Drifters

Earth, 2104

“Nobody’s going to give you a map, you’ve got to walk your own path. But remember: not all who wander are lost.”

The year was 2104. The American Government was still solidly in place, and getting in peoples way as much as ever. The terms ‘Public School’ and ‘Private School’ had disappeared over fifty years ago to be replaced by the ‘Federal School’. The Federal Government controlled all schools now, and mandated everything from schedules to curriculum to dress codes. Students were separated by age and sex, and not allowed to socialize with anyone not in their gender/age group while on campus. Jason went to an all boys’ school, though he’d heard of some campuses that were still co-ed. It was a pleasant thought, the idea of being able to at least see girls.

Between classes no one spoke to each other, they weren’t allowed. During nutrition breaks some talking was permitted, but only about classes and schoolwork, and definitely never the government.

According to the United States constitution every citizen had the right to freedom of speech, and a citizen was defined as someone born within US borders or to at least one citizenry parent. Of course that rule didn’t apply everywhere, you couldn’t just stand up in the middle of class and shout any old thing. But what about saying hello to your friends in the hall, or chatting about the latest movie or band at lunch? Maybe it was okay to make such rules at school, but if the school was run by the government?

School was about the only place large groups of young people could gather anymore. According to the very same document that guaranteed freedom of speech every single united states citizen was guaranteed the right to freedom of assembly. Not anymore. Adults had permission to gather for public meetings and funerals, but the funerals could last no longer than two hours and the public meetings must be used to discuss local or state business exclusively, and no negative voicing about the government at either.

Young people, anyone bellow the age of twenty five, were explicitly forbidden to gather in groups of more than three for any reason. The reason for this law, your guess is as good as mine.

So, concerts, parties, movie theaters, practically anything where more than a few people could get together were a thing of the past. There were laws now that governed how you dressed, what you could say, when you could say it, where you went to school and even what you learned. The unwritten spirit of The Law said that until such time as the twenty-fifth celebration of a citizen’s birth they’re life, liberty, and happiness were the soul property of the U.S. government.

As Jason swerved around another young man the boy pushed something into his hand and spoke quickly, quietly.

“Drift, six thirty, check it.”

Jason glanced down at the slip of paper he’d received, which had only one word hastily scrawled on it: library. He smiled to himself, but outwardly betrayed no emotion; if you smiled too much around school the administrators got suspicious. Smiling was against the law.

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