Boarding School
Dear Mother and Father,
Our letters home are of course screened for security purposes, so I must be brief and choose my words carefully.
The food here is very nourishing and they are very nice to us. The beds now have pillows. However, following my incident I have been moved to a smaller dormitory with six others. They are not sure about me yet, but I am keeping my head down and being very kind to them, just like you said.
Our education continues to be very intensive and important. I have learned many things I did not know, such as mathematics and quantum mechanics, physical education, and the secret history of the Great Race. Today we awoke at four and did exercise for three hours. Then we helped in the factory making pipes. Then we had lunch and in the afternoon we studied quietly. Now I have a short time to write this letter before we go to lecture hall for the assembly.
Yesterday I was punished for saying bad things. The others in my dormitory asked where I had been transferred from, and so I told them. They didn’t understand but I remembered what you taught me. I told them all about World War Too and the Great United States, and about the Kingdom United. The teachers were very upset when they heard about this, and I was punished.
I was very sad to hear that Cuddles died. I do not know how he died as I was not allowed to read the letter you sent, and the jelly beans were destroyed for security reasons. I ate only one black one, and although I do not like the black ones I did not brush my teeth that day because it tasted very good.
I miss you both. I hope I will see you again soon. Tell Ana I miss her and she is allowed to pull my hair whenever she wants, once my hair grows back.
Your daughter,
K
davidbaillie
Wow. The voice of K is perfect. This really got me.
Great stuff Xander.
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Andrew Cheverton
It’s what isn’t said in this story that works so well.
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Nicolas Papaconstantinou
Xander, you creep me out. In a good way.
Chev is right, it’s the missing details, and the gaps in what K says, that make the story, although your inclusion of “… the jelly beans were destroyed for security reasons.” is so whimsical – yet sad, for some reason – that it sticks out.
(Also, “the beds now have pillows.”)
Inspired little piece…!
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