“Hey Avery, come here and take a look at this!” “What is it, Ben?” Ben pulled out a white envelope, sealed with the Party symbol. “Save it for later, it can’t be more important than the Stanley Cup game,” said Avery. Ben agreed, being a hockey fan himself. He the letter down gently on the cracked stand next to him. He walked over to the couch that, over time, had become the centerpiece of miscellaneous sports memorabilia, bought with what little money the two brothers could put aside in a week to fulfill their shared hobby. As he sat, one of the players was injured, and the channel cut to commercials as his nose began to bleed on to the ice below him.
The first advertisement that played was for a flying car, drenched in flashy images and …show more content…
Avery goes to his mundane job as a clerk in a sketchy neighborhood, and Ben goes to his usual spot on a street corner to sell drugs, dressed in black to avoid drawing attention. They come home, watch TV, go to sleep, and do it all over again. The two had almost completely forgotten about the envelope from last week, until Ben tripped on it on his way to work. “Hey Avery!” “Yeah Ben?” “Remember that official-looking envelope we got a few days ago? We didn’t get around to reading what’s in it.” Ben picked up the envelope and brought it over to Avery, who was sitting in the living room. He tore open the envelope and presented the folded message to Avery. “I guess I’ll read it then,” Avery said while unfolding the paper. “To Ben Chambers, The Department of Agriculture regrets to inform you that you will be removed from The List effective 45 days from the postmark date of this letter for the following reason(s): failing to pay tax to the state, failing to hold a job, and illegally selling drugs. Upon the completion of the replacement person’s procedure, you must report to your nearest local police station to fill out the necessary legal documents associated with your removal. Regards, The Department of …show more content…
He threw the letter across the room and punched through drywall, making a fist-sized hole. Ben, on the other hand, began to sob to himself. He thought he was in a nightmare and half-expected himself to wake up in a cold sweat. But he didn’t. He was in the same place he was before when he closed his eyes, and then the weight of the situation really set in. “Damnit! Why you!” Avery roared. While Avery was rabid like an animal, Ben thought of all the things that he could have done differently, and kicked himself for not changing what he did. After calming down, Avery theorized, “What if that guy doesn’t get the procedure? We could find him and kill him so it’ll never happen and you’ll still be here.” “Or we could just talk to him,” Ben mumbled, “He has a family too, even if they’re all just rich snobs.” “I don’t care what he’s got! You’re not going anywhere unless I say so, and you’re staying alive!” And so the two began to plan, although Avery was much more bent on this succeeding than Ben, who felt for the person getting the procedure. In Ben’s mind, it wasn’t fair that the person should just waive the opportunity to be with their family longer. This was something that, if given the opportunity, he would take in a heartbeat to be with his brother longer. But he went along with Avery’s plan
The first advertisement that played was for a flying car, drenched in flashy images and …show more content…
Avery goes to his mundane job as a clerk in a sketchy neighborhood, and Ben goes to his usual spot on a street corner to sell drugs, dressed in black to avoid drawing attention. They come home, watch TV, go to sleep, and do it all over again. The two had almost completely forgotten about the envelope from last week, until Ben tripped on it on his way to work. “Hey Avery!” “Yeah Ben?” “Remember that official-looking envelope we got a few days ago? We didn’t get around to reading what’s in it.” Ben picked up the envelope and brought it over to Avery, who was sitting in the living room. He tore open the envelope and presented the folded message to Avery. “I guess I’ll read it then,” Avery said while unfolding the paper. “To Ben Chambers, The Department of Agriculture regrets to inform you that you will be removed from The List effective 45 days from the postmark date of this letter for the following reason(s): failing to pay tax to the state, failing to hold a job, and illegally selling drugs. Upon the completion of the replacement person’s procedure, you must report to your nearest local police station to fill out the necessary legal documents associated with your removal. Regards, The Department of …show more content…
He threw the letter across the room and punched through drywall, making a fist-sized hole. Ben, on the other hand, began to sob to himself. He thought he was in a nightmare and half-expected himself to wake up in a cold sweat. But he didn’t. He was in the same place he was before when he closed his eyes, and then the weight of the situation really set in. “Damnit! Why you!” Avery roared. While Avery was rabid like an animal, Ben thought of all the things that he could have done differently, and kicked himself for not changing what he did. After calming down, Avery theorized, “What if that guy doesn’t get the procedure? We could find him and kill him so it’ll never happen and you’ll still be here.” “Or we could just talk to him,” Ben mumbled, “He has a family too, even if they’re all just rich snobs.” “I don’t care what he’s got! You’re not going anywhere unless I say so, and you’re staying alive!” And so the two began to plan, although Avery was much more bent on this succeeding than Ben, who felt for the person getting the procedure. In Ben’s mind, it wasn’t fair that the person should just waive the opportunity to be with their family longer. This was something that, if given the opportunity, he would take in a heartbeat to be with his brother longer. But he went along with Avery’s plan