Short story submission by Amy Mastrangelo, presented at the 2012 Annual Writer's Showcase at Lebanon Valley College:
Part 1
The silver building was cylinder-shaped and had no windows. A long line of people stood waiting to step inside every day.
“What’s going to happen to those people, Mommy?” her daughter asked with cantaloupe eyes.
“Oh, they’re just waiting to see some people.” The young mother was frail, her face drawn.
“Who, Mommy?”
She stopped walking, hesitant to answer. "People,” her voice shook, “people who will make them feel better.”
“Like a doctor?”
“Yeah, like a doctor.”
“But not a doctor?”
The mother paused again. “No, not quite,” she answered, and her seven-year-old daughter seemed satisfied.
Tomorrow her daughter would be taken to the Waiting Room. Tomorrow was her day, but she was not afraid.
“Home!” her daughter squealed.
The house was a small, gray cube, like so many others. Inside, a fire danced and soft music spread through the house like air freshener. Everything was in its place.
The mother sat down on her red leather couch and read her daughter the book all parents were supposed to read their children called, The New Life:
"Have one house, little Andrea. Have one child. Have one pet. Have only what you need, and do not be upset. Have one husband, little Andrea. But let him have one job. Take care of your daughter or son. Go on a vacation, but only go on one. Visit the Psychic once a month, little Andrea. He will tell you what to expect. He will keep you sane. You won't have reason to cry, and you won't feel any pain.”
Part 2
Though most of the city was gray, there was an emerald grove of evergreen trees, and in this grove sat the sleek, silver building known as the Waiting Room. Once the mother and daughter stepped inside this room, their ears were filled with children's laughter. The mother felt that this was a safe place to leave her daughter, amongst other children, toys, and adult Helpers. She notified a Helper of her daughter's presence and she was wished a "Happy Checkup."
Within minutes she was waiting in the long line leading from the cylindrical silver building with no windows. She thought of her daughter. She thought of her future. Then, following the rules, she attempted to clear her mind of all thoughts until she saw him.
"Good morning," he greeted her once she was inside the building. "Please have a seat."
She sat and became lost in his olive eyes. His mustache hung down to each side of his mouth, curling at the ends like music notes. His skin was beginning to sag, and his hairline was receding.
"Are you sane?" he asked her. "Are you of the right mind?"
"Yes."
"Then you will prosper. You have nothing to fear. Follow the ways of the government and you will be happy, your daughter will grow and continue to be happy, and your husband will continue his success in his line of work. All will be okay as long as you are of the right mind."
"Thank you, Psychic. Please accept this as a token of my appreciation," she spoke and handed him one hundred dollars.
"Thank you, and be sure to return this same date and time next month."
"Of course."
Everything was right in the world. That's what they were told, and so it was.
Part 1
The silver building was cylinder-shaped and had no windows. A long line of people stood waiting to step inside every day.
“What’s going to happen to those people, Mommy?” her daughter asked with cantaloupe eyes.
“Oh, they’re just waiting to see some people.” The young mother was frail, her face drawn.
“Who, Mommy?”
She stopped walking, hesitant to answer. "People,” her voice shook, “people who will make them feel better.”
“Like a doctor?”
“Yeah, like a doctor.”
“But not a doctor?”
The mother paused again. “No, not quite,” she answered, and her seven-year-old daughter seemed satisfied.
Tomorrow her daughter would be taken to the Waiting Room. Tomorrow was her day, but she was not afraid.
“Home!” her daughter squealed.
The house was a small, gray cube, like so many others. Inside, a fire danced and soft music spread through the house like air freshener. Everything was in its place.
The mother sat down on her red leather couch and read her daughter the book all parents were supposed to read their children called, The New Life:
"Have one house, little Andrea. Have one child. Have one pet. Have only what you need, and do not be upset. Have one husband, little Andrea. But let him have one job. Take care of your daughter or son. Go on a vacation, but only go on one. Visit the Psychic once a month, little Andrea. He will tell you what to expect. He will keep you sane. You won't have reason to cry, and you won't feel any pain.”
Part 2
Though most of the city was gray, there was an emerald grove of evergreen trees, and in this grove sat the sleek, silver building known as the Waiting Room. Once the mother and daughter stepped inside this room, their ears were filled with children's laughter. The mother felt that this was a safe place to leave her daughter, amongst other children, toys, and adult Helpers. She notified a Helper of her daughter's presence and she was wished a "Happy Checkup."
Within minutes she was waiting in the long line leading from the cylindrical silver building with no windows. She thought of her daughter. She thought of her future. Then, following the rules, she attempted to clear her mind of all thoughts until she saw him.
"Good morning," he greeted her once she was inside the building. "Please have a seat."
She sat and became lost in his olive eyes. His mustache hung down to each side of his mouth, curling at the ends like music notes. His skin was beginning to sag, and his hairline was receding.
"Are you sane?" he asked her. "Are you of the right mind?"
"Yes."
"Then you will prosper. You have nothing to fear. Follow the ways of the government and you will be happy, your daughter will grow and continue to be happy, and your husband will continue his success in his line of work. All will be okay as long as you are of the right mind."
"Thank you, Psychic. Please accept this as a token of my appreciation," she spoke and handed him one hundred dollars.
"Thank you, and be sure to return this same date and time next month."
"Of course."
Everything was right in the world. That's what they were told, and so it was.
RSS Feed