The gray sky out the window was a reflection of the world we live in now. There is nothing but gloom and doom on the television. The crime rate is through the roof, and the government is putting controls in place that eradicate our basic rights. They have instituted curfews, mandated death sentences, and control our movements throughout the country. Anyone who doesn’t conform is labeled a traitor. “All for the betterment of the country!” That is the slogan of the times.
I hear my son Alfred playing in his room just off the living room of our small two-room apartment provided by the current regime. I can’t be heard saying regime for fear of labels, so I only think it to myself. Words are now as illegal as actions, so I must be careful for the safety of my family. I will not share what I think with anyone because they are watching us everywhere, including our own homes.
I turn to the television playing the state-run evening news. Apparently, one of the other regions has decided to tax all incoming goods from ours. Since the country has been broken up since the Civil War of 2025, things have become tense. We live in Region Three, the farming region. We have all been assigned regions of responsibility for the good of the whole. I work in the plant that processes the food to be shipped to other regions and hope this won’t be another round of layoffs.
I want a better life for Alfred, but at this rate, I don’t think that is possible. He is turning seven in six months, and that means testing. Our fearless leaders, in their infinite wisdom, have decided to test children at seven for psychopathic tendencies with a test they call the (TK) test. They, being the government, have said this will decrease crime within the region. The children are to be re-programmed to be productive members of society at camps on the outskirts of town, but they don’t tell us how that is accomplished.
I hear Alfred in the other room again. He is watching government programming and being indoctrinated. It is required and monitored by a special television that is provided. It has a built-in camera, and the children are required to watch at least three hours a day. It gives a history of our region and teaches about the leaders that are helping and creating a better society for us. It is all garbage in my opinion, but I remember the times when we had the freedom to choose how our children are taught, but that is gone like dust in the wind.
I sit down in the chair and put my head in my hands and begin to cry softly. Only six months and Alfred will have to be tested, and then I hear the news caster say they have a special report for all parents:
As of today, all children will need to be tested at the age of six. It has been determined by our very brilliant doctors that six is now the age to look for criminal tendencies. There will be a special testing facility in your area listed after this broadcast, and the names of the children that need to be tested. You will have twenty-four hours to bring them in, or you will be fined and arrested.
I looked back towards Alfred’s room and back to the screen. Maybe they missed his name, I hoped, but no, he was there right near the top with an asterisk next to his name since he was older than six. Just then, I hear Margie open the door and lay the groceries on the kitchen table.
“Oh, Mickey, have you heard?”, apparently word was all around already because Margie was crying hysterically. “I thought we had at least six months before we had to worry about this.” I took her into my arms and tried to console her. I whispered in her ear, “You have to get control of yourself, Margie. They may be watching our reactions.” She nodded and did her best to control her emotions. We knew we had to take our son to the testing facility tomorrow and needed to prepare him. We knew he wouldn’t understand.
Reading, Writing, and Forget Arithmetic 
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