My people have always been here. I was born here on Rooi. My father was born here, his father before him and his father and his father. The Rem people were some of the first to migrate during the great migration of 2079. My name is Syia Rem and next week, February 13th 2180 I will be seventeen.
“Syia, my son, get up! Get up, you will be late,” she shook me.
“Aw Mama, I don’t want to go today. Raylene hates me,” I said still a bit dreary from sleep.
I braced myself for the strike that she swiftly delivered.
“Syia, what have I told you about calling Mrs. Noor, Raylen. It’s rude! We may be workers but”
“But we do have manors, yes mama I know. You tell me this all the time,” I interrupted.
She smiled her big smile and I knew I was forgiven. Mama was beautiful for a worker. Her skin was leathered from hard work in the sun and mines, her wrinkles sat deep in her skin. But her smile, white and large, set off her bug eyes and bronze hair. She was by far one of the prettiest girls on Rooi, or at least in our sector.
“Up, you’ll be late for your trip,” she said while kissing my forehead.
I completely forgot that today was the day. How could I forget? I had been counting down for months. Today I get to visit Earth. Rule 2, Every future worker must see what is they work for, what they can work towards, and my time is finally here.
“What time is it,” I asked as I quickly jumped out of bed. Frantically I began searching for my tablet.
"Its on your desk." said Mama now standing at my door.
I ran to read it.
“Shit! Its 8:10. Mom, why didn’t you wake me earlier?”
“Aye Syia,” angrily she lunged at me and grabbed my by the ear “your language, it gets worse every day, hanging out with those so called friends of yours! If you are old enough to be vulgar you are old enough to wake yourself up!”
I winced in pain. She grabbed harder.
“Mama I am sorry”
She let go. I sighed with relief.
“You are going to be seventeen in a week, you have a tablet now, you must use it. Soon you will”
“Soon I will become a worker, yes mother I know,” I said.
“Syia, my son, get up! Get up, you will be late,” she shook me.
“Aw Mama, I don’t want to go today. Raylene hates me,” I said still a bit dreary from sleep.
I braced myself for the strike that she swiftly delivered.
“Syia, what have I told you about calling Mrs. Noor, Raylen. It’s rude! We may be workers but”
“But we do have manors, yes mama I know. You tell me this all the time,” I interrupted.
She smiled her big smile and I knew I was forgiven. Mama was beautiful for a worker. Her skin was leathered from hard work in the sun and mines, her wrinkles sat deep in her skin. But her smile, white and large, set off her bug eyes and bronze hair. She was by far one of the prettiest girls on Rooi, or at least in our sector.
“Up, you’ll be late for your trip,” she said while kissing my forehead.
I completely forgot that today was the day. How could I forget? I had been counting down for months. Today I get to visit Earth. Rule 2, Every future worker must see what is they work for, what they can work towards, and my time is finally here.
“What time is it,” I asked as I quickly jumped out of bed. Frantically I began searching for my tablet.
"Its on your desk." said Mama now standing at my door.
I ran to read it.
“Shit! Its 8:10. Mom, why didn’t you wake me earlier?”
“Aye Syia,” angrily she lunged at me and grabbed my by the ear “your language, it gets worse every day, hanging out with those so called friends of yours! If you are old enough to be vulgar you are old enough to wake yourself up!”
I winced in pain. She grabbed harder.
“Mama I am sorry”
She let go. I sighed with relief.
“You are going to be seventeen in a week, you have a tablet now, you must use it. Soon you will”
“Soon I will become a worker, yes mother I know,” I said.
