WW5 Chapter 1

"I hereby sentence you, Stefanie Eva Bryan, to finish the term at the Theodore Galileo Preston Institute for Wayward Teens." The judge banged his gavel as I collapsed into tears. As an after thought, he added, "Perhaps this will teach you to obey the laws. If your behavior is improved in the next 4 weeks, you may graduate from your home school."1

"Mother, Mother, please don't let them take me away. Please." I sobbed into my mother's sleeve, but she looked the same as all parents, impassive and distant. Her pale blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her eyes were far away, as though I was not her child. Every parent looks like that now, since none of them are allowed to see their children until after their fifth birthday. 2

My mother looked about as upset as if she had simply knocked over a glass of water onto a freshly vaccumed carpet. My nanny, Cara, looked as though she might die on the spot. She was older than my mother by about 80 years, and as my mother was 34, Cara must have been about 114 years old. Cara raised me from the time I was born until now, even though I live in a mansion with my mother. 3

Cara came from a country that was once powerful, but now was a fifth world country. I think she said it was called the United States of America. Now it's called Area 5-214 by the police. Cara told me a story that her grandmother told her, about the way the world once was. 4

Long ago, on this planet, things were very different from what they are now. Teenagers were allowed to be in groups of four or more, and not get in trouble. There was no limit on the age of marriage, and arranged marriages were not even considered. People married for love, and there were only 3 world classes for countries. 5

This story ran through my mind so many times as the shuttle raced towards my new home. The pilots never said a word to me, and the cockpit was sealed, and guarded. The view through the tiny window to my left was breathtaking, and if I hadn't been terrified of landing, I would have wished to explore the new surroundings. Soon, I felt the shudder of the connection as the shuttle landed and docked. 6

The guard grabbed my bags, and escorted me through a series of doors into an office. A small, but tidy woman entered wearing a daap blue suit, and matching pumps. Her black-blue hair was tied back, and her glasses looked scholarly, not severe. Her skin was flawless and glowing, and the only signs that she was older than my mother were the wrinkles around her eyes. She sat down and smoothed her skirt. After looking through my file for a moment, she looked me square in the eyes. "You understand that you are here as a direct result of your rejection of the laws set forth by the almighty leaders Johann and Tibernius in the year 2514?"7

"Yes, Ma'am."8

"You are also aware of the rules of this institution?"9

"No, Ma'am, I was never informed of the rules and guidelines."10

"Then I will explain them. They are simple. You will sleep at 10 PM on weeknights and 1 AM on weekends. You will wake up at 7 AM and be in your class by 7:30 AM. No inappropriate clothing is to be worn. Any item of clothing which shows your stomach, shoulders, or thighs is only suitable for weekend wear. Shoes at school are to be black, and flat. there is a uniform, which will be worn daily. Makeup is not for school unless it is chapstick. Nails for girls will be fongertip length or longer, and you will behave like a lady. Tardiness is punished, earliness is rewarded, promptness is expected. Any questions?"11

"No, Ma'am."12

"You may call me Mrs. Howell."13

"Yes, Mrs. Howell."14

"Do you go by Stefanie?"15

"No, Mrs. Howell, I go by Eva, my middle name."16

"Very well, Eva. Your guide for the first week will be Michael Gerhart. This way, please."17

She led me through a set of doors into a community room. There were three girls sitting quietly reading Proper Conduct for Ladies in the Year 2587. Eight boys were sitting, glancing at the girls while doing their homework. One boy struck me. He was Tall, well-built, with black hair and deep blue eyes. He had perfect nails, and his unform was pressed perfectly. his dark shoes were suede, and unmarred. His lips were full, and his teeth straight and white. He had a light dusting of freckles, and his eyelashes were so long that the needed their own area code. He was definitely the resident hottie, but that meant he was probably married already.18

"Mike, this is Stefanie Bryan, but she prefers to be called Eva. This is Michael Gerhart, but he prefers Mike."19

"How do you do, Mrs. Bryan?" He bowed low, and gently kissed my hand.20

I looked at Mrs. Howell for a cue, and she nodded slightly. I returned his bow with a curtsey, and lowered my eyes. "I am very well, thank you for asking Mr. Gerhart. I must politely correct you. You see, you called me Mrs. Bryan, and I am afraid that I am simply Miss Bryan."21

"My deepest apologies, Miss Bryan. You will not be offended if I ask to call you Miss Eva?"22

"Not at all. By all means, I'd prefer it, if you would not be offended that I allow you to use my proper name so quickly."23

"Not at all, I believe that Eva is a Beautiful name, Miss Eva. If you will please follow me, I will take you to your room. Right this way."24

"Thank you so much."25

I watched him as he easily lifted my luggage, and thought about his wife. I had never had any intentions of marrying anyone, but upon seeing him, I relented a bit. If I was allowed to marry him, then maybe the whole marriage thing wouldn't be so bad.  I was just getting to the better parts of my daydream when I heard his lovely voice say my name.26

"Miss Bryan, may I assist you in unpacking? I know you must be tired, and would probably like some help getting settled."27

"As much as I would enjoy your company, would you like to invite your wife along, so that I could meet her and perhaps make a new friend?"28

"I'm afraid I have no wife, Miss Bryan."29

"I'm sorry to be so bold, but did she pass on?"30

"No, she did not. I have never married, because I have never found the right woman."31

He sat my bag down and opened the door to my room. He then placed my bags inside and shut the door. He pretended to show me around for a moment, before he pulled me close to him. " There aren't any cameras in my room. We have to talk. Pretend that I was removing a stray piece of hair from your shoulder."32

Then he backed away and pretended to drop the offending hair. He smiled and asked me "Do you have any hobbies, Miss Eva?"33

"Why yes, I do Mr. Gerhart. I am an accomplished singer, dancer, and author, as well as a member of the English High Society. Do you have any interests yourself?"34

"Yes I do, Miss Eva. I am a champion lacross player, as well as a piano player, and in my spare time I enjoy dancing and writing. I am also a member of the English High Socitey as well. Perhaps I could interest you in accompanying me to my room and I could play piano for you?"35

"That would be wonderful. I'd like that very much. Maybe I could sing for you while we are there?"36

"Nothing would give me more pleasure."37

I asked him to leave while I changed into something more appropriate, and he waited outside my door. I decided that a bit of make up and a brush would be a good thing. I was thankful that I looked like my father. I inherited his blonde hair and his expressive blue eyes. I put on my favorite afternoon dress. It was white, and showed my shoulder, tight in the top, flaring a bit at the bottom. I wore white shoes and a lue sweater over my shoulders. When I emerged, Mike looked as though he had never seen a girl before. 38

"May I say that you look as lovely as a painting, Miss Eva?"39

"You may, and thank you, Mr. Gerhart"40

I followed him to a large room in the boys end. When we approached the gurards, they looked at me, smiled, and waved us into his room. He asked them to please come check on us in an hour, and then closed the door. 41

"Eva, why are you here?"42

"Long story, and you?"43

"Same."44

"I refused to marry. I was afraid, and I don't want to have a child. I read a book I found at my nanny's called A Tale of Two Cities from the 1800s, and I had sex with a man that I had no intentions of marrying, which is a big enough crime, but I insisted on using Birth control. What's your story?"45

"I refused to marry, and I read a book called Farenheight 451 from the 1900s. Also I was accused of being a malcontent because I saved a girl on the street from being beaten for accidentally calling me Mike instead of Mr. Gerhart. I lied and said she was my sister."46

"Well, I only have two questions for you, Mike."47

"I have two for you, too."48

"Ask yours forst, because mine will require a major discussion."49

"OK. The first one is, how did you know that the world has not always been this way?"50

"My nannny, Cara. She's from the US. She told me about whhen her ancestor was a child, and how there was no age limit on marriage, and how people could do and be what they wanted. Since then I've led the underground resistance movement known as WW5."51

"My second question is, will you marry me?"52