Part 1: Asfalia Chapter 4: Father of the Year

“Whose idea was it to start enlisting the girls?” My mother was already laying into my father when I got through the door, “And why did you volunteer your fucking only child?”

“She’s strong enough to do it!” He yelled back. When I entered the kitchen I saw them both standing facing off as they had whenever he returned from the northern outpost. He was nicely dressed this time though in his dress uniform much the same as the officers who just served me the notice. His though, had several extra patches showing off his rank and many metals from whatever he did up there. He had removed his hat respectfully to my mother allowing his slicked back brown hair to show.

The two of them couldn’t have been more different. It was a wonder they had ever fallen in love, though I guess I could say their differences were the reason I was an only child. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun which I guess had been earlier better kept, in her frustration her hand continued to grab at her head as if it could have helped her understand the situation any better. “She’s not going, you’re going to tell them no!”

“She’s leaving tomorrow morning.” My father fired back causing my mother to gasp.

“Apparently.” I interrupted flashing the envelope before tossing it on the table, “Don’t even get to graduate.”

“You’ll have plenty of chances after your service.” My father’s smile to me was misplaced, though I guess he was mighty proud of himself. “They’ll turn you into a fine warrior and if you want to continue afterward you’re sure to go far.”

I nodded and sunk into the chair as my head went crashing into my hands, “I wasn’t the only one today. Another girl was noticed. Why now?”

“They didn’t tell me.” He answered, “Your orders are also not typical. I was told we are to take you to the government building tomorrow. They don’t ship out from the government building all the new recruits are always told to head to the dock.”

“Fine,” I grumbled and figured enough was enough. Time to start figuring out my life since it was going to continue on whether I wanted it to or not. “I’ll be in my room packing.”

“I figured we could go out to eat.” my so called father echoed through the halls but I didn’t turn around.

“You really think she wants to see you?” My mother, ever the back up I desperately needed, was ready with what I heard as a slap on the back of his head.

I took out my phone from my pocket when I finally shut the door to my room. My bag and all my homework was back at school. I wasn't sure why I cared at this point, not like it mattered anyway. At least it gave Rodrik an excuse to come over now.

“I’m leaving tomorrow.” I typed into the dead group chat. Maybe they were being courteous, not sending me any messages or maybe the news didn’t hit.

“We’re on our way!” Darla messaged back, “Fucking Bull Shit!”

“Set fire to the patriarchy!” Laurel also typed.

I didn’t have the heart to tell them it was my own father’s doing that sealed my fate. He seemed rather impressed it went through and his glee far outmatched anything my mother could ever sour.

I jumped down stairs making a point to ignore the one occupant in the kitchen with a poignant statement, “Mother, everyone’s coming over after school. Can you order us some pizzas?”

“Of course.” There was that glee I was hoping to empower her with.

“I’m still taking her tomorrow.” The grumble from my father was not well received but if it came down to it my mom and I would have left him here in the morning. Hopefully, that would have been a big enough hint.

When everyone arrived I was waiting outside ready to accept every tight hug as the tears started to flow. Even the boys were teary eyed especially Cooper and Francis.

“You’re not meant to go at all let alone before us.” Francis rubbed his palm over the top of my head. His curly blonde hair caused him to stick out as a sore thumb in our dark haired group.

“Well I’ll have a lead over you then.” I joked and tossed his hand away turning back to Darla and Laurel, “Do you know of anyone else who got noticed today?”

“Sylis Feist.” Laurel grumbled, “She was in our last bell, well for half of it. We could hear her arguing with everyone outside though. Don’t think it worked since she didn’t come back.”

And why would she? I sighed thinking of the situation. If we really had to leave tomorrow why would we have stayed? That’s why they always said you leave after graduation. It was a right of passage to serve your last day, go to the dance, and then the next morning wake up barely able to handle any form of sound or light as you stumbled across the stage to accept a stupid piece of paper. Why the newly enlisted girls were being deprived of that seemed to be just pure sexism.

“Do you know anything about her?” I opened the door and led my group of friends upstairs.

“She’s a live wire,” Laurel laughed, “The whole year she’s been vocal, maybe she was noticed because everyone hated her.”

“Wonderful.” I rolled my eyes, “Well help me pack?”

“Of course!” They all shouted.

“Go on,” Darla nudged Rodrik up from the back of the pack, “You’re going to miss your chance to kiss her if you keep acting like this isn’t a thing.”

We didn’t wait for the okay from anyone else as he took me in his arms wrapping me up in a warm secure embrace. “Sorry this fucking sucks.” he whispered into my lips before slipping his tongue into my mouth.

“Okay, enough!” my father grumbled from the couch and I turned sticking my tongue out at him.

“Sir!” Now it would seem I had some repulsive disease as Rodrik broke contact as soon as he saw my father.

“Save it.” I grumbled and pulled him up to my room with my friends following after.

At the top of the stairs I heard my parents starting back on each other. My father, apparently unhappy with how lax he viewed my mother’s parenting style to be, “Since when do we allow boys in her room?”

“She’s old enough to join the fucking service she’s old enough to have boys in her room.” my mother snapped back.

Everyone got comfortable in my room filling my bed up with Cooper, Darla, and Laurel while Rodrik, myself, and Francis sat crosswise on the floor.

“Well this is awkward.” Darla mumbled, “How the hell are we supposed to enjoy ourselves knowing you're not going to be here tomorrow?”

I shrugged and picked at the carpet, “It’s terrifying to know that now anyone can be called.”

“It was only a matter of time,” Laurel answered, tossing her feet over Cooper and Darla, “The bumbasses in office probably think it will get the boys to be more agreeable or to get more people to volunteer or make it a career. We learned about this in Political Studies last year, remember? It’s why many of the ones who are noticed are ones who haven’t been accepted into any universities or have fellowships yet.”

“So what because we decided to take too long to choose what we were doing after school, we have to die for this stupid border?” I snapped back, realizing this was misdirected anger and I hated every part of my life now.

“Whatever the reason,” Rodrik chirped up, “We’re going to have fun tonight.”

Copper and Francis nodded too, “We’re going up to the tower after dinner.”

We ate a few slices each of the pizzas my mom brought up shortly afterward and talked until well into the night as I packed to the specifications on the cursed cream paper. Once my bag was packed I tossed a coat on as everyone else did the same and headed down the stairs.

“Going out?” My mom called with a beaming smile.

“Now?” My father spat and walked toward us, “You’ve got to rest, you have a busy day tomorrow.”

I shrugged back making sure he knew I didn’t care about his plans anymore, “We’re going out. They have school tomorrow and I have an assignment. Mom,” looking past him I made sure she knew I wasn’t about to disrespect her, “We will be back later, don't wait up.”

“Have fun.” She called singing just as a final fuck you to my father.