“How many of you have made a mistake. Most of you were deathly embarrassed of it. Right? You already felt bad about it and were ashamed of it…more than anyone else involved. So then why do we get out these bloody pitchforks laced with the poison of rattlesnakes the second someone speaks out of turn?”
Audrey’s voice wavered as she neared the part she cared the most about. “Why does stepping one foot out of line send us to these camps? Our society would do much better at reeducating people that makes these mistakes. Everyone has value and something to give. You are not reeducating someone by removing every comfort from their life and starving them. You are making them resent the system and any authority trying to help them. Your reeducation system is a joke Warfield. Really, beating them? What century are you from? You haven’t picked up a piece of literature on the topic. There have been studies by nerds that have nothing to gain other than from the pursuit of knowledge and you use your biased AI podcast to form your opinions. If the punishments were less harsh for the nonviolent petty crimes then we would actually have less crime and more of the utopia you keep selling to these unsuspecting people.”
Warfield smirked, “Audrey you have exceeded your monologue limit and due to violation of our civil ordinance that we all agreed upon last fireside chat, you are now fined 3,800 dollars.” Audrey’s face heated like a metal bench on a sunny day. “I was sent away from that fireside chat because I had to recollect the samples that you decided I needed to do. All from a small mistake that I thought the break room coffee was for everyone. My vote and influence is 3/8 of the people. You would never reach quorum without me gone.”
Warfield slicked back his hair and looked in the black marble desk’s reflection, “Yeah, that’s kind of the point hahahaha. Did you like the fine amount? We wanted to remind you that your input is worthless when I’m running the show. Now go pick up that aerosol spraying job, you clearly need the money for your research now.”
Audrey raised her voice, “That job is exactly what I’m fighting against.” She slapped the donuts to go on the ground. Billy, who was slowly breaking the chair he was sitting in, sprang up and to salvage the donuts. “You monster, Warfield, send her to the camp again give the children the rubber pitchforks she so craves. Those children with their loud colors and incessant questions will drive her to insanity more than anything we can do.” Warfield slapped his hands together as if to clean dust off of them, “With pleasure.”
He then pressed the intercom on the desk next to where he left all of his oily handprints. “Lex we got our friend Audrey needing some community service again. Could you assist her to the site once again?” “Anything for you boss.” The tone left a long disconnected beep. Warfield looked at Audrey in his peripheral vision, “Keep your hands out of your pockets. I don’t know what mutant science project you’ll pull on me again…freak.”
Lots of Honey 