American Caste

A glimpse into the future...? Haha no...I don't think so, but some societies function like this. This is mostly about understanding how good we still have it here in America.

            “What do you think you’re doing, going out with her? Hm? You know what her family is son. You know the kind of people they are. And you know what kind of people we are don’t you? Don’t you son?”

            “Yes dad I know, I know! Jesus, we have this conversation six times a week…it’s sunk in, I got it.” Oscar stormed out of the kitchen slamming the door on the way out. He turned back to the house and yelled at the top of his lungs. “I’m so sick of everything,” he thought as he slouched down to sit on the front stoop, looking out at the neighborhood boys playing street hockey, “how could this be happening here? This isn’t how life is supposed to be. I just want to see Emilia.”

            It had been two months since the caste system had officially been installed into the U.S. Constitution, making it illegal for a man to allow his family to interact with anybody not of the same educational background. Oscar’s father was a doctor. That meant that Oscar could only date the daughters’ of other doctors, of his father’s peers. “It’s bullshit,” he whispered bitterly to himself.

            Oscar was going to be seventeen in a few months and he had been dating Emilia since sophomore year of high school. But that could no longer continue after the radical amendment was passed into law. It was 2015 and freedoms were being snatched from us citizens left and right…what kind of government has sanction over the amount of time we can spend taking a shower or watching television? What kind of government tells us who we can and can’t love? It was all like something out of some horrible political thriller, but there was nothing fictional, and certainly nothing thrilling about any of this.

            He rose from the stoop and walked back inside the house. “Dad, I want to see Emilia. If you don’t let me I’m going to do it anyway somehow, I don’t care what you do or say. Dad! Are you listening?”

            His father was peeling an apple, crying silently over the kitchen sink. “I just got this” he said nodding his head towards a blindingly white piece of paper on the counter, it seemed to be glowing. Oscar looked from his father to the letter, confused, and caught off guard. This wasn’t exactly going as he planned. He walked over, picked up the letter and read:

 

Dear Mr. Brown,

            Senate has recently passed a law stating that those married to anyone below their caste grade must seek divorce immediately, otherwise to suffer legally punitive repercussions. Please sign and return the attached form upon seven (7) days of receipt, acknowledging that your divorce will be finalized within a period of no more than one (1) month. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

                                                                        Gretchen Hilbert

   Senior United States Social Secretary  

 

           

            “Dad…no.” Oscar felt his heart racing, looked at his father in his eyes, tears ready to burst from his face. “We have to do something! When are they going to stop? They’re going to tear everybody apart! Dad, I don’t want mom to leave! Oh my God…no,” and he broke down, sliding down the side of the cabinets, slumped up against the counter.

            “Get your suitcase; I’m going to pick up your mother from work. Don’t tell anybody anything. I'll pick up Emilia on the way back here. I need you to have all of your things ready by the time we get back, and already be packing for your mother and me. Just basics, only things we need. We’re going," and he grabbed his keys and slammed the door as he walked out of the kitchen.          

Author's Note

Comments and critiques appreciated.

Reviews

[Danny Kemp.]

An imaginative and well written piece.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

The fierce horror of non-knowing tingles the taste of the mind, well done, good read.

[Marie]

This is a frightening story, but I really liked it. YOu do good work.