9. All Hat, No Cattle

[gunwithoutmusic]

Monday, February 13th—2:36 a.m.

1,124 words. Approximate reading time: 5 minutes, 37 seconds.

Caleb snuck down the stairs quietly, taking extra care to step over the stair that always creaked. The last thing that he needed at that moment was for his parents to wake up and find out what he was doing. He made it to the first floor without incident, and breathed a small sigh of relief when he realized that he was pretty much in the clear. He adjusted his backpack on his shoulders and silently moved toward the front door.

As soon as his hand touched the knob, a light turned on, temporarily disorienting Caleb, whose eyes had grown accustomed to the dark house. He immediately felt a pang of fear, and spun around to find his aunt Cara sitting in the plush armchair opposite the living room from the front door.

“Going somewhere?” Cara asked softly, with a hint of a smile.

Caleb gaped. “I... uh—”

“It’s okay, Caleb,” Cara said. “I know what’s going on. Your parents might be oblivious, but I’m not. Sit down for a sec.” She gestured to the sofa next to her chair. Caleb, still nervous and unsure about what was going to happen, cautiously approached the sofa and sat down.

“Aunt Cara,” Caleb started, but Cara raised a hand to stop him.

“Shh,” she said. “Let’s not wake up your parents; just listen to what I have to say. You’re not in trouble. At least, not with me, okay?” Caleb nodded. “Good. So you’re trying to make your way out to the Free States, is that right?”

Caleb hesitated, but Cara smiled at him, and he slowly nodded.

“Do you have any plan of how you’re going to get there?” Cara asked. “Stow away on one of the trains, perhaps?”

Caleb shrugged. “I... I guess I don’t really know,” he said, keeping his voice just above a whisper. “I figured I’ll sneak out to the train station and just... figure it out from there?”

“Oh, Caleb,” Cara sighed. “What I wouldn’t give to be nineteen years old again. All talk and no brains. That’s incredibly reckless you know.”

“I know,” Caleb said. “I just... I gotta get out of here. The thought of spending the rest of my life here in this house and being stuck with my parents... You get it, right?”

“I get it,” Cara said with a nod. “Look, you were only four years old when everyone locked down. You don’t really know what life was like before. I remember it. When I was your age, everything was so different. Life was full of possibilities. The Free States... well, they aren’t exactly like that, but they’re closer than this, maybe.

“When you get to my age, Caleb, it’s really easy to just accept that things are the way they are and that they won’t change. Did you ever wonder why I’ve been living here for the past fifteen years? It isn’t because I didn’t have a home of my own. I was just visiting your dad when the quarantines happened.”

Caleb wasn’t sure what to say. He only had a vague idea of what Cara was even talking about.

“Eh, but you don’t know what I’m talking about anyway. The stuff they teach in schools these days. Nothing important. Look, you’re about to do something crazy. You’re nineteen. I get it. I want to help.” Cara slid her hand into her pocket and pulled out a small plastic card and a folded up piece of paper. “This right here is your golden ticket to a new life, young man.” She reached out to hand him the card.

Caleb took the card from Cara’s hand and looked at it. It was an ID card that looked just like the one that was already in his wallet, right down to the photograph. “I already have an ID card, Aunt Cara,” Caleb said.

“Look closer,” she replied, reaching out and tapping her finger on the top-right corner, where a small red star was emblazoned. “This is a special ID card. This one will get you onto the train, legitimately.”

Caleb’s eyes widened as he realized what was happening. “How did you get this?” he asked her. “Why?”

Cara shook her head gently. “Let’s just say that I know some people. Really, for your safety and for mine, the less you know, the better.” She handed him the folded piece of paper. “When you get off of the train, you’ll want to look up the person that’s on this piece of paper. He’s expecting you, and he’ll help you get off to a good start down there.”

Caleb unfolded the paper. On it was a name, Allan Standard, followed by what looked like an address, but the format was different than what he was used to.

“When you get to the train station, just act natural and do your best to blend in,” Cara continued. “If anyone asks, you’re being sent over to the Free States on a work visa. Don’t act like you’re excited about it; most people that are sent over on work visas are being sent over as a punishment. You shouldn’t run into too many people this early in the morning; the Schedule is pretty light right about now. Just be on your guard.”

Caleb nodded. “Okay, Aunt Cara.”

“You alright, Caleb?”

“Yeah, it’s just... I didn’t realize this was going to be so much. Why are you doing all this?”

“One, you are my nephew and I love you,” Cara said. “The last thing I want is for you to get hurt or thrown in jail because of a half-baked plan. And two... I remember what it was like when I was your age. The world was my oyster and I had choices and I was going to be great. I was going to grab life by the horns and never let go.

“That never happened for me. It might not happen for you. Maybe that’s just a part of being human, living in a world of ideals when you’re young and living in a world of bitter resignation when you’re older. I don’t know. All I know is that, in this place, you aren’t going to be afforded that opportunity. You’ve got a slim window to try and get out of here and make something of yourself. I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t do what I could to help you take that chance.”

Unsure of what exactly to say, Caleb stared at Cara for a short moment. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Cara stood up and motioned for him to be quiet. “You don’t have to say anything,” she whispered as she helped him stand up and ushered him toward the door.

Cara soundlessly opened the front door, and Caleb stepped outside onto the porch. He turned to look at his aunt one last time. She smiled sadly and said, “And I won’t say anything, either.”

Comments

[adoptedwriter]

Aunt Cara is one cool lady! Love the dialogue in this!

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you! Yes, Cara is a total badass in my mind, but a very unassuming one. No one would ever guess that she was part of something shady. ;)

[bleodswean]

This is a really nice scene - it's clear in its visuals, and the dialogue gives enough exposition and current situation to not feel that we're being told too much. It also flows very well. I love that you've - maybe? - turned a new corner in this 'Verse and that we are now going to get to see adventure and positive experiences that are part of boldness, bravery, and the longing for better things!

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you :) I was pretty happy with how this came out, a nice quiet scene that does a little more world-building but is more about a shared moment between two family members.

I want very badly for this project, when looked at as a whole, to not be just bleak, bleak, bleak. Bleakness makes for some powerful pieces, I think, but it's also exhausting after a certain point. When I started this, my husband warned me not to stick around too long in that headspace; for me, at least, my writing and my current mental state are inseparable and one affects the other.

I haven't been in a great place emotionally over the last few months (nothing serious, just a lot of stressors piled on me all at once), so I'm pushing hard to put out some things that are a little less depressing and more hopeful.

That's all probably more than I needed to say, but you know that you get to bear the brunt of my "thought process" comments. :) I'm glad you enjoyed this piece.

[roina_arwen]

Wonderfully written! It’s great that Cara is willing and able to help her nephew get a better life; I hope the next installment is as good as this one!

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you so much! I have some good (well, I think so anyway) ideas that I'm excited to present so I'm really hoping that the stars align and the next prompt lends itself to what's already in my mind. :)

[static_abyss]

I love stories like this! I would read 40k more of this. I want to know everything about this world and Caleb and Cara and the family and what's going on in the free states and what happened after the quarantines. You're a great story teller!

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you thank you! I really appreciate that :)

[banana_galaxy]

I love Aunt Cara. This was a great interaction, and I think speaks volumes about their relationship. I hope Caleb succeeds.

[gunwithoutmusic]

Me too! My brain sort of leaves these characters in suspension, so I don't really know what happens - does Caleb make it? Does Cara get caught? There's lots of directions you could go in and I kind of like the idea of the reader deciding how things end. :)

[erulissedances]

This was strong and hopeful in so many ways. It makes me wonder what happened to cause the Free States to arise and the borders to close down. Hints are given, but not the full story. I really liked this.

- Erulisse (one L)

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you! I really would love to get into The Split, as I have a lot of ideas in my head about it, but it's hard to articulate and fit into this format, so it's almost easier for me to just give little hints here and there. Hopefully we'll get a prompt that will lend itself to a more in-depth look soon. :)

[ashgael]

In a way this is rather sad.

[gunwithoutmusic]

It is, and I like that you picked up on that. In some ways this is a happy story, but the whole situation is pretty sad. I'd like to think that I can inject a little hope in there, but this is very much not a happy world, even if the characters living in it might find it normal.

[ofearthandstars]

I realize this is all part of your post-pandemic world, but this bit, right here? It made me cry:

That never happened for me. It might not happen for you. Maybe that’s just a part of being human, living in a world of ideals when you’re young and living in a world of bitter resignation when you’re older. I don’t know. All I know is that, in this place, you aren’t going to be afforded that opportunity. You’ve got a slim window to try and get out of here and make something of yourself.

I'm not even sure why, except that my life took an odd turn when I hit 19 and I missed out on ...a lot. I'm glad Caleb has Cara.

[gunwithoutmusic]

Wow, thank you - that particular section was basically just me speaking, if I'm being honest. I'm sure that our situations are wildly different, but my life basically went off the rails when I was around 19, due in large part to poor decision-making on my part, and I've never really felt like I've been able to get back on track (sometimes I don't know if I even know where the track is anymore). Thinking about Cara and the situation she's in, it's a lot like how I feel about my own life sometimes. I'm not happy about making you cry, but I'm very happy that you can relate. <3

[tonithegreat]

This piece makes me very curious about your universe, rather than nitpicky! I hope you continue with this. You did a great job with the interaction between the characters. I hope we get to read more about Cara.

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you so much! I still haven't decided if I'm going to revisit any characters from these or not. My original plan was "every chapter is a one-off," but I really do love some of the characters I've put down on the paper and it's very tempting to me to go back and follow-up on them and see how they're doing. :)

[dsrmousey]

This was a great story a little bit of now and a little bit of then. And how can you not love Aunt Cara. Peace~~~Desiree

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you thank you! :)

[mollywheezy]

This was wonderful. I love Cara and her sneaky help of her nephew. I would totally do that sort of thing! Except my husband has told me I am not allowed to corrupt our nieces and nephews . . . ;)

[gunwithoutmusic]

lol I have a nephew and two nieces that I love dearly and I would LOVE to have an "Aunt Cara" moment with them when they're older. Hopefully not specifically involving escaping a dystopian society, but whatever works, you know? :)

[marlawentmad]

It is really lovely to be in this universe you've been fleshing out and just smile. I love the conspiratorial dialogue between two family members. I suspect Caleb doesn't really know his Aunt Cara well at all. She's intriguing!

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you! I love the idea of this Underground Railroad of sorts that helps people out, and I think Caleb's pretty lucky that his Aunt happens to be part of that organization. That's definitely a group I might like to explore a little more.

[stellinas]

Great story with a real message,with or without lockdowns,quarantines,pandemics etc,life is what you make it and we should all reach for our dreams and live life to the full.Great dialogue,envious as that is nor my strong point lol.Enjoyed this very much,well done and good luck x

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you so much! :)

[dadi]

Well done!

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you! :)

[d0gs.livejournal.com]

The dialogue and feeling of longing in this were wonderful!

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you so much! :)

[alycewilson]

I really want to see what happens to Caleb next!

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you! It may not be Caleb, but I do expect to write about some border crossing soon. :)

[drippedonpaper]

Your entry made me think of my kids. It's scary to say but I might have stayed in my first marriage, despite the abuse, except for the views your expressed so well in your entry: " All I know is that, in this place, you aren’t going to be afforded that opportunity. You’ve got a slim window to try and get out of here and make something of yourself. I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t do what I could to help you take that chance.”

I was (and still am) worried about what I can offer my children for their future. When I decided to leave their dad, I didn't even have my degree or a job. But I knew I could never forgive myself if I didn't help us leave so that they could have a chance.

When you wrote about Aunt Cara being stuck, it made me think of people who ended up having to stay in countries they were visiting much longer than they meant to, due to borders closing etc.

I hope you will continue this story and that Caleb makes it!

[gunwithoutmusic]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment! I was writing that wishing that I had had some sort of figure in my life that would do the same for me. But then again, I am and have always been fiercely independent, so who knows if I would have accepted it or listened?

I'm glad you picked up on the part about her being trapped. To me that is almost more interesting than everything else that's going on in the story. Can you imagine going to visit family for a few days and ending up stuck in their home for fifteen years? I imagine that Cara has a family of her own that she hasn't seen in person since, which probably explains her being in a faction that smuggles people out of that zone. :)