Sheep

Joseph Mathiesen1

EN 3252

Short Story I3

Sheep4

Michael Benton lived alone in his two bedroom house off of 23rd Street in Habsburg, Missouri. The interior of his house was painted, decorated, and arranged by himself. The furniture did not match, the flatware and dinnerware was mixed, and the paintings on the wall had absolutely no relation to each other at all. He was not poor and he could easily afford things that matched and have everything look orderly, but then it would not be the home of Michael Benton. It would be the home of everyone else.5

Today Michael woke at the same time he usually awoke: 6:53. That was the time he had his alarm set and that was the time he woke up. He showered, brushed his teeth, shaved and fixed his breakfast. Today he decided to make himself a cheese omelet with sausage and bacon mixed in with the eggs. After breakfast was consumed, he collected his morning paper, stuffed it under his left arm, and robotically marched to his leather easy chair next to the window overlooking the street below. He opened the paper to the letters to the editor and a small, slick surfaced advertisement for a new cell phone fell out onto his lap.6

“Phone!”7

The latest and greatest that modern technology has to offer.8

It combines all the needs you have during the day into one device.9

All Phones are applicable with all cell phone service providers.10

All box stores are fully stocked, come and collect yours today!11

“For the love of God…” Michael groaned to himself and he proceeded onto the letters to the editor. The letters were predictable and obvious, much like they were every other day. There was nothing controversial or interesting or unique in any of the letters, but what else could Michael Benton expect from a small town full of people who agree on everything. He gave a long heavy sigh, once again stuffed the paper under his arm and walked over to his desk and seated himself in front of his typewriter. He loaded a sheet of paper into the machine and began to write his response.12

“To my readers,13

You have brought up some very valid points and they should definitely be discussed and fixed. I agree that violence on television should be brought down as it is destroying our youth and that even children’s television networks are becoming progressively filthy. And yes our education system is lacking and needs to be brought up to a new standard. Gas prices should be lowered and the government needs to take better care of the situation with the war. And my grandmother is currently in a rather sketchy nursing home as well. What I would say is that you all rise up, take a stand, and take this to your congressman and see if you can bring about a way to change these horrible events. 14

Michael Benton15

Editor in Chief 16

Habsburg Journal17

“Predictable load of government owned peons…” Michael grumbled to himself, “Everyday, it is the same old story. Gas prices are too high, violence on TV, school shootings, school lunches! Why do they always write about the same things? Why can they not think of something new and interesting and does not follow along the same lines that someone agrees with?”18

He rubbed his eyes and turned on the radio.19

“89.3. Your no-repeat radio station. No song is played twice in a week. And here’s your host: Jimmy Tristan!”20

“Good morning listeners, it’s now 7:31 in the morning and the morning rush hour playlist is about to begin. Before we start we have some breaking news about the latest phone to hit the market. “Phone!” Yeah the name says it all. But it’s not just a phone, oh no! This handy little device puts all the things you use during the day into one unit. It functions as your credit card, library card, driver’s license and your computer. You can even buy a laser key upgrade that is programmed to open any locking system you have, such as your car or your front door. Let’s not forget the high definition satellite radio that will pick up radio stations with crystal clear quality, not to mention the mp3 option so you can listen to whatever tunes you want! That’s not the best part though. You can set up “Phone!” through any cell phone provider. That’s still not the best part! The plans---”21

“I want to hear music not a commercial!” Michael boomed. He grabbed a record and put it on the turntable. Feeling relieved, he walked to his chair, sat back and took a deep breath. Afterwards, he stood, put on his coat and hat and walked out the door and started on his way to work.22

Michael never drove a car. He never learned how and he had no intention of ever learning. His parents thought it a little strange that he did not want the freedom that driving offers, but he responded with “I find freedom in not being like everyone else.” Growing up, Michael realized that he had an extraordinary immunization to peer pressure. It was not that he was capable of just saying no to his friends when they offered him marijuana or alcohol, it was that he was incapable of saying “yes.” He could not mentally give into peer pressure.23

As time went on, it became obvious that he was constantly doing the opposite of everyone else. It was no longer a matter of choice to him—it was an impulse. He seriously could not control his urges to be unique and he thrived on peer pressure to judge his every action. In high school, the bullies caught onto his opposite behavior and found a way to manipulate him into doing whatever they wanted him to do.24

“Don’t smoke this cigarette, Mikey” They jeered.25

“This beer is disgusting, you shouldn’t drink this, Mike.”26

“Don’t ask that girl to the dance, she’s way out of your league.”27

This drove Michael crazy. What used to be a blessing had turned into a curse. He had to do the opposite, he had to be unique and think for himself, no matter the consequence. Growing up was very hard for him and he spent most of his time alone reading and writing.28

When he arrived at the newspaper press, he opened the door to his office and handed his response to the letters he had written that morning to his secretary. When she had returned from the presses, she had a packet of materials and ads for him to approve for the next day’s paper. After reading article after article and doing his job of editing and compiling, he called his secretary into his office.29

“Miss Dayton, what can you tell me about these “Phones!”? He asked.30

“Is there something wrong with the phone lines, sir?” She asked, not realizing that he was talking about a specific phone.31

“I beg your pardon?”32

“Ameren UE was just here a month ago, I cannot imagine there being anything wrong with the server, but I’ll call them back and set up an appointment.”33

“No, no. I’m talking about these “Phones!” He explained as he held up the ad that had been in that morning’s paper. “I’ve never heard of these things and I did not authorize their commercialization in the paper, but somehow I found this inside. Can you shine any light on this?”34

“Oh yes, sir, we were ordered by the state to put those ads in all the papers for the next two weeks. Doesn’t “Phone!” sound wonderful? I’ve been waiting so long for a phone that can—“35

“That’s enough, Miss Dayton.” Michael interrupted. “Did the state tell you why they needed to advertize these things in our paper? I mean, Habsburg is a small town and no one from here would have any influence in commerce in a larger city like St. Louis.”36

“They said it was classified.”37

“Well that’s a little strange.”38

“It certainly did its job, though! We just received a memo stating that 30 per cent of the city already has their “Phone!” and are activated with their plans.”39

“Already?” Michael inquired. “The ad just appeared in the papers today! How could that many people have already bought their ‘Phones!’?” 40

“News travels very fast in this town and also there have been television commercials and radio commercials. Everyone is going out to get them and at their prices, who can blame them?”41

“What are the prices?”42

“$10 a month.”43

“For the most basic plan? I’m assuming that does not include text messaging and internet.”44

“No sir,” Miss Dayton corrected, “there is only one plan. You pay $10 dollars regardless. And you can put them through any cell-phone provider.”45

“Why would it be so cheap? Those features alone must cost a few hundred dollars to install alone. Mp3 players are about three hundred dollars and you’re telling me that these things have all the same features for only ten?!”46

“Yes sir! Isn’t it neat? You should get one, there’s plenty in stock.”47

Michael felt his brain snap.48

“NO! I refuse to conform to society’s mindless fads. I not only will not take part in this, but I never took part in cell-phones to begin with. I find them useless and a waste of money. They are the icon of this world’s inevitable slip into mindless conformity. We’re all going down the road of group-think and it’s because of things like cell phones!”49

“Alright sir, I’m sorry, it was only a suggestion.” Miss Dayton replied sheepishly.50

“No, I’m sorry.” Michael replied, snapping out of it. “I just get rather irritable when people try to convince me to do something. You can go back to work now.”51

“Very good, sir.” And she walked out the door.52

The work day had finished and Michael Benton packed up his things and headed out the door of his office. He turned around and saw Miss Dayton also getting ready to leave. He heard a ringtone and saw her reach into her purse and pull out a thin phone that looked no thicker than a credit card. “That must be one of those ‘Phones!’” he thought to himself. Miss Dayton was very trendy. He was not at all surprised to see her with a “Phone!” but he was still a little bit disappointed to see her conform that quickly to society. He put it aside and headed out of the building.53

On his way back home, he saw many of the people of the town talking away on their cell phones: Two children sitting next to each other texting with a ball between them that they occasionally rolled back and forth to each other; a mother was pushing a stroller while talking on her “Phone!” The baby inside the stroller was using a normal flip-phone to gnaw on to help her teething. Then he saw people using the phones as a way of payment in the grocery store. A group of teenage boys walked by with headphones in their ears that were connected to their phones.54

“It’s everywhere! Everyone has one. The whole city!”55

When Michael finally arrived back at his house, he pulled out his keys and started to shimmy them in the lock. The key never fit the lock properly so he had to patiently try and try again until the lock gave in to the key. While he was busy getting his door open, a little boy of 6 years was playing in his yard. The boy stopped what he was doing and stared at Michael Benton’s failed attempts at getting his door unlocked. 56

“Mommy, what’s he doing?” The boy asked his mother, who had been sitting on the porch swing.57

“He’s trying to unlock his door, sweetie.” She replied.58

“Why doesn’t he use his ‘Phone!’ to unlock the door?”59

“Well, dear, he probably does not have one.”60

“What a loser! Everyone has one! Even I have one. Why doesn’t he have one? Hey mister! Why don’t you have a ‘Phone!’? Everyone else has one!”61

Michael, who had been trying to ignore the boy, finally turned and calmly answered that he was not interested. That was not enough for the boy, for he persisted.62

“They’re the greatest things in the world! You can play games, talk to your friends, listen to music. Everything you could ever do with yourself is on the ‘Phone!’ I can even turn in my homework on it! And you know, you could probably get your door open by now if you had one. They unlock doors, too you know!”63

“I told you I’m not interested!” Michael responded with suppressed anger.64

“But they’re so cheap too! Only ten bucks! I bought mine with my allowance money. I was saving for a bike, but ‘Phones!’ are so much more fun! Besides, none of my friends ride bikes anyway. We all just talk on our ‘Phones!’”65

“Listen to me,” Michael pleaded with frustration “I don’t want a ‘Phone!’ I wouldn’t have a use for it. I’ve lived without them just fine to this point and I’ll continue living without them the same way. And no little punk 6 year old is going to convince me otherwise. So just shut up, leave me alone, and go and play with your silly toy!”66

Michael immediately regretted letting his voice raise to that level as it made the boy cry for his mother. “You monster!” She said “All he was doing was showing you his new ‘Phone!’ He’s proud of it, he saved his money and bought himself. And all you could tell him was to shut up and leave you alone!”67

At this time, a police officer was walking by the area. When he heard a commotion, he hurried over to the scene and asked what was the trouble. When the mother had told him that Michael Benton had barked at her son and drove him to tears, the policeman approached Michael and asked for his identification.68

“One moment, it’s in my wallet.” Michael said calmly.69

“You know you probably shouldn’t keep your ‘Phone!’ in your wallet, sir.” the policeman suggested.70

Michael snapped. He looked up at the officer and looked him straight in the eye. “What did you just tell me?”71

“Well, you could forget your phone is in your wallet and it could get ruined. You should probably keep it in your pocket or possibly put it on your key chain.”72

“Out of curiosity, officer, what makes you think I have a phone?”73

“Well, everyone has one. And the price of the phone is outstanding! And it makes life so convenient.”74

Michael backed away into his door with a look of shock and disbelief in his eyes. Everyone on his street was talking on their phone. All the phones were the same color and the same shape. 75

“Sheep!” Michael yelled. A few of the people stopped and looked at him. “You’re all sheep! All you do is follow the flock. You never do what you want to do, and you cannot find anything constructive to do with your lives. You all have the same thoughts and you never think outside the box! You’re just a mindless flock of sheep following the shepherd and that shepherd is society and the government. You follow the tabloids, you aren’t interested in anything unless it has a celebrity attached. All you care about is how the media and how the government will make your lives easier. And that’s just what the government is doing! They’re lulling you into a stupor where you don’t even bother to think for yourselves anymore. They’re eventually going to get you to the point where you give up your rights without a struggle and then they will own you. These damn things were brought about by the government. They’re connecting you with these things. You all have something in common. You all bought the same thing. Soon all you will have is similarities because society will bring something else about that will strengthen the chains that bind you to each other until there is not one original thought among the lot of you! Is that what you want? Do you want a world where nothing you think, do, or say is original, it’s what everyone else is thinking at the same time?”76

Michael had drawn a crowd. At least three hundred people had come and stood on his street outside his house to hear what was going on. Michael felt a little awkward as he had never called this much attention to himself before. In his bewilderment, he walked up to a random person and took his “Phone!” and broke it in two. “Think for yourself and stop following society.” Michael said.77

The man was stunned, but he looked at Michael earnestly. He then turned back to the crowd and said “He’s right! We shouldn’t do what society tells us to do all the time! In fact, screw society! I can’t believe how blind I was!”78

A lady in the middle of the crowd smashed her “Phone!” “Yes!” She shouted, “All it took was this man to point out what was wrong with us!”79

Another shouted “He’s got a strong will! He didn’t cower at the hand of conformity!”80

“He’s got a will of his own!”81

“He’s a natural born leader!”82

“He should be our leader!”83

“YEAH!”84

“What?!” Michael blurted. “No, that’s not what you want, you don’t want me to be your leader! My point was for you to make your decisions yourselves!”85

“But you’ve shown us that you can change us and lead us better than society ever could! Michael Benton is our new leader!”86

“Leader! Leader! Leader!”87

“No! No! No! This is not what I want, don’t make me do this, you don’t know what you’re asking!” Michael broke from the crowd and ran down the street. They followed. He turned the corner. They followed. They followed him until he could run no more. He fixed his tie. They fixed theirs. He fiddled with his hat nervously. They fiddled with theirs. He broke down and cried. They sobbed bitterly with him.88

For Michael Benton saying yes to society was impossible. He found it unbearable to conform to society. But now the tide had turned against him, for society had conformed to him. They followed his every move, copied his every action, until Michael Benton was doing the actions of everyone else.89