Holly-241: A Short Story

Today was the day; the hardest day of any teenagers life. Holly-241 fidgeted anxiously with the hem of her black school skirt, stomach churning at the thought of what lay just inside the auditorium doors. Professor Marx-93 stood on the front step of the auditorium, trying, unsuccessfully, to hush the loud buzz of student murmurs.

"Today, you will make the biggest decisions of your life. Your career path will determine how the rest of your life pans out, so choose carefully. You can only make the decision once. Good luck," Professor Marx-93 stepped aside, letting the large group of students begin filing into the auditorium.

Holly-241 lagged behind, making her the last to step into the giant, over-crowded auditorium. Banners and stalls had

been set up left, right and centre in hopes of catching the young children's eyes. Many students had flocked to the Entertainment Industries section, but the few straggler headed for the simple career choices, like mechanics or police work. Holly-241 gulped down the bile rising in her throat, and headed over to a small political stall. Two men and two women stood behind the desk, hands clasped tightly behind their backs, hair pulled back or slicked down into the most professional style, wearing their completely white uniform with pride.

"Holly-241," Holly announced herself and her rank, hoping against all odds that her rank wouldn't affect her eligibility to join the political field.

"You've been seen. I am Miranda-41," the woman on the right acknowledged Holly-241.

"I wish to join the political party with the intent to aid and assist our great country in any way I can," Holly-241 stated firmly, hoping she appeared braver than she felt and more worthy than her rank made her out to be.

"241. That is below average ranking for a politician. You may find yourself better suited to the work of a police person," the man next to Miranda-41 pitched in.

"241, is that not the family name with a mental deficiency?" The other woman

asked.

Miranda-41 pulled out a small device, typed a couple of things in, frowned, and returned it to her breast pocket. "It does appear so. Holly-241, provide us a reason we should consider you with your family ranking," Miranda-41 demanded.

Holly took a deep breath, fighting back the emotion that threatened to reveal her as mentally deficient.

"I bear no connection to my family. They cry and laugh, I do not. I am not mentally deficient, and I wish to be individually ranked and removed from my family as a politician," Holly finished, managing to hold her stoic façade long enough to convince Miranda-41.

"Very well. Holly-241, give me your hand," Miranda-41 picked up the small black device off her desk, a device Holly-241 recognised as a chipping gun.

Holly-241 offered Miranda-41 her hand, subtly biting down on the inside of her cheek as the thick needle pierced her wrist, inserting the chip that would forever identify Holly-241 as a political person. Miranda-41 bowed respectfully to Holly-241, waving her hand in front of her signs as a dismissal. Holly-241 mimicked the action and left.

Outside, the warm air seemed to suffocate Holly-241 as her actions weighed down on her chest. Memories of her family crying with her this morning flooded her mind, forcing her to choke down her emotion as she approached Professor Marx-93, who scanned her chip, and then nodded, waving his hand in front of his eyes as a dismissal. Guards in plain white uniforms patrolled the school grounds, wielding light but scary

handguns.

Holly-241 never quite grasped the concept of the world around her, with it's strict rules, white uniforms and the unchangeable "democracy". As much as it was presented as a democracy, Holly-241 saw past the lies and knew that the world's politics was as much of a democracy as every human was a bee.