the monitors can see right through me.
The room is empty. The technicians have already removed the old projector and replaced it with a new one. Its color is slightly more black, but otherwise it looks no different. New.
We file in and take our regular seats. Hector comes in last and stands at the front of the classroom, shoulders back, arms crossed. The powerful pose he intends to strike comes off as insecure and delusional. He doesn’t scare me, nor do I think anyone in the class would keep themselves from talking on his account, but nonetheless, we all remain silent.
One day he’ll look back on this as the moment he knew he would be a Peace Officer. I don’t have to wonder what kind of person he will become once he’s give his uniform and baton. While I’m speculating on Hector’s potential future, Speer enters the room and interrupts my thoughts. He takes two large steps, stopping in front of Hector.
“Take your seat,” commands Speer.
“Yes, sir!” Hector says without hesitation. He nearly knocks his desk over in his haste to sit down. Speer turns to look at us. Hunched, his clothes are slightly disheveled and his mechanical breaths are coming more rapidly than normal.
“Before you all start raising your hands with questions, let me remind you that when a student is removed from class, their crime and/or punishment is none of your concern. If you prod me or any other faculty member for answers, we will have to assume that you were an accomplice and take you in for punishment as well. Now, I know that you all understand these rules, I’m simply reiterating them for your own good.”
He straightens his back and refastens the two unbuttoned buttons on his shirt. Tucking his shirt in while he walks, Speer moves around the desk and retakes his seat. He sits still for a few seconds until the rasping mechanical sounds of his assisted breaths slow down and become normal again.
“Victoriana is being questioned by Inspector Aldridge. She will not be returning to class today. Because of her actions, twelfth-year computer lab privileges are being revoked until further notice. But it’s not all bad news. We now have more time to watch the Caretaker’s videos. In fact, I think with our extra hour we should be able to squeeze all of them in before the redundant air scrubbers are installed and classes return to normal.”
Speer stands, returns to the command module on the wall and begins to activate the film. The new projector sputters on and once again we are bombarded by the crackling of the speakers.
“Listen to the thoughtful words of the narrator. I hope you take them to heart. Remember, you will be tested on all the different ways a citizen can make their life useful to society.”
The film begins and the narrator’s voice attempts to grab my attention, but I am lost in thought and his inviting tone cannot find me.
What have I done? Was Victoriana being tortured because of me? Had Speer beat her and that’s why he’s out of breath like that? It should be me in there. Looking up at the film for a moment, I can tell they aren’t going to show us any of the more nefarious embodiments of the Great Society like that of the people interrogating Victoriana. Within the walls of this institution, at this very moment, she is terrified and in pain while we all just sit here, vegetative. I feel sick. I need to be more careful in the future. Using the computers was a bad idea, and no matter how cruel and manipulative Victoriana can be, she doesn’t deserve to be punished in my place.
Chapter Seven
I wallow in shame for the rest of the day. My mind is filled with images of Victoriana. Aloof from the world outside my head, I finish the school day. Following the line of students, I leave school and find my place on the bus. Traffic is surprisingly light today so I gaze absently out the window. Watching the city pass by in a blur takes my mind away from the day. It’s amazing how the bleak soot-covered buildings
The room is empty. The technicians have already removed the old projector and replaced it with a new one. Its color is slightly more black, but otherwise it looks no different. New.
We file in and take our regular seats. Hector comes in last and stands at the front of the classroom, shoulders back, arms crossed. The powerful pose he intends to strike comes off as insecure and delusional. He doesn’t scare me, nor do I think anyone in the class would keep themselves from talking on his account, but nonetheless, we all remain silent.
One day he’ll look back on this as the moment he knew he would be a Peace Officer. I don’t have to wonder what kind of person he will become once he’s give his uniform and baton. While I’m speculating on Hector’s potential future, Speer enters the room and interrupts my thoughts. He takes two large steps, stopping in front of Hector.
“Take your seat,” commands Speer.
“Yes, sir!” Hector says without hesitation. He nearly knocks his desk over in his haste to sit down. Speer turns to look at us. Hunched, his clothes are slightly disheveled and his mechanical breaths are coming more rapidly than normal.
“Before you all start raising your hands with questions, let me remind you that when a student is removed from class, their crime and/or punishment is none of your concern. If you prod me or any other faculty member for answers, we will have to assume that you were an accomplice and take you in for punishment as well. Now, I know that you all understand these rules, I’m simply reiterating them for your own good.”
He straightens his back and refastens the two unbuttoned buttons on his shirt. Tucking his shirt in while he walks, Speer moves around the desk and retakes his seat. He sits still for a few seconds until the rasping mechanical sounds of his assisted breaths slow down and become normal again.
“Victoriana is being questioned by Inspector Aldridge. She will not be returning to class today. Because of her actions, twelfth-year computer lab privileges are being revoked until further notice. But it’s not all bad news. We now have more time to watch the Caretaker’s videos. In fact, I think with our extra hour we should be able to squeeze all of them in before the redundant air scrubbers are installed and classes return to normal.”
Speer stands, returns to the command module on the wall and begins to activate the film. The new projector sputters on and once again we are bombarded by the crackling of the speakers.
“Listen to the thoughtful words of the narrator. I hope you take them to heart. Remember, you will be tested on all the different ways a citizen can make their life useful to society.”
The film begins and the narrator’s voice attempts to grab my attention, but I am lost in thought and his inviting tone cannot find me.
What have I done? Was Victoriana being tortured because of me? Had Speer beat her and that’s why he’s out of breath like that? It should be me in there. Looking up at the film for a moment, I can tell they aren’t going to show us any of the more nefarious embodiments of the Great Society like that of the people interrogating Victoriana. Within the walls of this institution, at this very moment, she is terrified and in pain while we all just sit here, vegetative. I feel sick. I need to be more careful in the future. Using the computers was a bad idea, and no matter how cruel and manipulative Victoriana can be, she doesn’t deserve to be punished in my place.
Chapter Seven
I wallow in shame for the rest of the day. My mind is filled with images of Victoriana. Aloof from the world outside my head, I finish the school day. Following the line of students, I leave school and find my place on the bus. Traffic is surprisingly light today so I gaze absently out the window. Watching the city pass by in a blur takes my mind away from the day. It’s amazing how the bleak soot-covered buildings
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