening, with my hoodie on. The pour of rain was really heavy, that it was flooding the town quickly as possible. As I walked along with my jacket wet, I saw a skinny, shirtless homeless person sitting in the side wall of the sidewalk like a deadman, getting poured down by the heavy rain. With all my concerns, I immediately took off my jacket and ran into him. I covered his head with one side of my jacket, and the other on mine, like I was making a blanket fort. I sat down with him. Unexpectedly, the man's head turned to me, and smiled. "It's been a really long time since someone did this to me", said the man. "What? So someone did this to you before?" I asked. "Back in 2007, yes. Someone covered me with an umbrella until the rain went out. He was a really kind man." he said. "I wonder if humans could be this kind." "Well sir, this jacket's yours now." I gave the jacket to the man. I stood up, with the rain still pouring on my head, like a giant water pot is pouring on me. "I couldn't thank you enough, wise man," he Thanked. "Wise man? Nonono, Im not really that wise-" "It doesn't matter of who you are on what you think of who you are. Even a small move may determine your true self, there won't be any take backs. Even the most roughest biker can be the most loving dad. Thank You." I was shocked. 'Is this a poor guy or someone else?' I thought. But after that, I swept the thought away, and nervously thanked him for the words. "T-Thank You...I never thought of th-" "No. Thank you, young man. I can finally be in warmth" the man interrupted. It went silent for a moment, except the sound of the heavy rain crashing down through land. The poor man smiled at me, like he was my dad being proud of my graduation speech.
He awoke in a cold sweat. He panted for a minute. Grimacing, he thought, “Another bad dream.” His eyes wandered to the closed shutters. It was light outside. Just one more day until break. Bliss for two weeks. He didn’t need to feel out of place for two whole weeks. He didn’t have to work at meaninglessness for two entire weeks. All the academy was is just preparation to government jobs. Jobs. The idea that bothered him always had returned yet again to his mind. He slowly crawled across his bed to the window. Very carefully, he peered through the slits of the shutters. To his expectation and remorse, the menacing grey tower was still there, 5 kilometers off, where the government had people work. “Crunching numbers” and “developing technologies for keeping the peace” were what they busied themselves with. All day. Every day. Until break.
Ah, break. The thought reentered his mind. One day until break. That reminded him, he must get going. By his reckoning, it was already 6:30. By this time, he would have to eat his breakfast, and walk swiftly to the academy.
Arthur Magnes arose from his bed. As he always did, he put on his five-year-old uniform. The vibrant red color had been worn away after years of use. He remembered very intently the first day he received the garbs. Five years ago. To the day, in fact.
Arthur had gone with his mother to the first time to the academy. There, a uniform was already assigned to him. It was made with “Polyflex” fabric so it stretched as students grew. That moment he first glanced at the clothing.
He despised the garments from that moment on. It was a symbol of oppression, of the depressive and invisibly chained life he was destined to have.
Arthur shook the memory out of his head, walked out of his small room in his three roomed house, and into the main area. It was hardly a sight, with gray, cement walls, thrashed furniture,
His mother was already there, cooking eggs. She was playing a song in the background, some old record she had found while wandering as a child. The crackling of the aged record was oddly soothing.
“When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me. Speaking words of wisdom...” the record played. Magenta had her eyes closed, almost meditating, while preparing breakfast. She was in a trance-like state. Like all of her troubles melted away behind her. As if all the turmoil, all the depression, was just a lost memory.
“Mom?” Arthur said, “It’s 6:30, I have to leave for the academy for ten minutes.” Magenta stopped at the sound of her son’s voice. She fell back into the darkness of her reality. Her childhood, her voided twenties, and her husband briskly telling her, "I have to go, take care of Arthur. I have to go."
“Mom?” Arthur repeated. Magenta looked at him with a smile, though it wasn’t difficult to see the artificiality of it. Her receded eyes gazed at her son.
“Good morning, dear!” she said, disguising her true emotion. “Well, it seems like I don’t have to wake you up anymore! Just like your father, just like your father...” She stood there a minute remembering Jonathon Magnes. “Oh yes! Your eggs! Here you go!”
She passed him a plate of nearly stale scrambled eggs. This was very good quality at the Magnes household. Of course, this is very low standard to the government workers.
“How are you doing in school? Are you making friends?” this was his mother trying to make conversation. But Arthur wasn’t listening. He was deep in his own thoughts. What to do with his break. He could do anything, really. Go to the market; walk into town, maybe even read the book he found in the Ditch. Non-educational books were banned in Lotterville, the town in which Arthur lived. Any books you could find were a small fortune in the more dangerous parts in town.
They ate the rest of their meal in silence, each in their own clouded minds. Arthur was the first one to speak up.
“Thanks, Mom. I’m off to school then.”
“Alright dear, have a nice day.”
“I will.”
Arthur was already at the door when he heard his mother’s voice.
“And Arthur?”
“Yes?”
“Be safe.”
He shut the door without a reply.
- Poppetje3D[Entry: N/A ]
- Bl3u[Entry: "That's interesting and all, but, where's the part where I care?" [Douchery at its finest]
"Hold. . .On. . .I'm tired running after you!" [Fatigue] ]
-Pox[Entry: "God, I'm bored as fuck" [Boredom]
"Hahahah. HAHAHAHA. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" [Induces a sign of insanity] ]
