[ IP ] Oppressed

Adonis looked out upon the open street. He sat and watched the people walk by, like uniformed soldiers in their black rain slickers and black umbrellas, scurrying to complete orders. No one paused as the rain steadily poured on them. Everyone had a warm, dry, home to get to. Behind them loomed the Spire. 
 
 Adonis loved it when it rained. He would be out playing but his mother could see him through the window, she always worried he would catch a cold. So he sat on the stoop, protected by the roof above him from the cold embrace of the rain and instead felt the spray of it from the cobbles in front of him. 
 
 Mother walked out and sat beside him on the stoop. She looked haggard from the long day she had at the Agency for a Positive Citizenry. She used to work as an opinion writer for the local newspaper but ever since the war stared and The Spire had been built she been forcefully relocated to the APC by government order. She stared at the people walking by, their numbers dwindling with the passing time. 
 
 Adonis looked at his Mom `` Has Father written from the front?'' He asked, not expecting much. His mom chewed her bottom lip and looked towards The Spire `` No'' she said softly. `` They're always busy at the front.'' Tears started to well up in her eyes. Adonis scooted against his mom, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. `` I just wish he had had time to say goodbye before he left'' mumbled Adonis. It had happened so fast, the soldiers breaking in their door in the middle of the night. They had grabbed father and hustled him off into the ink black night before Adonis could even look out his bedroom. He found his Mom in the living room, sitting on the floor and staring out the door. The next day two letters arrived, one saying how Father was going to the front, the other giving Mom her new job at the APC. 
 
 A pamphlet blowing in the wind landed at Adonis's feet. He noticed the heading and realized it was an APC pamphlet. He picked it and studied the page. It had a young solider, smiling wide with an apple in his hand. The line read `` One Less For You Means One More For Him! Support Our Troops By Following All Rationing Policy!!!'' Mother ripped the pamphlet out of his hands with a grunt. Crumpling it, she threw it out into the street, where it soon became mush under the boots of the crowd. `` I have to go in for a night shift, I'm leaving your dinner in the refrigerator, just heat it up when you're hungry'' She got up quickly. `` Stay out of trouble'' Mother descended the stoop and plunged headlong into the crowd. 
 
 Adonis was left alone on the stoop. Alone, except for The Spire in the distance.
