You'll Like It Here (Everybody Does) by Ruth White Read Free Book Online

Province!”
    One of Amanda’s hands flies to her heart. “Is that right!” She is so bowled over, she can’t say another wordat the moment. Then, collecting herself, she narrows her hazel eyes and leans in close to whisper, “Are people really eating rats over there?”
    David and I exchange significant glances. Eating rats?
    â€œWhat sort of accommodations can we expect?” Mom tries to change the subject.
    But Amanda will not be sidetracked. “From the Western Province. I declare!” she says, looking at us with awe on her face. It seems she can’t get over it. “Is it really as gross as they say?”
    â€œWe prefer not to talk about it,” Mom says softly, and she’s totally believable.
    â€œOh, yes, of course! Of course!” Amanda comes to her senses and quickly begins a search on her computer. “Now, let me see,” she muses aloud. “Two adults and two children—a girl and a boy. We have a three-bedroom, two-bath available in Sector B, Building 9, Apartment 603. I just need to get some information first. Names and ages?”
    â€œI am sixty years old!” Gramps lies with confidence, shaving off five years, as usual. “My name is Sam Lane. This is my daughter, Linda Blue, a widow, age thirty-seven, and her two children, Meggie, eleven, and David, thirteen.”
    â€œAnd the season of each birthday?”
    The season? It’s a strange question, but one by one we answer, and Amanda enters the data into her computer.
    â€œEscaped from Western Province,” she says aloud as she enters that information as well. Then she turns back to us and gives us her brightest smile. “The apartment isfurnished with everything you need—furniture, dishes, linens, you name it. You’ll find directions to Sector B at the bus stop. Welcome to Fashion City, Mr. Lane, Mrs. Blue, Meggie, and David. I’m sure you’ll like it here. Everybody does.”
    â€œWhat about employment?” Gramps asks. “Officer Brent said jobs are available?”
    â€œThat’s very true,” Amanda Harp chirps. “You need to go to the employment agency to apply. It’s the brick building just up the street.”
    â€œOfficer Brent also said something about food and clothing rations,” Mom says.
    â€œCertainly! Where is your head, Amanda?” Amanda chides herself. Then she tears two sheets of what look like postage stamps from a black book. “This ought to do until your first payday. And if you’re hungry now, you can use them at any restaurant.”
    Mom takes the stamps and thanks Amanda.
    â€œOh, don’t thank me. Thank the Fathers!” Amanda says.

• 8 •
 
    Outside, the sun has burned off much of the smog. Mom points to the only brick building in sight and says, “The employment office.”
    We walk down the street, and Gramps puts an arm around my shoulders. “Hungry, Meggie B.?”
    â€œI could eat a pizza the size of a piano.”
    â€œWell, maybe we can find one when we’re done at the employment agency.”
    I guess this won’t be so bad. The people certainly seem happy. We can start all over again here in the city, and perhaps later find a home in the countryside.
    At the Fashion City employment agency there’s a small stoop in front of the door, with five steps leading up to it. In the window is a sign— NO CHILDREN ALLOWED .
    Mom and Gramps look at me and David, then at each other.
    â€œYou go in first and I’ll stay with the kids,” Mom says to Gramps.
    â€œWe’re not babies, you know!” David says. “We can stay out here alone.”
    â€œWe don’t know anything about this place,” Mom argues. “I prefer not to leave you unsupervised.”
    â€œThey will be perfectly safe, madam,” comes a big booming voice, and there is Officer Brent walking up behind us, twirling his nightstick. His face is