Chew by Naomi Ault

Author:Naomi Ault [Naomi Ault]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Say Vandelay Publishing
Published: 2022-03-22T00:00:00+00:00

9

Welcome to Citizen Freedom

“I’m all packed,” Luke said into the tablet. “Just have to hit the road.”

“How do you feel about that?” his therapist asked. Six months ago, Congress hinted about resuming normal activities, and when the response from an agoraphobic republic was less than enthusiastic, they established a network of paid therapists to help ease the citizens back into a routine. Gloria Pulford was Luke’s government-appointed therapist.

Luke held his draft papers up to the camera. “I feel great.”

“C’mon, Luke, no deflecting. How do you feel about being drafted?”

“I feel angry that they can ignore my conscientious objector paperwork and call it a normal processing delay. I feel nervous about—well, everything involved with basic training. And I’m afraid that I’m going to shut down the second I have to hold a gun in my hand.”

“That’s better,” Gloria said. “And that’s a lot. Let start with the first thing.”

They unpacked for a solid forty-five minutes. “Have you spoken to your father?”

“Aren’t we out of time yet?”

“You have ten more minutes.”

“Awesome.”

“Luke?”

“No, I have not spoken to him yet.”

“I think it’s important that you keep trying to connect with him.”

“I had to teach my last class this morning. I wasn’t putting it off.” He felt the need to defend himself. “I’m calling him next.”

There was a brief pause. “Try to remember that we each have our own process to work through. I know you miss your brother and your mother. But your father has his own trauma, and he will have to forgive your brother in his own time.”

They were easy words but hard done, as Luke’s uncle used to say. Which brought him to the entire reason he wanted to squeeze a last session in before he reported for duty. “On my way, I’m checking on my aunt. The phones are back up in her area, but we can’t reach her. The sheriff there said he’s too overwhelmed with wellness checks to get to her before the weekend, so I’m doing it myself.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? Can’t your father or another family member—”

“I’m the only one. Pop is on the West Coast with his sister, and I don’t have any other family.”

“I see.”

“Any advice?”

“Yes, I don’t think you should do it.”

“I have to. I mean, someone has to.”

“That someone doesn’t have to be you. They’re sweeping the towns to clear them and—”

“With slave labor. They’re using the cured citizens as slave labor to clean up everything.”

“Luke, this isn’t—”

“I own the house now. My uncle died a few years ago, and they didn’t have any kids. My aunt left everything to my brother and I. I just—I feel responsible for her and the place. It should be me.”

Gloria nodded at him; the feed gave a warning blip.

“Hey, Gloria, I’m about to lose you.”

She opened her mouth, and her lips moved, but there was no sound. “Shit,” Luke said. He picked up the tablet and tried to move it to a better spot in his apartment, but eventually the screen went dark.

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