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“It was good! Golden is nice.”
She smiled, “I wasn’t worried.” The car started and she turned it in the direction of The Supply Store around the corner. “Let’s get some food.”
“Wait,” June paused looking at Brittanya, “How do I check my money balance?”
“On your phone.” They dipped in the gutter as she pulled into the small parking lot. “I can show you in just a second.” She spun the car into a spot and placed it into park. “Here, hand me your phone.” Brittanya held out her hand. Juniper willingly placed her phone down in her upright palm. “Well, turn it on first.”
“Oh,” June responded, “Can only Iturn it on?”
“Well, I could try but it only turns on when the chip inyourhand connects to it.” Brittanya accepted the phone and scrolls down. “Right here,” She flashed the phone to Juniper. “This little box here, you press it and it shows you your balance.”
“Oh okay, so no passwords?”
“Nope. Nice work today, including your ‘welcome bonus’ you have two hundred and seventeen credits.”
Juniper grabbed the phone and stared at the screen before turning it off. “Is that a lot here?”
“It’s a nice start.” Brittanya unbuckled her seat belt and opened her door, “Let’s get this going.” Juniper followed her lead.
Entering The Supply Store, Brittanya grabbed a cart at the entrance placing her bag on the hook below the handlebar. “Okay, the way this works, because of limited food, like produce, meat and dairy, you can’t get a lot of it, like stock up. Your chip determines how much you can get based on the last time you got it, kind of like rations. I am allowed one pound of beef and two pounds of chicken a week, I’m sure yours is similar. Some people do barter and trade for their dietary wants. If you need to have more or less, I’m sure you can talk to The Council about it.”
They walked down the first aisle, everything seemed old fashion with the shelves full of homemade bread, rolls, muffins and sweets. It reminded June of a farmers market she once attended with her family before the war. “One thing that does help, is say, I can’t eat all this bread before it goes bad, so I can buy it and you could buy something else we can share. Does that make sense?” Brittanya held a loaf of unsliced bread in brown wrapping. Seven credits.
“Yeah.” June made eye contact after observing the shelves. Brittanya placed the bread in the cart and continued pushing as she followed alongside her. They turned the corner and everything seemed as it should be, the picture perfect store. Fear was always pounded into society and lies were the governments go to. Instead of rationing they just ‘didn’t have it’. June and Brittanya continued their shopping and June relearned how to grocery shop in this new society.
When they reached the check out, June turned to Brittanya, “Do you think I’ll have enough credits to buy a slice of pie from the first aisle?” Brittanya looked at the cart and thenat June, “I’m not good at math Brittanya.”
“Yes, I don’t see how seventeen items would wipe out your credits.”
“I’ll go grab one,” June turned and darted for the aisle as Brittanya started loading the conveyor belt. She turned the corner and found the three tier table with sweets. June loved pie, she loved most baked goods but pie always was her weakness and it would be the first time in six years that she would be able to have some. She saw a strawberry glazed slice with a graham cracker crust and picked it up to head to the register. June got back just in time to drop it behind her last few items to be rung up.
“You’re new!” The cashier smiled at Juniper.
“Uh, yeah. I am.” June hadn’t realized she would be ‘the new girl’ and everyone would know who was new and who was local. She dreaded the spotlight.
“Welcome! I love your hair by the way.”
“Thank you.” June blushed and couldn’t help to look at her soft dark hair over her shoulder.
Wolfgang
His phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his gym shorts. Wolfgang turned it on and sighed at the sender.
Shianne ‘Hey Wolfie! Are you going to Community Day tomorrow?’
Wolfgang paused before responding. He’s already told Shianne he wasn’t interested, she just wouldn’t give up and he didn’t feel like he should be a dick to her because of that.
Wolfgang ‘I’m not sure. I’m leaning more towards no, I’ve never had fun at those.’
Shianne ‘I’ll be there if you change your mind.’
Wolfgang ‘Haha alright. We’ll see.’
He tossed his phone on his bed and pushed back his dark hair that hung over his brow, blowing out a breath of frustration. Wolfgang didn’t like Shianne, they grew up together. Even with limited options, he couldn’t see himself with her. Shianne was relentless. Maybe she’ll find someone at Community Day.
Chapter Four
January Twenty Four
