Chapter 1
Joseph awoke, as he always did at seven o'clock in the morning, to see his town's entire population of thirty, all males, in the room with him, as well as a police officer from Kansas City, the capital of the Most Serene Republic. He knew that there was no privacy, as, in addition to the police officer, there was twenty-four hour surveillance of the bunkhouse. Joseph was sixteen and a half years old, and had lived all of them in the Kansas City suburb of Walker Ranch. Therefore, he knew the routines of that town(and every town in the Most Serene Republic) very well.
After getting the cobwebs out of his head, Joseph got in line for role call, as the police officer was ordering all citizens of the town to do. After the timer, counting down the sixty seconds citizens had to be present for role call, went off, the citizens began counting off by saying their position in line and their first name. When it was his turn, he said "Ten Joseph". He then waited patiently for the last number to be called. It came in the form of "Twenty-Eight Cody, sir". Everyone then repeated Cody's words, then went off to make their beds.
Making beds was a simple task, as all of them had to look exactly the same, for the government of the Most Serene Republic did not allow for uniqueness. All beds had the same grey sheets, all people wore the same grey clothes and had their heads shaved, and all towns had the exact same architecture. Joseph recalled the time Grampa had told him that this was not always the case.
"There really was a time when people wore different clothes and had unique hair styles." Grampa had said. Joseph's response had been "Yeah, and the USA was a real place. History tells us different." "My grandson, the USA was real. I lived there, and I know that what the government is telling you is a bunch of hooey." said Grampa, who had been in jail for sixty-eight years at that point, partially for statements similar to what he said just then.
As far as Joseph had been concerned, the Most Serene Republic had existed since time began. If Grampa's words were true, Joseph's entire vision of reality would be shattered. Therefore, thought Joseph, it could not be true. Joseph snapped out of the clouds and got back to his task. He fluffed up his pillow and tucked the sheets under the mattress. Then, he stood in front of his bunk with his bunk mate and awaited morning inspection. I hope they don't find Grampa's books, thought Joseph, as books were illegal in the Most Serene Republic.
The inspection went well. Afterward, everyone went out into the community hall and got ready for the pre-breakfast workout, which consisted of stretching, weight-lifting, running, and sports. Due to mandatory participation nationwide, everyone had the same muscle tone. After the workout, everyone under the age of eighteen, including Joseph, went to school.
