Transparent Color's

1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Five steps to my education. There are three gray buildings, right next to each other. Building 1 has ages four through seven, building 2 has ages eight through twelve, and building 3, my building, has ages thirteen through seventeen. I pull open the heavy wooden door and enter the classroom. There are thirty seats, ten rows going down and three rows across. I go to my usual seat in the back row to the far left.

As soon as I sit down a loud voice startles me, “Hi Maggie!” Anna Lou says.

I should be use to her by now, I see her every day. There is something about her I just can’t get used to. Maybe it’s her joy about everything, or my lack of joy, that keeps me closed off from really getting to know her.

She faces me with her pink striped black hair, pink contacts, and heavily pasted on pink eye shadow. Even though I find her quite annoying, she is the closest “friend” I have. I’m not what you call social, I kind of have trust issues, amongst other issues, but she’s, besides my cousin Toby, the only one I can say I can stand to even be around. It’s an odd combination, but it somehow works. She does most of the talking, so I don’t have to, which leaves me more to my thoughts.

“Hi Anna. How are you today?” my usual reply. She smiles and begins listing all the things that made her happy this morning and how she loves the color pink.

“You are so lucky to have your birthday in the month of April; I would die to have the color pink on my birthday,” she says with her hands over her heart.

I just smile in agreement, but secretly I hate the color pink. Anna was born in October, and that color is orange. I personally would rather have orange over pink. Pink is too cheery and I’m not much of a cheery person.

“Oh pink tulips, Maggie, why is your bun so messy?” the shock on her face is priceless.

Anna gets out of her seat, which is placed in front of mine, and observes my bun. “You know you’re going to get in trouble again. Here let me fix it.”

Before I can say no she pulls the twisty out of my hair and hands me the jeweled pin. “Pink flowers, only three minutes left.” She yanks my head back and runs her fingers through my hair, as if she were combing it. Thank God there were no snarls. Her quick fingers move, and sculpt my hair into a perfect looking bun. She is talented, I give her that. She places the jewel pin back in my hair and literally leaps to her bag and pulls out her compact mirror and places it in front of my face.

“Beautiful!” she says excitedly.

I despise being conformed like everyone else, but I’ll say “Thank you Anna, it does look beautiful,” with a kind smile. She smiles back, and then goes back to her seat just in time for the bell.

My mind now off the situation with my hair, I realize the other students staring at me. I catch eye contact with Jimmy sitting in the front row, like he normally does. He sits there with a smirk on his face, and then turns in his seat to look at the teacher. My eyes now see Mrs. Flench looking right at me.

“You’re lucky to have such a good friend, Magolin.” I then hear some chuckles from the other students. How immature, I can’t wait to get out of this school. Ugh, but then that means I’m eighteen, why does my mind have to be so torn. To make the situation pass, I give a smile and agree.

We then proceed to sing the City songs, read the rules and guidelines, then individually asked a series of questions about our history.

“The Organizers.”

“The Organizers are Mister Minds league of men that consist of thirty. The Organizers job is to develop the rules, guidelines and punishments; they set forth the society we live in. I mean they help set forth the society we live in.” Lilly Sue sits back down at her seat.

I hate hearing about the Organizers. There have been rumors that my father was one of the originals, but disagreed and was thrown out of his position. Now and again people look at me with sadness in their face and make irritating comments like “You poor girl” or “They were good people” and the one I hate the most, “It is an unfortunate circumstance”.

Mrs. Flench turns to another victim.

“Leo, who is Mr. Minds?”

Leo stumbles out of his seat and shouts out, “MR. MINDS”

“Inside voice, Leo.”

“Sorry, Ma’am.” He clears his throat, “Mr. Minds, is Our Controller, our Leader, our Commander, and our Grace giver. He came to rule twenty years ago, got rid of the heinous rebels, set forth our protected barrier, and keeps the peace.”

“Yes, and how does he keep the peace?”

Leo takes a second to gather up his thoughts, “He, he constructed a system. That, that, it, it, ...” clears his throat, poor kid is sweating up a storm, “That allows us to be given a job, a source of income, and a mate. To live life in a route so there is no mix ups, worries or stress.”

“Yes and what are the job occupations?”

“guard, steel worker, coal miner, clothing designer, construction worker, electrician, medical assistant, shop keeper, collector, and baker. Each one….”

My mind drifts, I wonder which out of the 10 I will get. I’ve spent hours each day in class trying to master at least one of them. I feel I excel as a medical assistant, but what really determines your career is the end of schooling test. I better not get clothes designer, a laughable position, or baker, I burn things. I personally want to be a Collector. It’s hard labor, which is why guys are usually picked for that position, but I believe I can do it, plus I’ll have some kind of freedom, unlike this place. We are told every day “You must follow the rules”, thinking for yourself is not required. Whatever happened to Expression? Well that is what my journal is for I guess, it keeps my mind sane.

“Thank you Leo, that will be good enough, you may sit, and maybe wipe off your head. Jimmy, what happens if you do not comply with the system?”

I watch him stand up with a smug look on his face. I tune him out as he talks. He too turns eighteen, but in three days instead of four. Everyone says we will most likely be pared off as mates since our ages are so close. God help me if we are. He’s not a bad looking boy, I often glance at him when he’s not looking because he is so pretty, then hate myself afterwards. With his arrogance and my stubbornness, we are bound to destroy each other. I close my eyes, I wish thoughts can leave your head on command. I open them back up and decide to tune him back in.

“…that is a must. If you do not then you will be sent to the Gutter. A horrid place…”

Ugh I can’t stand his voice, Tune out! Yes, The Gutter a horrid place indeed. People are just thrown onto a slab of cement on the ground. Forced to do all the dirty jobs to pay their way back into society. If they are still defiant, and refuse to earn their way back, then they are punished by death. The Organizers are very creative when it comes to the death penalty. Just last week a man was left in a box for all to watch him dehydrate to death. It’s so inhumane, and evil. I’m glad my father was rumored to have disagreed with them and thrown out, I don’t want to have any attachments to them what-so-ever!

I tune back in, “So you see it is best to obey, and follow the system that was built in our best interest. To help perfect our lives and make it… well easier.” He lifts his head up slightly and smirks. When he takes his seat, he glances at me, so I look away.

“Nicely said Jimmy, you would make a fine Organizer one day. Alright class it is lunch time, be back promptly.”

Anna and I walk out of the classroom to the building next to building 1; this is where the cafeteria is held. It’s a much smaller building then the classrooms, so lunches are scheduled at different times, mine being the last to eat. The inside has enough tables and chairs for all to sit, but it’s too close for comfort, so I go outside to eat. Anna most of the time follows me, but if it’s too hot, she’ll stay inside since she doesn’t like to get sweaty. Vice versa with the cold weather. Today she comes out.

“It’s such a pinktastic day!” She then squeals with laughter.

I can’t help but laugh, certainly not for the same reason she is laughing though. Most of the time I’m just so dumb founded by the things that come out of this girl’s mouth, it’s mind blowing. At the same time that simple joy she has, that I don’t, rubs off on me and gives me a moment’s laughter. Just for that moment I feel like a kid with no worries.

Anna suddenly stops laughing and turns to me with a serious look on her face, “I saw you at the fence staring at that statue again.” She stares at me waiting for a response.

“Yes, you saw right. I guess I feel it wouldn’t be a good start of a day if I didn’t,” I say. Now a little shocked with my own answer.

“Hmm, well that’s a weird start, I think you should be looking at real guys, you know since you technically only have three more days.”

“Yikes, only three more days, how unfortunate for me.” I give a little laugh to ease the pain.

Anna looks back up at me with some sandwich in her mouth, and tries to say with a mouth full “No at al” she swallows and says again “No not at all, it’s a privilege to finally get your career and soul mate!” She again puts her hands over her heart, and makes some kind of swooning sound. I feel irritation creeping up.

“It’s not a privilege, and it won’t be my soul mate, but merely someone I have to be stuck with,” I stop before going on I can see the shock in her face, so I continue in a nicer manner, “I’m just nervous about the whole thing, once I leave I won’t be coming back the same, or at all, you know. Plus I truly want someone who wants to take care of me because he wants too. Not forced too.” I try to express my feelings, but I can tell it is going over her head, so I’ll just save that for my journal later. No need to continue with this I distract Ann with another question, “I wonder what my career will be?”

Her face transforms into a smile again, “It has to be Medical assistant. You are the best in our class.”

I would have to agree, most of the class is too squeamish. I try to think what to say next when I see out of the corner of my eye, Jimmy approaching. I shift my body to try to ignore his presence, but Anna looks at him and says enthusiastically “Hi Jimmy!” Now I have to look.

“Hello girls. How are you this fine day?” he has a cheesy smile across his face.

Anna giggles, and I say “Well.” The English language can be tricky sometimes. There are too many slangs and double meanings with the simplest words. Like “well” for example. Jimmy could take my response as I am saying how I feel at this moment; that I am feeling healthy, fine etc. or he could take it as I skipped over his question and asked a question myself. Expression of feelings go to those who deserve it, why waste time with that, lets get down to the point of him being here.

“Well, tomorrow is my last day, I’m sure you both are very sad to see me leave…” Tune out; He took it as a question; I guess he’s not as dumb as I thought. I tune back in, “… It’s quite exhausting saying my good-byes. But I’ll be seeing one of you very soon, so try not to cry.” He gives a little chuckle, stops, and then smiles and winks at me.

Ugh, I feel sick again. He rambles on about something else, but I can’t focus, my head feels dizzy. I hear him say he’ll see us back in the classroom. I give an uncomfortable nod and wave. When he leaves his nose is in the air and walks somewhat like a soldier, very straight up and stiff. My thoughts are consumed with his chuckle and wink.

I can’t turn eighteen! How can I stop time? I began to breathe heavily and I can feel Anna starting to freak out. I stop her from calling someone over, and I calm myself down. That was too close; I can’t believe I let my emotions get the best of me. Never again Magolin!

“I’m fine Anna; I think I’m just getting too hot,” I say with a smile.

“Oh, well let’s head to the classroom it’s almost time for class to start anyway.” She gives me a smile back and grabs my arm.

When class is over and I’m walking on the pathway pass building 1, I see Toby sitting on the steps, so I approach him.

“Hey freckles, what’s wrong?” I prop myself down next to him.

He’s looking down at his feet, “They were talking about the up and coming graduates.” He looks up at me and it breaks my heart, “Will I ever see you again?”

I look down at him and try to hold myself together, I force out a reassuring voice, “Of course, you can come over to my ‘new’ home anytime. You are my family, there is no way they can separate us.” I see a smile cross his face but know he knows it’s not true.

Another stupid rule by the Organizers; for such highly influential people they are not the smartest. Once you leave for your job, then you’re gone, stuck in your new daily routine. You only get to see loved ones on special occasions. This means once or twice a year. I try not to show my thoughts on my face, but I sometime just cannot help it. I see him searching my expression.

Tears start to run down his face; I guess I didn’t hide it well enough. He hides his head in my arm out of embarrassment. I lean my head down and kiss the top of his head and tell him he will always be my little freckles. I wipe his tears, holding back mine ,“One day things will change, I can feel it, and once it does you won’t be able to count how many times we will see each other.” He looks up at me and wipes his tears from his cheek.

“Well let’s not go overboard Maggie; I don’t want to get sick of you.” He begins to laugh, so do I. I grab his hand and we run back to make curfew.