Filtered by G.K. Lamb Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: G.K. Lamb
wisely.”
Picking up his newest copy of Drumbeat, he begins to read. The other students quickly log into their terminals and begin watching videos and instant messaging each other.
Normally the computers are highly restricted. When we have access to them we use them for specific lesson plans, and Speer is always watching. But today is different.
This unexpected turn of events fills me with excitement. Using the computers I can search for answers; I can start uncovering the truth.
The three girls sitting next to me pull markers from their pockets and with great zeal begin scribbling on each other’s masks with shapes and colors of every variety. The desire to decorate my mask never crossed my mind. Sure I’ve seen it done a few times over the years at school, and at the rare sleep-over, but it never made my mask feel like mine.
Decorating your mask does nothing to alleviate its discomfort or confinement. I may have done it when I was a little girl, but now it feels wrong to personalize something that erases your identity. If it brings them some measure of happiness who am I to stop them, but no one is going to look at a dozen kaleidoscopic patterns and think, “Oh, that’s so and so.” They’ll just see another young girl who has become complacent in her prison.
They might be, but I am not.
Despite how I feel about their choice of activities it has given me the opportunity I need. Every student must log in with their own individualized user ID and password. Once they’ve done so, every action they take is copied off of their terminal and sent to the school’s central database where Inspector Aldridge picks through every line to ensure we aren’t looking at restricted materials.
In my eighth year, I searched “what makes the Great Society so great?” That little act would have landed me two weeks detention if I hadn’t been able to convince the Authoritarian and Inspector Aldridge that I had not meant for my search to be sarcastic and that I actually wanted to compare my own list of what makes the Great Society great with what the computer said. When the Authoritarian commanded me to recite what makes the Great Society humanity’s crown jewel, I felt genuine terror. Each word of praise I spoke fell from trembling lips.
I haven’t used computers to satisfy my curiosity since. And I fear, that if I am caught today, I won’t be able to force praise through my lips and escape from punishment. And at my age I know I wouldn’t get off easily with only detention. But I have a plan to dodge suspicion, and I think it’ll work.
Of the three girls, the one sitting next to me is Victoriana. Her unmistakable bright yellow hair flows past her shoulders and to the middle of her back. Normally the thought of getting someone else in trouble by using their login wouldn’t cross my mind, but with Victoriana I feel no guilt.
I know how she treats me, and I’ve seen the way she manipulates others, spreads lies and starts rumors. I’m not jealous of her or her popularity. Not in the least. I simply care nothing for her. She coerces and deceives to get what she wants. She is a living embodiment of what I feel is wrong with our society. Besides, her parents are powerful people. Being high-level bureaucrats, I’m sure they could convince people to look the other way in the case of one transgression.
Plus, Victoriana is an easy target. She is the only girl to have ever gone to Neptus Memorial. With her initials “VZ” that meant her username was “VZ1”. Knowing her username wouldn’t be enough, but a few weeks back I watched her type in her password, ‘vicky123’. She’s made this almost too easy. I know it’s risky, and Victoriana might get in serious trouble, but this is my best shot. I have to take it.
In the corner of my eye I watch her draw detailed patterns onto the mask of whoever is sitting next to her. Taking a deep breath, I begin.
My fingers dance through the projected light from the terminal.
Picking up his newest copy of Drumbeat, he begins to read. The other students quickly log into their terminals and begin watching videos and instant messaging each other.
Normally the computers are highly restricted. When we have access to them we use them for specific lesson plans, and Speer is always watching. But today is different.
This unexpected turn of events fills me with excitement. Using the computers I can search for answers; I can start uncovering the truth.
The three girls sitting next to me pull markers from their pockets and with great zeal begin scribbling on each other’s masks with shapes and colors of every variety. The desire to decorate my mask never crossed my mind. Sure I’ve seen it done a few times over the years at school, and at the rare sleep-over, but it never made my mask feel like mine.
Decorating your mask does nothing to alleviate its discomfort or confinement. I may have done it when I was a little girl, but now it feels wrong to personalize something that erases your identity. If it brings them some measure of happiness who am I to stop them, but no one is going to look at a dozen kaleidoscopic patterns and think, “Oh, that’s so and so.” They’ll just see another young girl who has become complacent in her prison.
They might be, but I am not.
Despite how I feel about their choice of activities it has given me the opportunity I need. Every student must log in with their own individualized user ID and password. Once they’ve done so, every action they take is copied off of their terminal and sent to the school’s central database where Inspector Aldridge picks through every line to ensure we aren’t looking at restricted materials.
In my eighth year, I searched “what makes the Great Society so great?” That little act would have landed me two weeks detention if I hadn’t been able to convince the Authoritarian and Inspector Aldridge that I had not meant for my search to be sarcastic and that I actually wanted to compare my own list of what makes the Great Society great with what the computer said. When the Authoritarian commanded me to recite what makes the Great Society humanity’s crown jewel, I felt genuine terror. Each word of praise I spoke fell from trembling lips.
I haven’t used computers to satisfy my curiosity since. And I fear, that if I am caught today, I won’t be able to force praise through my lips and escape from punishment. And at my age I know I wouldn’t get off easily with only detention. But I have a plan to dodge suspicion, and I think it’ll work.
Of the three girls, the one sitting next to me is Victoriana. Her unmistakable bright yellow hair flows past her shoulders and to the middle of her back. Normally the thought of getting someone else in trouble by using their login wouldn’t cross my mind, but with Victoriana I feel no guilt.
I know how she treats me, and I’ve seen the way she manipulates others, spreads lies and starts rumors. I’m not jealous of her or her popularity. Not in the least. I simply care nothing for her. She coerces and deceives to get what she wants. She is a living embodiment of what I feel is wrong with our society. Besides, her parents are powerful people. Being high-level bureaucrats, I’m sure they could convince people to look the other way in the case of one transgression.
Plus, Victoriana is an easy target. She is the only girl to have ever gone to Neptus Memorial. With her initials “VZ” that meant her username was “VZ1”. Knowing her username wouldn’t be enough, but a few weeks back I watched her type in her password, ‘vicky123’. She’s made this almost too easy. I know it’s risky, and Victoriana might get in serious trouble, but this is my best shot. I have to take it.
In the corner of my eye I watch her draw detailed patterns onto the mask of whoever is sitting next to her. Taking a deep breath, I begin.
My fingers dance through the projected light from the terminal.