18 Prejudice: 02
As soon as I sat down an email was hanging on my notifications. Lousie was the only person I knew that still used that thing, even though I begged and volunteered to teach her how to use a mainscreen, she refused with a solid "If you don't stop I'll mail bugs over to your house". I had no idea what kind of things she had access to on that farm, just the thought gave me the creeps.
The message said:
"Hello, kid, how are you doing?
I saw the pictures you've sent me from the city, they looked dangerous. I'm sure it's illegal to get on the rooftop of buildings like that. Do you have a death wish?
Particularly, I prefer the ones you took here. I wish I could have them printed, I'd like to put that one of the horses running in my bedroom.
But that's not why I'm writing to you, I was wondering when are you coming for a visit, I have something I wanted you to look over for me."
Each new email was longer than the last one. Louise wrote, as she liked to say, at least twice a week, updating me on one of the horse's pregnancy or any other farm related matter that she judged worth mentioning. Ever since she told me she hadn't been in the city for almost a decade I started adding pictures I took to my replies. Her comments were priceless. Reading and coming up with just as elaborate and formal responses had become a new hobby of mine.
Although we have been exchanging ancient forms of communication, I never went back to the farm after our first encounter. Truly, I never put too much thought into the idea, at least not so soon. For Louise herself to invite me over she probably had something very important to show me.
"Dear, Louise,
I'm happy to hear you have not enjoyed my pictures, it's very kind of you to flatter me with your words.
Regarding the printing of the horse image, I may know someone who can arrange it if you're still interested. Have to say it will not be cheap but since you refused to accept my holographic frame, I guess you have the means."
Before writing my answer to her invitation, I thought about the long journey to the countryside, all those buses and boats. Last time was traumatic, I was still dealing with the consequences of that little trip.
As I sat there remembering the fresh air, I closed my eyes and I could feel the grass between my fingers and my face burning from the sun. This time I could bring snacks to eat under a tree, if I was annoying enough I could get Louise to join me.
"I must confess I was reluctant to accept your delightful invitation for a visit. However, since you asked no nicely and I take you for a good company I simply cannot decline. I'll be there in a couple of days.
Your charming friend,
Sato."
Going away even if just for a day would help me clear my head. There was a lot happening and I couldn't deal with it all. Cops beating up kids in the city, the Leader planning invasions to the slums, officer Abrom asking for help, everyone was attacking and I couldn't keep up.
- Hey, are you going to sit there during the day now? - Jk had been in the kitchen the entire time I was writing to Louise. He was serving a generous portion of rice into a bowl then putting something I supposed was curry on top of it. Standing on the kitchen behind the stove, he looked like he owned the house.
- What did you cook?
- Spicy curry. - His dreads were up in a thick bun and he had an apron on. - Are you gonna work days now too?
- No. - I got off my chair and stepped into the bathroom to wash my hands. - I was just checking something.
On my way to the kitchen, Jk crossed me with his bowl emanating hot steam on his way to the bed. The smell of spices had spread all over the apartment.
- That looks amazing! - On my bed he was making himself comfortable to start eating and I was in the kitchen sticking my face inside the pans. - Wanna watch a movie?
- You're not going to sleep?
- Maybe later. I've been wanting to watch one by that old animated studio, the one with the giant teddy bear with the umbrella!
- Wow how did you find that? It's like over a hundred years old! - Jk always got excited when we talked about ancient movies, he even wrote about them on his public platform. No matter how many times the Force took it down he always put it back up on another page. Certain contents were banned from the city, anyone caught advertising it was arrested as the cyber division was never able to trace Jk, he always got away.
A part of the Mask's agenda was to do exactly that, restore some of the culture our city lost after the civil war. Films, literature and pieces of art that celebrated the old country where the city belonged were preserved by the rebels who used it as symbols of their fight. Jk was passionate about this particular aspect of the rebellion. He searched the entire web for forbidden material, especially books and movies.
- Found in an old international server a while back. It's in pretty good condition. - In my hands I had my bowl and was on my way to sit on my chair while Jk was looking at me with puppy eyes.
-Put it on and later you'll have to show me this server.
When I was younger I never understood what harm a kid's animation could possibly do to a whole nation. Once I was older enough to make my way through the web alone, my curiosity led me to watch those films. I wanted to know how evil they were, what elaborate ways artists from the dead countries used to manipulate the people.
Months of my teenage years I spent watching and reading all sorts of things. No matter from where or how old they were, everytime I finished one I was desperate for more. What fascinated me the most was that there were trees on the streets, great blocks of nature in the middle of urban areas, rivers flowing above the ground, forests bigger than cities, birds singing in the morning, so many unbelievable things I had never dreamed to be real.
One day, at the end of a film about a girl raised by wolves who tried to save the forest she lived in, I got so mad at the world I went out with a bunch of kids from the block to paint the walls under the train tracks. That night we all got beaten by two cops but I was so angry I didn't care and just kept going back night after night. I had the urge to fight back somehow.
Only after realizing what we had lost that I understood why we weren't allowed to access those parts of our history anymore. Those kid's movies showed me what humanity had destroyed and would never get back. Life.
