dormitory. There the young farmhands slept and did as they pleased in their free time. Whitney had a perfect view.
“Do you ever watch them?” Mia asked.
No action was visible, but Mia was sure they were in there, laughing and enjoying their freedom. She wondered if Andrew was still consoling the small worker.
“No,” Whitney said. “They’re too young for us. I want a real man. Sometimes I hear them. They’re loud and obnoxious. They lack any sophistication.”
It wasn’t fair that conversations between the sexes were forbidden unless the man paid the Registry fee to court a wife. Mia thought she’d enjoy their company. She wanted to know why speaking to them was wrong.
“Why does the Registry exist?” Mia asked, still at the window.
“Before the introduction of the Registry disease was rampant and the population faced extinction.”
“No. I have the Guide memorized, too. There must be a reason for the disease.”
Corinna’s article was just a page with only a few paragraphs; the rest of the story was cut off. Mia needed to know more.
Whitney looked confused. “I never thought you cared about this stuff before.”
“I do now,” Mia said.
Whitney took a deep breath before answering. “One night I was upset. I had no prospects. It became clear I probably wouldn’t be getting married. My father tried to cheer me up. He told me that a long time ago the government feared a rebellion. They wanted to make sure the people weren’t smarter than them. It was important that smart people didn’t breed with other smart people. The Registry was created to keep people unintelligent. It’s a population control.
“The government still doesn’t want people getting too smart or having too many smart children,” Whitney said. “I am one of those people, according to my father. My offspring might overthrow them one day, so that’s why they priced me so low, so no husband would desire me. I don’t know if I believe it or not, but it helps me sleep at night.”
Mia thought of Whitney’s impressive math skills and her cheap price tag. The explanation did make sense. Still, Mia wasn’t entirely convinced either. But she did know that this system was wrong, regardless of the rationale. She sat down and took Whitney’s hand. “You’ll still have those genius children, and maybe someday they will come back and overthrow the government.”
“What’s gotten into you?” Whitney asked. “Running away? Inquiring about history? Giving me a real pep talk? I know you; a few months ago you would’ve been dancing with joy over getting married.”
“People change. I guess I just opened my eyes,” Mia said.
“I know that. Trust me, I’m not complaining about the change,” Whitney said. “But people don’t just change that drastically for no reason. Something happened. Tell me.”
Mia couldn’t bring herself to explain the situation to Whitney. She wasn’t ready and she wasn’t sure Whitney was ready to hear it, but she did need to give some reason.
“I just don’t want to end up in an unhappy marriage. I would rather be free and not risk it.”
“What makes you think you would be unhappy? Your parents have a nice life.”
With no education and no professional options, American females are helpless and unaware of their plight. The words rang in Mia’s mind. She had always thought her parents’ marriage was ideal. Her mother was so happy to serve her father’s every whim. But now everything looked different. Her mother did everything her father asked; she had no personality of her own and no care for anyone but him. Not even for her own offspring.
“I want to stay me for a while longer.”
Mia doubted Whitney bought her explanation, but Whitney knew her well enough not to pry. She smiled and squeezed Mia’s hand. The two of them would make it away with ease.
Chapter 6
When courting potential matches, no man wants a talkative lady. It is best for females to avoid speaking unless asked a
“Do you ever watch them?” Mia asked.
No action was visible, but Mia was sure they were in there, laughing and enjoying their freedom. She wondered if Andrew was still consoling the small worker.
“No,” Whitney said. “They’re too young for us. I want a real man. Sometimes I hear them. They’re loud and obnoxious. They lack any sophistication.”
It wasn’t fair that conversations between the sexes were forbidden unless the man paid the Registry fee to court a wife. Mia thought she’d enjoy their company. She wanted to know why speaking to them was wrong.
“Why does the Registry exist?” Mia asked, still at the window.
“Before the introduction of the Registry disease was rampant and the population faced extinction.”
“No. I have the Guide memorized, too. There must be a reason for the disease.”
Corinna’s article was just a page with only a few paragraphs; the rest of the story was cut off. Mia needed to know more.
Whitney looked confused. “I never thought you cared about this stuff before.”
“I do now,” Mia said.
Whitney took a deep breath before answering. “One night I was upset. I had no prospects. It became clear I probably wouldn’t be getting married. My father tried to cheer me up. He told me that a long time ago the government feared a rebellion. They wanted to make sure the people weren’t smarter than them. It was important that smart people didn’t breed with other smart people. The Registry was created to keep people unintelligent. It’s a population control.
“The government still doesn’t want people getting too smart or having too many smart children,” Whitney said. “I am one of those people, according to my father. My offspring might overthrow them one day, so that’s why they priced me so low, so no husband would desire me. I don’t know if I believe it or not, but it helps me sleep at night.”
Mia thought of Whitney’s impressive math skills and her cheap price tag. The explanation did make sense. Still, Mia wasn’t entirely convinced either. But she did know that this system was wrong, regardless of the rationale. She sat down and took Whitney’s hand. “You’ll still have those genius children, and maybe someday they will come back and overthrow the government.”
“What’s gotten into you?” Whitney asked. “Running away? Inquiring about history? Giving me a real pep talk? I know you; a few months ago you would’ve been dancing with joy over getting married.”
“People change. I guess I just opened my eyes,” Mia said.
“I know that. Trust me, I’m not complaining about the change,” Whitney said. “But people don’t just change that drastically for no reason. Something happened. Tell me.”
Mia couldn’t bring herself to explain the situation to Whitney. She wasn’t ready and she wasn’t sure Whitney was ready to hear it, but she did need to give some reason.
“I just don’t want to end up in an unhappy marriage. I would rather be free and not risk it.”
“What makes you think you would be unhappy? Your parents have a nice life.”
With no education and no professional options, American females are helpless and unaware of their plight. The words rang in Mia’s mind. She had always thought her parents’ marriage was ideal. Her mother was so happy to serve her father’s every whim. But now everything looked different. Her mother did everything her father asked; she had no personality of her own and no care for anyone but him. Not even for her own offspring.
“I want to stay me for a while longer.”
Mia doubted Whitney bought her explanation, but Whitney knew her well enough not to pry. She smiled and squeezed Mia’s hand. The two of them would make it away with ease.
Chapter 6
When courting potential matches, no man wants a talkative lady. It is best for females to avoid speaking unless asked a
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