Lush (a YA Dystopian novel)

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  Chapter Seven

  Education and Assignments

  The plans for my Grand Gala were well under way. Weirdly, I didn’t know much about it. Aspen rarely asked my opinion and had told me very little, other than to inform me that my father had decided, against her better judgment, that Lily and I would have a shared Gala. As the head of Armory Development, Lily’s father, Denver, was gaining importance in society. His unmatched skills and his loyalty to Concord were to be rewarded; thus his political and social significance had increased. Our fathers were working together quite closely, so my father had decided that it would be a great show of common interests for the two of their daughters to have the grandest Gala of all.

  If Lily’s father was so important to Concord, it must mean the Armory Department was quite important to Concord. Yet we were never told of any threats. We were never informed of any conflict with outside sources, or inside sources, for that matter. So, it seemed like a pointless occupation to me. I guess that just knowing Armory existed helped the Citizens feel secure, because Concord would always be prepared and ready to keep us safe from any harm.

  On Monday morning my father dropped me off at the Career Education Center on his way to the administrative offices where he worked. I’d been informed that I was expected to show up about thirty minutes before Lily, or anyone else, was required to. The building was eerily quiet when I entered. The clack of my heels on the tile floor echoed throughout the Common Room at the entrance to the CEC. Branching out from the room were three hallways that would soon be full of students; some beginning their education, some in the middle of it, and some who were soon to be sent off to apprentice in their given field.

  Standing in the center of the Common Room was a woman. She was perfectly coiffed, perfectly dressed, perfectly perfect. Her short blonde hair was smooth and straight, the ends lightly brushing her chin. Her suit was dark metallic grey, trim and stylish, and the color somehow made her eyes shine. The black shoes on her feet were pointed, shiny, and tall. I immediately thought of Beta. In a way, the outward appearance of perfection and her confident stance reminded me of him. She stood tall and proud; hands behind her back, chin up, with a small smile on her lips. I assumed that she was there for me, so I walked up to her.

  “Hello. I’m Bluebell.”

  “Yes. I’ve been given your file. You are much more appealing in person, which is a good thing. Your Tech photo doesn’t do you justice. You will do quite nicely,” she stated.

  “Nicely?”

  “Forgive me. I’ve ignored proper introductions. My name is Cimarron. I’ll be your mentor and guide while you are instructed and groomed to be a respectable public figure for Concord.”

  “Cimarron. I’ve never heard that name before. I like it,” I smiled.

  “Thank you. My parents picked it just as the transition from Fallen Cities to Natural Names was taking place. It was still a city but it makes one think of the natural spice. I’ve never met another Cimarron.”

  “Neither have I,” I agreed. “Why did you say I’d do nicely?” I asked

  “You have a pleasant and friendly look about you, and you look healthy. You’ve obviously followed your nutrition and exercise guidelines. You are a perfect example of an outstanding Citizen of Concord. You’ll be an easy sell. If you were unattractive or an improper weight or sickly looking then… well… it will simply make more sense to the general public that someone like you would be Lush. Can I see it?” she asked, pointing to my arm.

  “Why not?” I said and held up my wrist for inspection.

  “It’s actually quite pretty. That will help too. You’ll be the envy of all.”

  I pulled my arm back. “I don’t want to be the envy of all. I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary to earn this. My friends didn’t do something wrong to be marked infertile.”

  “Ah, but you don’t know that.” She shook her head in disagreement and held out her arm. “You see this X. This is a direct consequence of my mother’s desire for youth over duty. She decided to take her first youth serum when she was seven months pregnant. She was a bit older when she conceived me, and she decided that she’d waited long enough. She ruined both our chances. She was never able to conceive again and I was marked infertile.”

  “I heard that could happen.”

  “I had a roommate at Tech who loved to run. Not just a little, to strengthen her heart, as we are advised. No, she ran to clear her mind, ran to relax, ran when she was angry, and also when she was happy. It made no sense. The Guardians advised her not to, the doctors warned her it could have adverse outcomes. She was even put on hold. But when she finally showed up at the CEC it was with an X as well. She ruined her own chance.”

  I shook my head. “How sad.”

  “Yes. Excessive exercise is detrimental. And recently we’ve had reports that some new mothers have actually exceeded the advised immunization dates for their child by seven to ten days. They are putting their children at risk of infertility by waiting so long for much needed medicines. That will simply not do. There is talk that the immunizations team may be forced to become a mobile one. With home visits, there will be no risk of noncompliance. You see, the Citizens need to know that when they live their lives within the guidelines set up to protect them, good things are possible,” she smiled.

  “What exactly do you do for Concord?” I asked.

  “I am the lead Citizen’s Information Specialist. I make sure the people of Concord know what is being done to make their very existence a positive, safe, and secure experience. And I make sure the people are aware of the adverse effects of trying to go against the wishes of The Council. The Council always knows best. Concur with Concord,” she lilted.

  “Concord Reigns,” I smiled. It was the response that was expected of me, so I gave it willingly.

  “See what I mean?” she smiled. In fact she had done nothing but smile since I’d walked up to her. “You’re perfect. Follow me,” she ordered and turned to walk down one of the halls.

  I immediately followed.

  We entered one of the rooms at the end of the hallway and Cimarron instructed me to sit on one side of the table that had been placed in the center of the small room. She rounded the table and sat on the other side. There was a tablet waiting there, between us.

  “This is your official tablet. It is private. Keep it separate from your personal one, and keep it with you always. I will be contacting you after hours and sometimes on Sundays to discover the progress you have made on certain tasks that you will be given. It is important that a member of my team is able to reach you at any time.”

  “I understand,” I replied.

  “The information that you will be given is private. You are not to share it with friends or even family members. Your mother and father are aware of most aspects of your role as ambassador, so there is no need to seek permission from them or to ask for their blessing on anything I ask you to do. You have been given a certain level of clearance by The Council, which will increase as you show your loyalty and hard work. This is a great privilege!”

  “Will I be able to see my friends?” I asked.

  “Of course. The Council is quite adamant that you maintain a high profile. You must be seen in the best of company, enjoying yourself. You need to be the very picture of youth, health, and social grace.”

  “That’s a lot to live up to,” I worried. “I hope I do not disappoint.”

  “I will be here to guide you along the way. You’ll do fine,” Cimarron said and reached across the table to pat my hand. Then she pressed a button on the tablet, turning it on.

  My name appeared on the screen. Bluebell. The Lush Ambassador of Concord.

  Cimarron read the words aloud. “Your mother picked a lovely name for you.”

  “Aspen has a knack for that. She knows how to pick out lovely things,” I smirked.

  “Lesson Number One: Your parents are to be always referred to as Mother and Father when you are in publi
c. It shows respect.”

  “Tell that to Aspen. She’s the one that told me to stop calling her Mother.”

  Cimarron pulled out her own mini tablet and began to type away on it. She looked up at me after she was finished and had put the tablet back in her jacket pocket. “Done. Aspen, your mother, has been informed of the changes.”

  “She’s not going to like it,” I said under my breath.

  “She will do what is expected. Her father has set this plan into motion. Your grandfather is a brilliant man. You and your parents will be the perfect picture of a Concord family. It is my understanding that she is quite looking forward to it. I have been told to keep her apprised,” Cimarron informed me.

  “I wonder if I will see my grandfather soon. Aspen, I mean Mother, told me that he was looking forward to seeing me again. But then I think he must have been the one to call my father away after I received my Citizen Brand.”

  “I think you are right,” she winked at me. “They were planning your future. You are a lucky girl to have such caring people to look out for you. I wish my mother had been as diligent about my future. If it wasn’t for my father, and the fact that we are proud members of family 1.20, I might have been destined for another life. But I married well. I have an adopted daughter in Year Six. It’s a pity she can’t take our family number, it would be of great benefit later in her life. But those are the ways of Concord.” Cimarron looked wistful for a moment, almost like she was imagining another life for her daughter, but then the smile appeared on her face again. “So let’s start with a brief overview,” she said, opening a document in my new official Ambassador Tablet.