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Marching down the concrete halls, the white lights cast a daunting shadow beneath every step.I’d just been working on the line, collecting discs to put in their cases. It wasn’t a hard job, but I’d cranked the production up a least 5% since being hired out of school. With the confidence I could be promoted, I dared to apply for a supervisor position. The same one my trainer had applied for before she was reassigned to another factory.I had hoped it was because she’d gotten a supervisor role in another building more in need of her services than us but rumors spoke differently.Marched upstairs to the offices where shadowy figures watched over our production lines, I had never seen the inside of the weather controlled offices before. Just getting out of the scathing heat of the downstairs area was refreshing enough to set my nerves at ease. Still, entering the office, I was greeted by linoleum, cleanliness, and two men. My skiddish, blond haired supervisor who’d won over my trainer in climbing the corporate ladder, and another strange, skinny man.He was well groomed, clean, brunette locks parted down the center of his skull so they framed his slender face. His eyes hidden under the shine of his rectangular, designer spectacles left for his button nose and soured lips to read. His hands were clasped together and it had looked as though he’d stolen my supervisor’s seat.My blond supervisor, far dirtier by comparison, gestures for me to take a seat. A nervous smile on his face, it was clear this meeting was not what I had hoped, even for a slim chance, it would be.Taking my seat, the slender, well dressed man tilted his chin up to stare down his nose at me. “Worker 3157, is it?”“That is me, sir.”“I’ve heard wonderful things about your progress since you came to work for this subsect of Joja. Would you say that’s a fair statement for me to follow?”How strange, the way he spoke. “I would like to think I’ve put my fair share of grit into my production.”“I see. And I see you also applied for a supervisor position, is that right?”“Correct.” I glance to my supervisor, nervous of where this would lead.“I think that’s brilliant.” The stranger says as my supervisor keeps his eyes firmly planted on his scuffed boots.“Well, it’s not very often we get females trying to reach high for their own chance at a destiny here.” He leans forward, resting his chin over his clasped hands. Lowering his head, his hazel eyes stare straight through me. “You’d be an inspiration to all female workers at this plant.”“I would hope so.” I say, earning a warning cough from my supervisor. “Of course, inspiration leads to higher morale amongst all workers.”“Oh, maybe for the females. But think of all the men who would feel cheated out of their rightful place at the top! Wouldn’t that just be terrible?”“I mean, don’t the women-““Females make up roughly 20% of our work force, 3157, unlike the men who carry these plants on their backs. You’re merely one in a million when it comes to your hard work. It matches, if not excels past what the average worker can do. And for the sake of the majority, I’m inspired to let you have a shot at your own destiny.”One moment I’m filled with dread. Was I about to be terminated? That would leave me close to no work. With Joja running the country’s workforce alongside the high requirements set for the sake of “bettering businesses”, there would be no work for me to get. I hold my breath as hope returns as the stranger carries on.“3157, looking at your academic testing for job recruitment, it looks like you were preemptively placed in the factory work field due to…” He takes a look at the papers he’d been covering under his elbows. “An inability to sit still, and excel in hands-on tasks.” He clears his throat and tilts his head. “But the next job that you qualified for after that was customary hospitality.”I look to my supervisor again, who still had his eyes trained on his boots.“If I’m to be honest, I think they did you a disservice, 3157. I’m sure you’ve felt uncomfortable working this job. And for little to no support from your fellow females. I would like to reward your hard work by relocating you to our hospitality division. Seeing as I run that branch, it would be my honor to rehome you and offer you a new lease on life.”My cheeks flush. On one hand, what he was saying was insulting, though I couldn’t place why. From my understanding, every word he spoke was truth. But on the other hand, who said I was uncomfortable working this job? Like my teachers had predetermined, I was meant for a more hands-on job like this. I’d never known the likes of customary hospitality, nor did I have the skills to abide by their standards. I’d gotten used to crude language, nasty humor which primarily was shared by the men. I was accustomed to this world and now, with a single meeting, I was to be torn from what I knew?“I’m sorry, sir, but I must decline your offer.”A warning, abrasive glare is shot at me from my supervisor.“I’m sorry?” The stranger straightens his posture, letting his arms fold over one another in rest. “I don’t think you understood me, 3157. You aren’t getting a choice in this. You are to be moved to my division, where I will reassign you as an entry-level employee. You are to gather your things from both your work station as well as quarters and go to your new work location.”I feel a flame lit inside of me, my cheeks burning all the more as my insides catch fire. “You can’t be serious! I’ve worked here for the last few years of my life and now you come in, wanting to just take me from my home? All I’ve ever known?”“3157!” My supervisor snaps, catching my attention. “Please,” he says desperately. “I know this is a strange concept, but believe me when I say it’s for the better.”“How?” I snap.“Sir, please, if you’ll allow me a moment alone with my Grunt, I will be sure to make her understand.”The stranger stands up, sneering at me as he does so. “I suppose, make it quick. I don’t have all day.”“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” I’d never seen my supervisor bow down to anyone like he did just now. But somehow, it worked to get that man out of the offices for just a moment.As soon as the door shut, I waste no time giving him a piece of my mind. “What the hell is this, Otto?”“Axle, I know this is hard for you.”“Listen, Otto, I don’t care, I’m not leaving! My home is here! It’s all I’ve ever known!”“You’ve known other things, Axe.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and slouched. “You were in school just like the rest of us, you learned more than just what we do here!”“So? It’s not like I really learned anything there. They were right to place me in this program!”Otto sighs, reclaiming his seat at his desk. “I know this is scary, and you feel cheated. You never deserved this, Axe, but I believe that this may just be your way to a destiny.”“Oh yeah? A destiny like the Elites get? Or a destiny like we get stuck with? Because I sure will not sell my soul to Joja just so I can get my destiny through them.”“Is that what this is about? Your soul?”“Yes! I know what working your way up through the corporate ranks does to you, Otto. They have you sign away your soul, and you find your destiny with them. In return for what was always your birthright, you get a decent paycheck, you get some perks, but you’ll never enjoy it!”“Listen, they’re not asking you to sell your soul, they’re just asking you to go elsewhere. Maybe this is where your real destiny lies?”“Like any of our destinies reach past these concrete walls…” I say in defeat.Every person born upon these lands is blessed by Yoba Himself with a soul. The Elites tell us, show us, from a young age, that everyone who has a soul has a destiny. But most destinies lie within the vast machine that is Joja. Most, if not all but a slim few, are destined to help spread the good efforts of Joja through even the smallest of positions. Only the slim few, Yoba’s chosen few, will ever live out a destiny beyond or beside Joja. But most who find their way out of the most common destiny seem to trade their very souls for a chance at a better life.Nobody knows if that’s really true. But if you saw how those who worked their way from the bottom to the top changed, you’d truly believe that their destinies were forged in the greatest sacrifice no one should ever have to commit to.“Axle, listen to me, please?” Otto pleads. “You can call me every day, you can write to me whenever you want. I’m always a pen stroke away. But you need to do this.”“Just because I had the misfortune of being born a ‘female’.” I bite my tongue for a moment.“It is unfortunate, isn’t it?” Otto sighs, burying his head in his hands. “I don’t understand why it matters. I’ve never seen any other Grunt do what you can.”“I guess they must be intimidated by me, huh?” I crack a smile, a bitter one. I also let a passive laugh escape my lips, one that reflected more my frustration than any semblance of joy with the matter.He also smirks, rubbing his hands over his expression. “Axle, you will kill it no matter where they place you. You have a spark that not everyone can manage to keep. You have wit, you have gull, and you sure as hell won’t fail to impress whoever watches your progress in your net position!”“Then I guess this was never my choice to make…” I come to grips with the reality of my position out loud. “I have to go.”“You do. But I’ll be cheering you on every step of the way! I’ll always be thinking of you!”“Don’t worry about me, you know I’ll kick ass where ever Yoba takes me.”Otto gives an affirming nod. “Hell yeah. Now go show all those corporate slags what you're made of!"With that, I would be gathering my things and saying goodbye to the life I’d always known. Traded for a life in a small coastal town, apparently in need of persuasion, according the stranger who I would come to know as “Dobson”.
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Riding the bus to my destination, I was nervous. Joja had been gracious enough, after I’d signed the proper paperwork, to offer me my own patch of land with a cozy home upon it. It looked to be just a short walk from the bus stop where I’d be getting off, so that was a bonus.As the sign changed at the front of the bus to read “Pelican Town” I mentally prepared myself for what was to come next. I was to drop my things off at my home and immediately make use of time to arrive at the local JojaMart where I was now stationed. There I would be provided with my uniform, welcoming packet, and my new schedule. After that? I suppose I would familiarize myself with the so called “stubborn” locals.According to Dobson, they were stuck in the past. A place where food was left unregulated, although traded and sold amongst each other. Where the small clinic only had one doctor, rather than an entire trustworthy team. I was warned of a hostile local who would gladly assault me if he knew what I was sent there to do, but I wasn’t told anything else on him. I was simply warned to stay away from the local businesses and continue to get my goods only through the trustworthy distribution of Joja.Finally, my bus would arrive and I would feel my stomach turn. Stepping onto the dirt path, I quickly hustle my way to the place allocated for my home. And just as soon as I get there, I’m greeted by an elderly man, dressed in overalls and a stylish cap. His mustache tilted up with his smile when he laid eyes on me.“Ah, you must be the new person everyone has been talking about! Your boss had let me know of your arrival, so I thought I’d just spruce your home up a bit before you get settled. I promise! Once these keys are in your hands, I won't trespass any more. I just thought you would like to not share your bed with random creepy crawlies…” His expression sours. “Well, anyways, what should I call ya?”Miffed by the man’s encroachment, I answer bluntly. “Friends call me Axle.”“Axle, huh? Well, Axle, it’s a pleasure to have you join our town. I hope over time you may be comfortable enough to call it home!” The old man laughs and approaches me, handing me a set of keys. “The name is Lewis, I’m the mayor of this town.”“Oh!” Well, that would make sense. “For a moment I thought you were my landlord.”“Landlord? HA!” He laughs boisterously. “Not a chance. We own where we live, kiddo! It’s how it’s meant to be!” the Mayor leans in a little and gives a cheeky grin. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t still charge you land taxes. How else can we make sure the roads get cleared in the winter?”“Right…” Such a foreign thing, to own a home. Was that what they’d done for me? Joja often ensured that all we had was rented so they could guarantee quality living quarters. How else could we afford to get a new fridge if ours broke? It’s not like we could afford that with how expensive living tended to be. “Well, thank you, Lewis. But I need to get my things in there and head down to the JojaMart…”“Ah, well, if it’s in order to stock up on home goods, might I suggest our local General Store?”“Well… that depends…”“On?”“If the produce is safe.”“Safe?” Mayor Lewis bursts out laughing again. “You’re killing me kid! Here in the Valley, our produce always comes out the most high quality! These lands are fertile so any schmuck can grow a decent garden!” He pauses and nudges me. “You should try it sometime! There’s nothing so rewarding as watching something you nurture grow into something tangible.”For a moment, I forget myself. If the rest of the town was anything like this Mayor, I would have a hell of a time adjusting to the culture. Even as an elderly man, the Mayor looked so… full of life. What was his secret when all these people supposedly do is farm a meal’s worth a day?“Thank you, Mayor Lewis, but I think I’ll stick with what I know for now.”“Suit yourself, but don’t let yourself miss out on Gus’s food!”“Gus?”“Oh! Sorry, he’s the owner of our Saloon!” He elaborates.“Ah…” I nod slowly. This old man was something else. “Well, I’ve never dined out before so I suppose I wouldn’t mind trying someone else’s cooking for a change…”“Great! Anytime is good after noon, but you should come in when it’s busy on a Friday night! It’s the best opportunity for you to meet more folks around town!”“Thank you…” I say, growing anxious as time ticks by. Surely my new supervisor was growing impatient.“Well, I’ll let you go now. Good luck settling in!”“Thank you…” I repeat meekly, watching the old man walk away and off my property.Wasting no more time, I chuck my things just inside the door of my new home and lock it up. At this point, I would have to apologize a thousand times to whoever was my new supervisor. I was on a strict schedule, after all.…Speeding through the town square, I look around at my surroundings, trying to locate the JojaMart. I considered, for just a moment, asking where it was from one of the locals. There were so many out and about. There was an old lady watering a pot of flowers. How unnecessary and bothersome not to just replace them with ever-vibrant plastic ones. Then who I presumed to be the local doctor, judging by his long white coat, taking a moment to walk in the grass outside the microscopic clinic. How foolish. What if there was an emergency? How would they know where he was? I then pass by the General Store, to find the JojaMart just on the other side of the bridge ahead.Going onward, I nearly trip over my own feet in a rush to get inside and out of the blazing sun.Air conditioning. Sweet, sweet air conditioning.Looking around, it was just like the JojaMarts I’d known, but slightly more compact. The same linoleum tiles, bright white lights illuminating nearly every corner of the store, the same uniform on everyone to tell me who was there to help. It was a piece of home away from home.Approaching the checkout counter, I spoke to a red haired woman with a vacant look upon her face. “Hey there, my badge number is 3157, and I’ve been reassigned to this store. Would you happen to be able to redirect me to your supervisor’s office?”The girl gives a miffed look before vaguely nodding in the direction of the wall opposite to us. “He’s in there. Knock first, you never know when he’s on some odd call.”I wince at her tone deaf voice, but keep smiling. I would hope this was just an off day for the poor girl and not a normal occurrence. I'd never seen a JojaMart worker so glum... “Thank you.” I nod to her and gather my wits.Approaching a daunting wooden door, I knock three times.An enthused voice calls from the other side, “Come in!”Opening the door, I peak my head in and give a nervous smile to who I presumed to be my new supervisor. “Hello, my apologies for being late. My badge number is-““I know who you are.” A large, well groomed man clasps his hands over his stomach as he leans back in his chair. This was my new supervisor, alright. Suddenly, I feel a knot in my stomach as I think of Otto. “Come in, shut the door behind you.”“Thank you.” I nod and do as he says, taking my stance across his desk.“So, Axle, is it?”My blood runs cold. That wasn’t how higher ups typically greeted their subordinates. “Yes, sir. But that’s just what my friends call me.”“Good. We’re all friends here, Axle. Better than that, actually. Here at Joja, we’re family.” His smile widens.I take a moment to look him over. Subconsciously, I think I was trying to see if there could be any real relation to each other. But just as soon as I start looking over him, I take note of more Elitist qualities. His hairstyle, for one, where it swept and curled over the left side of his forehead like a wave. Alongside that was his fashion choice. His maroon bowtie clashed against his uniform blue suit. It was a small choice, but one that showed he rose above the uniform specifications of the company. Typically, supervisors were to wear blues, blacks, greys, with minor accents of white or gold. Not to mention, his hair felt almost… disingenuous. It wasn’t a natural hair color. It was close, but just a little too blue for it to be his real hair. Perhaps at his age, which looked to be no older than his mid 30s, he was trying to cover his greying hair? Many around the factory tended to do that with a simple company hat. But I suppose different strokes for different folks. Maybe only the lower ranking employees were allowed to wear hats, as supervisors were meant to be the middle man between the customer and the service. He was meant to be more open, inviting, and relatable. But to me, there was something unnerving about him that I couldn't quite place. Especially when I tried to keep eye contact with him.“How did you know I went by that name?” I blurt out.“Your old supervisor and I had a chat earlier today. He tells me you’ll be missed on the assembly line.”This made my heart twist and ache alongside my knotting stomach. Already, I felt like I was being pulled back home to the factory I’d come from. “Yeah, well, I did apparently increase production by-““5%, he told me.” The man seemed both displeased yet proud of that. “I’m eager to have you start with us, Axle. You’ll do great here, I know it.”“Thank you, sir.”“Please, Morris will suffice.”“Morris…” It felt criminal to call a superior by their first name...“I know people typically keep their distance from the higher ups by approaching them with respect, but consider me to be like…” Morris pauses, thinking on his next words carefully. “think of me as the father of this store. And you’re…”Before he’s able to complete the sentiment, I cut him off. “With all due respect, sir, I’d prefer to keep this professional.”“Oh?” He perks up, sitting up in his seat. “Bold of you to say. Here I thought I would help you feel more comfortable by making you feel at home.”“It’s appreciated, but not necessary.” My voice quivers a little, I mentally slap myself for letting my emotions get to me.Morris’s expression softens. He stands, going to the corner of his office just to pull a chair out so I could sit across from him. “Here, let’s go over your new position.”I thank him and take my seat, going over the paperwork with him. Most was standard Joja material. The company pledge, philosophy, and all typical guidance for being an effective member of the team. By the time it’s done, I feel numb.“Now, my boss has informed me that you’re to play a very special role with us, is that so?”“You’d know better than I would.” I say without any thought.Morris pulls back, miffed by my dismissal. “Well, I hope you know you’re here on very special orders. You’ll be helping us to guide these locals to a better tomorrow!”“Right.”“Think of yourself like an ambassador to these poor, insolent children. They, much like many, don’t know the great joys that Joja can offer to the world! We’ve already helped them by providing jobs to the locals. We’ve boosted the local economy! Made groceries affordable! We've even funded some of the local celebrations,” Morris leans in and lowers his voice to be a hushed whisper. “Though they don’t need to know that last part.” He winks and goes back to yammering on. “I know Joja has provided you with that patch of abandoned land, right?”“Right.” I say, barely keeping focus when all I could do was look anywhere but at him. It all felt so overwhelming.“I think we’ll start by having you plant a garden of your own! Using only the finest of Joja’s equipment and seeds, we can show these locals that our food is indeed trustworthy and is, in fact, superior to the muck they grow around here!”“Okay…”“And once you establish that, I think maybe you could maybe sell that produce to the locals? Of course, you’ll need to reimburse us, but that would be great to draw connections between the locals and us!”“Right.”“Well, let me go gather everything you’ll need for this, and I’ll send you on your way.”Morris drums his palms along his desk as he slides over and up out of his seat.…I was grateful for the strength working in a factory had given me. Thank Joja… or uh… Yoba because the box Morris would give me was far heavier than expected. What had weighed it down more than anything were these expensive new iridium sprinklers. How could anyone haul these gadgets around? With the bundles of seasonal seeds and fertilizer, it was like carrying a whole other person.To say I ended up dropping the box while nearly out of the sights of the townspeople in the plaza was an understatement. My new gadgets and seeds went flying. My fertilizer nearly tore open and spilled all over the stone pathway. I froze.How humiliating…“Excuse me,” A soft voice pulls me from my internal scolding.A gentle poke on my shoulder and I whip myself into shape. Standing up straight, I meet eyes with the local doctor. “Huh? Oh, sorry…”“Are you alright? That looked…” He bares his teeth as he hesitates.“Painful…” I breathe. Stretching my muscles, I felt like my arms could detach and just float into the sky. At this point, I’d beg to join them.“Are you hurt?” He leans in a little, looking as though he wanted to examine me for any injuries.I feel defensive, wanting to play it cool so the locals wouldn’t have any reason to think poorly of me. “Other than a pulled muscle, I’m fine. But thank you.”“If you insist, let me help you with these things.” The doctor kneels and begins gathering some of the supplies now spilled all over the place.“Thank you, but that’s not-““Oh dear, what a mess…” A tremulous voice pulls my attention from trying to interrupt the doctor.Turning around, I’m greeted by the short elderly woman who I’d seen watering the flowers earlier. “Oh, it’s really not that bad.” I insist.She doesn’t listen, instead clicking her tongue and shaking her head. “Goodness, you kids these days push yourselves so hard. But you ought to learn your limits!”I was sure with my shame and embarrassment my cheeks were now a deep crimson which only fed into my panic more. “Well, I was sort of given these like this. I don’t think I could take a second trip.” I rush to excuse myself.“My, well you just wait right there. I’m sure Pierre can offer you another box and Dr. Harvey here will help you carry the rest to where you’re going.”“Oh, really, that’s not-““Hush, now, child. You just wait here and we’ll get you another box!”Watching the elderly woman step to the store, a feeling of endearment sinks in. I’d never met an elderly person so matriarchal before. Let alone, this strange shame filling me letting everyone just coddle me like this felt… uncomfortable?It’s as the General Store’s door slams behind the woman that I spin back around, remembering my box of spilled goods. “Oh shit, I’m so sorry. You didn’t need to pick all of that up for me.”“Please, it’s nothing. Your arms may be injured, and I can’t in good conscious let you strain yourself anymore.”“You’re very kind…’ I make the observation. “That’s… weird.” I add.“To be nice?” The doctor stands to his full height, letting the box rest on the ground for a moment.“Yeah.”“Do you… come from the city?” He asks me, narrowing his eyes.“I do.”“Oh, oh gosh.” The doctor’s eyes widen before he clears his throat and recollects himself. “That makes sense then why you think that. Here in these smaller towns, things are a lot different. You know, you should come to my clinic sometime and let me run a check up on you.”“Is that some kind of pick up line?” I pull back a little.“What!? NO! Yoba, that would be so unprofessional of me!” He rushes to say. “I just mean, like, check up on your physical well being.”“I’m fine.”“Are you sure? I mean- not to say you wouldn’t know but…” His words fade out just as the jingle of the General Store’s door chimes, giving the poor man some reprieve.Out comes the elderly woman with a middle aged man in tow. The two carry on a conversation, laughing, before stopping before the situation. “So, you’re the one who couldn’t carry their weight?” The man accompanying the elderly lady teased.“Uh… yeah…” I shrink back, feeling like a spotlight was beaming down on me.He laughs, handing over the spare box. “Don’t look so nervous! I don’t bite…” He jokes. He felt to me like those fatherly characters you’d see on the television. “So,” he starts again, “come to start your new life out here?”“Oh, yes… I guess you could say that.” I shrug.“Well, while you’re still getting settled in, please stop by my store sometime! We carry all the essentials and the finest produce from around the area!” He leans in, smiling cheekily. “And I don’t just say that because I sell my own greenery!”I can’t help but mirror his smile and chuckle along with him. “Well, I tend to stick with Joja, it’s what I know but maybe-““Joja!?” The man’s face falls and he looks to finally realize something as he glances at the box packed full of Joja brand materials. His voice drops and he pulls back a little, bringing a hand to his mouth. “I see…”“Well, dear, you shouldn’t let us keep you! I’m sure you’re eager to start your new life and get settled in! Feel free to visit me anytime, okay? I live in that little house next to the trailer down there!” Pointing a frail digit towards where the JojaMart was, I can just barely make out a house behind another building.“Oh thank you. You’ve been extraordinarily kind. I don’t know what to say.” It felt like being smacked with social brick after social brick. One act of kindness followed by another.
“Thank you will do just fine, dear.” She answers.“Well, thank you. Thank you all…” I say, looking to each new face with humility.“Hey, don’t mention it. It’s what communities do for each other…” The older man from the store speaks up. “What’s your name, kiddo?”“Friends call me Axle.”“Axle? What a funny name…”“Well, when you work the life I do- or uh… did… you’re either known by your badge number or the nickname you earn. I just got lucky with mine.”“Huh…” There’s a weird tension before the elderly woman clears her throat to speak up.“Well, dear, my name is Evelyn, but you can also call me Granny, if you’d like!”I can’t help but simply smile nervously and nod. This all felt so surreal.“I’m Pierre. I’m the owner of the local General Store. Some fair advice for you- you’ll do better to shop with me than you will with Joja. My seeds are higher quality and I’ll even help you sell your produce once it’s fully grown!” The older man reaches his hand out to grasp mine, giving it a firm shake.“Thank you and uh-“ I turn around to face the kind doctor who had rushed to help me in the first place. “Dr. Harvey, right?”This earns a warm smile from the mustached man. “Correct.”“Well, it was nice meeting you all, I’ll be sure to stop into your store at some point, Pierre.”“Just don’t come in on Wednesdays!” He warns.“Oh?” I react, feeling my nerves rise again. Was this a threat? “Why’s that?”“Even a businessman like me needs a day to rest.” He teases me with a boisterous laugh. “Every other day I’m open from 9 to 6! So don’t wait up!” A day to rest, a day of lost production, Joja always said.“Right…” I nod along and mentally wish I could just leave.I leave in awkward silence with the accompanied help of Dr. Harvey. After some more of his nervous insistence, I agree to do at least one check-up within the next week or so once I get my crops set up. I owed him that much after he helped to carry the heavier of the two boxes I had.
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The next days were grueling. First there were issues with getting the sprinkler systems put in. Next, I couldn’t seem to get the layout of my garden right. Every time I thought I had the right vegetables together, I would turn around to find in the booklet provided to me by Joja that they were counteractive to each other. Now, I was dealing with crows pecking away at my seeds!I decide the best option, rather than keeping a strict eye on my garden 24/7, was to go see Morris.A quick walk downtown, and refreshingly I was at the JojaMart.Going to one of the front registers, I was greeted by the same dead-pan red haired girl from my first visit to the store. “How can I-“ She stops herself, “Oh, it’s you.”I smile meekly and nod. “Yeah, hey, do you know where Morris is?”“He’s probably in the back working on a shipment.” She points vaguely to the back of the store.I give a quick “Thank you” before rushing through the aisles and to the back. I walk down a hallway, big enough for a few doors. One’s a storage closet, another two are bathrooms, and finally, I reach two large, swinging metal doors.I stop a moment, thinking if I was even allowed back there.“Looking for something?”I jump and spin around to face a young man, no older than maybe his early 20s. He held one of his headphones away from his ear while holding the handle of a mop in the other. His hair, blond and spiked back, drew my eye up. But then I look down for his credentials. On his jacket, I can barely make out from the distance between us the name “Sam”.Stumbling over my words, I take a deep breath and step towards him. “I was just looking for Morris.” I say, more as a question than a matter of fact.“He should be back there.” Sam tilts his head nonchalantly. “But customers aren’t allowed back there. Here, I can go get him for you if you’d like!” The young man abandons his mop bucket and comes towards me.Quickly, I raise my hands and stop him. “I’m not a customer.”Eying me quizzically, he tilts his head again. “Oh, well, then what’s stopping you from going back there?”“It’s not like I really work here,” I point to the ground, “it’s more like I’m working with Joja on a special assignment out here so it’s weird to just go back there.”“Special assignment?”
“Yeah, I was relocated here from the factories.”“So is Joja building a factory out here then?” The young man perks up and asks. “Are you a scout of sorts?”“I-“ My voice hangs in the air. “I don’t know.”“You know, my mom says we’re one of the last towns with our roots still intact. But she also says that also leaves us behind the rest of the world. I think if Joja were to build a factory out here, it could probably boost us into the future everyone else is living in.” Sam explains. I’m tickled, it was nice to find someone enthusiastic about what we could offer them. “Well, Morris should be back there. If you can’t find him, I’m sure he’s in his office.”Nodding, I press open one of the large doors. “Thank you, Sam.”“No problem.” He gives an upward nod and goes back to his work.Stepping inside, it feels a bit more at home. Concrete floors, dimmer, yellowish lights dangling up above, discoloring the room just ever so slightly to drive anyone mad. It was refreshing.“Morris?” I call out, peeking around a few shelves.“Over here!” Through the gaps of boxes and product, I can just barely make out a clipboard being lifted.I make my way through a maze of pallets and find the man counting some canned goods. He drops to his knees just as I come beside him. “Sir, I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”“Not at all, Axle, what can I do for you?” He says, jotting something down on a gridded sheet.“I’ve run into a bit of an issue with my garden.”“Is that so?” He muses.“Indeed. Crows keep pecking at my crops. I was wondering if you had any repellent?”Morris stays crouched as he counts another row of something or another. “I suppose we could contract some supplies out to you for that. Were you thinking pesticides or maybe something more potent?”“Wouldn’t anything more potent than pesticides poison the plants?”Morris stands back up, grunting softly in response to his knees crackling. “I assure you, nothing we use could be used to harm our customers.”“But what about the plants?”He stops, quirking a brow. “The ones you’re growing or the ones surrounding them?”I frown and look away, uncertain of myself. “Well… both?”Sighing, he lowers his head and sets his clipboard down on a box. “Let’s go review what we can do to help, hm?” He doesn’t even bother looking at me before passing by and leading me all the way up front to his office. Entering the confined room, I see the chair he’d pulled out for me was right where I had left it after that first day. “Shut the door behind you, take a seat.”Doing exactly that, he gets set up with a large binder from his bookshelf. I sit down across from him, eying the pages he flips through. Adjusting his specs so they rest further down his nose, he reads over the page he lands on.“So, we have two options.”“That’s a relief.” I say.“One looks to be a fertilizer which introduces an agent that poisons pests that try to ingest your crops…” He mumbles something, reading over the next line. “Or! There’s a new experimental pesticide spray which has shown to be very effective in trials!” He announced with enthusiasm.“Experimental?” I blurt out.“Oh yes,” he confirms casually, pointing to some red text. “Says here in the notes that users should take caution of the shine that it leaves on their crops.”“Is that all? I like a good shiny fruit once in a while.”“You would think…” Morris hums as he trails his finger over more of the warning. “But that has been known to cause crops to burst into flames due to the flammability of the coated substance… and,” he hums again. “It looks like if your crops do survive the blazing sun, it’ll be a hell of a time trying to remove the film from them.”“So it would render my veggies inedible?” I confirm.“Not quite… Joja never puts their customers at any bodily risk…” Morris seems to try and look for some way to explain away my worries. But after a moment, he just slams the binder shut and leans in. “So, do either of those sound good to you?”Looking up from the desk, I meet his eyes to answer. But my voice gets caught in my throat. There was something about his eyes that were irking me.Squinting, I try to find his pupils, but they’re buried in a gradient pool of black that hinders the vibrance of his crimson irises. Still, the faint shape of a slit can be seen if I looked hard enough.“Axle?”Blinking, I try to look away from him so I could get rid of a sudden feeling of dread that had taken me by the heart. “Sorry.”“That’s okay. You looked like you zoned out there for a moment. Are you feeling alright?”I’m half-tempted to bring up what I’d noticed, but decided it was easier to lie. “I’m alright. I suppose I just… didn’t get enough sleep last night.”Morris’s face contorts into a worried scowl. “Oh? Is the new living arrangement not treating you well?”Quickly, I rush to defend myself. The last thing I needed was to become a problematic employee. “No! It’s not that, I’m grateful for everything Joja was kind enough to provide. But I just-““We can always go through the catalogue. Maybe some new furniture would benefit you? I’ve been reading the newsletters and the scientists up at HQ recently found that employee satisfaction is raised when keeping up with the latest themes for homes.”This catches me so off guard, I halt the conversation with a blunt “what?”.“Oh, sorry. I forget not everyone has access to computers yet. Maybe I can print them out for you, but when people fall behind on trends, they tend to feel left out, isolated…” Morris’s voice fades into the background as I refocus on his eyes.That wasn’t how normal eyes looked… But I’ve seen eyes like his before. Just more… dull?Like Dobson’s.Was this a trend that only the Elites and higher ups were able to afford? How was I supposed to keep up with every new trend? Wouldn’t it get expensive to continuously buy newer and newer things only to throw them out the minute the next trend hits? And what if I came to regret what I’d invested my money into? How would that make anyone happier?“Axle.”Why was I suddenly thinking about these things? And why was I starting to feel the same upset I did before? Maybe I should call Otto. But I didn’t have a phone. There weren’t any public phones around here like there were in the city. In fact, I was isolated. Maybe I was struggling to grapple with my new home. Maybe I needed to familiarize myself with the very people who I was supposed to convince of Joja’s great name.“Axle.”My heart begins to pound, my mind spinning as suddenly something dawns on me that was too appalling to fully acknowledge.“Axle.”I should start with the General Store. Yes, that would be perfect. Where better to start than with the competition?“Axle!”“Hm?” Time comes to stop, and despite my reluctance to look him in the eye, I push past and lock eyes with him.“You should come back later. I believe all that time in the sun has exhausted you.”His words take a moment to sink in, but when they do, I don’t hesitate to rise from my seat. “I-I suppose you’re right, sir.” I stammer, moving the chair this way and that to leave it nicely for the next person.“Please, Axle, call me-““Morris, right, right…” I slam the seat down, looking up just to feel that eerie feeling creep up my spine again. There was something about the way he looked at me, like there was a deep longing, maybe a sorrow that had long been left unnoticed and buried deep. Something akin to the troubled remorse of something once loved left abandoned.Then again, I could just be exhausted. After all, his actual expression was nothing short of that gool ol’ JojaMart smile we all knew and loved. It was, however, tampered with his furrowing brows. Clearly I’d worried him.Watching him push his glasses up, I breathe a sigh of relief. At least I could go back to focusing on the rim of his spectacles or even the white glare of the lights reflection. But not now. I rushed to leave, giving a simply nod and goodbye before rushing out of there.What a nightmare.…Bursting through the entry of Pierre’s General Store, I stop as soon as I enter. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, or if I expected anything at all. But when I marched inside, I was immediately taken aback.It was barren and cramped.Only a few wooden shelves here, a few more lining the wall to my left. It was astonishing to see how little he sold. How could he expect to make a profit when this was all he stocked?“Ah, if it isn’t our new farmer, Axle!” A warm, welcoming voice takes me out of my wonder and confusion.Straight ahead, Pierre lowers a newspaper and folds it over, smiling warmly at me. Coming closer to his counter, my eyes keep trailing all over the wooden interior. “Hey Pierre.”“What brings you to my humble shop?” He asks.Stopping, I’m reluctant to betray Joja by asking a second hand source for help. “Well, I’m not sure if you can help me.”“Is that so? Well, we’ll never know unless you ask!” He laughs.“Right, well… I want it to be on the record that this can’t be.”He drops his voice, narrowing his eyes. “What do you mean?”“I already tried to get help from Joja,” I start, letting my eyes land back on his. “But I just can’t agree with their methods. One poisons whatever tries to eat it and the other is just… wrong.”Pierre hums, raising his chin and pressing his lips in thought. “Well, I can’t say that surprises me.”“Well, that’s where we’re different.” I mutter. “Do you have any products that can help?”“I assume you’re trying to get rid of some pests?”“I am! Crows keep pecking at my seeds…”“Well, easy fix! If it’s crows that are bugging you, a good ol’ fashion scarecrow does the trick in these parts!”I gaff, covering my mouth and wincing. “A scarecrow? Yeah, right! Those only work in cartoons and-““Real life.” Pierre interjects calmly. “You should try it if you don’t believe me!” He pauses. “They’re also free and easy to make!”“Wait- You’re telling me you can’t just sell me one?”“No.” He states, frowning for just a moment before softening back to a charming smile. “With how rare they sell, I can only afford to sell the artisan ones at festivals.”“I see…” Gazing around the store again, I cursed Joja for not having better methods for pest control. “Well, how do I make one?”“How do you-“ Just as soon as his smile returned, it drops back into a frown again. “It’s easy!” He exasperates. “You just stuff an old shirt, make a head for it, fix it to a pole and stick it near your crops!”“Is that all?”Pierre’s usual smile returns, a few beads of sweat joining as he struggles to restrain his annoyance. “How does a farmer like you not know this? Did you just run away from your old life and hitch a bus to this place without a second thought?”“No.”“Then what are you doing, kid?” He scoffs, befuddled.I swallow hard and figure it’s best just to come clean. “Well, Joja has sent me here to help out a bit.”Thinking back, I wondered if I could have begun this differently. Judging by how quickly the poor shop owner’s face dropped, anyone who entered the conversation at this point would believe I’d just insulted his entire family.“I’m sorry, did I say-““No!” Pierre jumps to cut me off. “Not at all. It’s just… I can’t believe I hadn’t put two and two together…”“What do you mean?”“Seeing that box full of supplies, even that familiar blue uniform, the rumors, I’d hoped maybe it was too outlandish to be true…” He laments. “But I suppose it is, huh?”His words stung like an insult, yet I couldn’t understand what his gripe was. “I’m sorry, Pierre, I don’t know if I’m really following what you’re saying.”“Oh, don’t worry…” He swallows, looking me over, shutting his eyes and lowering his head. “Was there anything else I could help you with today, Axle?” He speaks quietly.“No, but thank you for your help!” Attempting to keep a cheery demeanor, my voice rises in pitch.“Then have a good day, please don’t be afraid to stop by for anything you may need.”