Out of the Box — Surprise for Your Eyes!
Sally drove home from her boring job, one that required constant paperwork and filing pages with ambiguous letters on them, none of her business. There are things one shouldn’t know, she reasoned and stuffed them away during her shifts..
As she twisted with the turning road, she let some of her thoughts about the day wander in other directions. It seemed as if Zach didn’t care for her anymore. How could she be so gullible to think he would stay, not a man from the inner depths of a city? She was a poor country girl who had managed only to meet the basic requirement for him to take her to fancy restaurants, to look like a woman of worth: the family jewels.
She moved alone and thought, yes, thought. How many women fall for that? She asked herself.
Shell entered her driveway. She sat on the couch and kicked her high-heeled shoes off. I’ll be educated today, she thought. I’ll know what’s going on.
Like she had a choice.
She clapped and her television came on to the mandatory channel, an annoyance that everyone to deal with before their shows. And everyone was required to watch at least one hour of television a day. In front of her, a blank static passed, forming into shapes. She saw Mr. Smarty with his yellow mustache and grass-colored hair. He reminded her of a vegetable. “Good evening, Sally,” the voice said. “Today we’re going to talk about a chosen topic, relevant to you. As you know, there has been less rain in your area, a moderate drought. Many residents aren’t taking responsibility. Feedback is important to us. Do you “agree” or “disagree” or do you want to think “outside the box,” regarding the idea that government should regulate water consumption during this hardship?
Sally sat back and looked at Mr. Smarty’s eyes. To agree would mean possible dehydration. To disagree would mean twenty-four hours on the topic to clear her mind, and she couldn’t leave her couch with the possibility of leaving her job. To go outside the box, well, that meant… she didn’t even know. People told her to never select that option, a tone of fear.
“I agree,” Sally said. She pushed back her long, blonde hair, her only asset. “Thank you for your answer. Your opinion matters. We’ve found that 99.9% of people agree. We are doing a great job of educating our citizens. Conservation is important.”
Good for them. Her mind hit the reality of Zach again. At that moment, she heard the toilet and sink’s water be quickly cut off. She heard them gargle, spitting up unholy debris.
“Fuck!” she said aloud. Mr. Smarty reappeared. “Excuse me, Sally, have you decided to disagree with the decision. We expect our citizens to be sincere.”
“I don’t have any water in the fridge. I don’t have any money for gas beyond work during this following week. Can I please be allowed to fill a gallon of water up?”
“You disagree. Well, we have programming starting in ten seconds.”
“I hate you! I don’t care what you say. My life is miserable. I barely get paid and now I have to watch a day’s worth of programming, pee my underwear and have no water to drink. You know what, Mr. Smarty?! I chose, “Out of the Box.”
“Well, well,” Mr. Smarty said. “I haven’t had anyone pick that option in a hundred years, what a pleasant reminder.”
“What?” The TV began to shake back and forth violently, starting to spark. Sally ran out her door and threw herself into the dry grass. Not five seconds later, her small house blew up, and a policeman came riding in on a motorcycle.
“What-wha just happened?” Sally asked.
“You wanted outside of the box, huh? Come here, it’s time for your own brand.”
Sally didn’t move her feet.
“I can come to you.” Sally froze in fear as would a deer in the headlights of life and death.
The cop, dressed in neon green took out a brand, waited a second for it to self-heat. The orange glow reminded Sally of a wizard’s staff. He thrust it onto her forehead. It read, “Nothing.” Sally screamed as she burned.
“You will have nothing but an Earth to wander now, beast of burden. Everyone will know that you thought you were in charge, honey. Everyone will see your failure to respect authority.”
“You bear your fate!”
