[ WP ] Everyone is allowed to kill one person in their life . However , you have to fill out a form explaining why this person deserves to be killed and the committee can deny/approve your request as per the rules . You are presenting your form today .

`` Alright, people, let's get back to it, then,'' said Susan, sitting back down and smoothing over her skirt. The three other judges sat down as well, looking at the stacks of papers in front of them. The forms were always filled out. They were n't allowed to talk to the applicants themselves. If they had managed to get to the final Ethics board, they were at least shown to be mentally competent and able to make sound decisions, and so an interview was unnecessary. Meeting the applicant themselves could possibly sway a judge to hand over the coveted highlighter yellow card due to human bias -- for who has n't once immediately jumped to the side of someone their own gender, race, or age? Additionally, none of the files had any kind of personal information in them, about either the applicant or the accused, scrubbed by clerks in order to sanitize the file of police reports, anecdotes, and medical records into a clean, blank slate of deeds. 
 
 The process was very thorough, to put it simply. 
 
 `` Alright. So -- crimes here include alleged rape of a minor, alleged domestic violence, possible manslaughter, and several DUIs. There has been a single vehicular homicide, several medical records showing serious sclerosis of the liver, blood alcohol levels over the legal limit, and a few other signs of heavy alcoholism,'' said Susan, using her pen to track down a general summary of the file. 
 
 `` Personal anecdotes states that the accused frequently beats their spouse and child,'' John, a rather more elderly judge, grumbled to himself as he rubbed his bald pate. `` Others say that they are an upstanding citizen with a charming personality and innovation in the sciences.'' 
 
 `` Other anecdotes also state that the accused has a history of abuse in their family as well, though,'' rebutted Ingrid, leaning back in her chair, her long hair bound in a tail that swung as she swayed in her swiveled chair. `` The accused spent a lot of time trying to get a breeder card to have children to start with.'' 
 
 `` And ultimately abused said breeder card,'' sighed Arnesto, tapping the file with his pen as he looked over the three pages of anecdotes. `` There are at least fifteen different domestic police calls, over half of them after managing to somehow get a hold of a breeder card.'' 
 
 They all knew what that meant, though none of them said it. **Rich accused. ** Breeder cards were n't easy to obtain, especially not with a whole file of DUIs. 
 
 `` CPS has also had to check on the case,'' John threw in. `` CPS does n't step in unless the situation is pretty dire. It looks like there's a minor in the home. Spouse at some point died under strange circumstances, so the accused is a single parent. Crap.'' 
 
 `` We ca n't let that sway us --'' Ingrid said without looking up. 
 
 `` Still something to consider. We leave a child without a parent.'' 
 
 `` Given CPS's records, I'm going to say that it might be for the best,'' Susan sighed, flipping through another five pages of CPS reports. 
 
 `` Any of them conclusive?'' John asked. 
 
 `` No. A lot of evidence -- pictures, even -- but no conviction, or even charges pressed. It's pretty bad.'' 
 
 `` What about the spouse?'' asked Arnesto, scratching his beard. He knew better than to ask, but he figured it was worth a shot. It was hard not to be curious. 
 
 `` Spouse went missing late in May of 2054, and a police report was filed then, too. The spouse was found dead in the bathroom of a concussion. Report said that it was from hitting their head against a counter,'' Ingrid stated. `` Though the report also says that the gardener said there was arguing in the domicile beforehand.'' 
 
 The four judges continued through the ream of papers, fidgeting as time went on. 
 
 `` I'm giving it a yes. We have more than enough evidence to consider this a Violable Person,'' Ingrid said, throwing the file down in front of her. Susan was n't surprised. The woman had two children. 
 
 `` I'll give it a yes. The police report on the child...'' Arnesto said quietly, lacing his fingers and staring at the table. `` Susan?'' 
 
 ``... I'm not sure yet. It's a lot of evidence, but we've seen worse and did n't put down the VP.'' 
 
 `` I'm with Susan,'' said John. `` A reckless individual, sure. But perhaps a person who's got room for change. They're in DUI school and AA.'' 
 
 `` After no less than three filed DUIs,'' muttered Arnesto. 
 
 With their votes already cast, Arnesto and Ingrid got up to leave. For the next six hours, Susan and John bounced the topic back and forth. On the form, the little white box labeled `` Termination of Violable Person ( s ) Granted'' stayed blank. At last, Susan lifted her pen and checked it off. 
 
 `` I'll see you tomorrow, John,'' said Susan, patting the older man's shoulder. He smiled grimly, staring at the flimsy paper that lay between a person and their certain, swift, constitutionally humane death. As time passed, he slumped lower and lower in his chair until finally, his pen hovered over the small, white box and checked it off. With that, he got up and left the room, ringing a button near the door to let the proctors know that the final vote was cast. 
 
 ************ 
 
 Ella sat in the corner on the marble floor, playing with her RC car. Her ear was attuned to the sound of a garage door opening, ready to dash into her room down the hall. For now, though, after school, her time was her own, and she would play with the car that Daddy had bought her to build. It ate up the time, and kept her mind off the emptiness of the large house. 
 
 The doorbell rang, and she quickly ran up to the tall mahogany doorway to see the mailman. 
 
 `` Are you Ella Greer?'' he asked cheerfully. 
 
 `` Yes, that's me,'' said the girl, and the mailman smiled at her. 
 
 `` Looks like you've got important mail. I need you to sign this,'' said the mailman, handing her a small envelope marked with a zipper strip and a pad to write in her name. She carefully took it and signed her name quickly before slamming the door shut on the mailman. Shocked, the mailman stared at the large door, before shrugging and turning to walk away. 
 
 Ella slid down the front door as she stared at the letter, printed in bright red letters a warning that this was federal mail and a felony to open or accept if not the addressee. She opened the zipper strip with shaking hands to see a bright yellow tag. 
 
 Behind was a letter that started, *To Ms. Ella Greer, it is our solemn duty to inform you that your application has been accepted... *
