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Untamed Music Drifter
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Sara storms out of Paul Rhodes’s office. The old door creaks on its hinges. Jacob is sitting on a wooden chair, hands folded over his knees. Eyes cast downward. Jacob had sat in the cold white office for an hour- possible two- while his mother and Mayor Rhodes had discussed the new town courier assignment. It pained Jacob to see the two of them fight- they had been friends before the war ended – and it hurt to think it was over him.
“Come on- Jacob, we’re leaving.” Sara didn’t even turn to address her son. He could still see her cheeks were wet. He knew her hands would be clenched together. “Now, son.”
The two of them left the town hall and strode back to their house.
Jacob could feel the tension and wanted desperately to offer words of encouragement. Some words to make his mother feel better. He had heard his mother and Mayor Rhodes argue several times over the course of the past two days and figured they must have said more in private. They were discussing who would be sent to the Capital Cities, who would go to-
“Jacob!” The voice behind him startled both, wrenching them from their thoughts. It was Major Rhodes. He was running to catch up to them. Jacob heard his mother sigh as she crossed her arms once again.
Mayor Rhodes was panting by the time he reached them at the crest of the hill. “Jacob, Jacob I need to speak with you…” Jacob offered his arm to the mayor for support. His mother offered words.
“Paul I’ve discussed the issue thoroughly enough with you and I don’t appreciate you dragging Jacob into this personally, I-“
“For god’s sake Sara he’s a grown man now!” Jacob had never seen the mayor so angry- especially at his mother. “He deserves a say in this decision and he deserves to know what’s going on. It’s time we stopped hiding everything from the kids and told them the damn truth.” He then turned back to Jacob. “Jacob… the town needs you. Desperately. We need you to go to the Capital Cities – to Impact – and deliver messages to the government. Give the town a voice.” The mayor’s face grew more sullen, more somber. “The town is dying, Jacob.”
Jacob’s heart sank into his stomach. His hands were sweating. “But, sir, you… Why can’t you go like you did before?”
“I’m older, Jacob. I’m almost sixty years old. I need to watch the village. I need to look over Melinda, the crops, and keep everyone from getting themselves killed. I can’t make the journey anymore, Jacob; it’s why I haven’t gone in four years.” Paul sighed. “But someone needs to go. Has to go. Our nuclear fuel cells are almost run dry. We need to re-diversify the crops with genetic material from the government. We need some better damn roads here!” The old man threw his arms up. There were small tears in his eyes. “The place is falling to shit, Jacob! It’s falling… Damn it…” The old man’s hands were on Jacob’s shoulders. “We need your help, son. We need you to go.”
Jacob looked to his mother, then back to Paul. Thoughts of his brother floated through his mind- thoughts of the last person other than Paul to try the route. He never came back. Never will. Jacob missed him so much…
>Alright, guys. I thought it’d be better to actually let you guys make the decision. So- yes or no? Should Jacob go through with it?
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