"Do I look different to you?"
"Because something amazing has happened. Something that I've been hoping for, for a very long time."
"Can you guess what it is?"
"We have a shower! Right over there. Clean water it the house right now."
"Jay helped me build that little section of wall. We worked through most of the night to finish it. But we figured it was needed to give a little bit of privacy in this tiny house. And after it was finished we both took our turns washing off the years of built up dirt, grime, and terrible stenches we've been wearing all this time."
"What made this possible?... That's right. I finally figured out exactly what happened with the water supply. It took me so much longer than I ever thought, but now that I know that we can get adequate water I can finally tell you all about what I discovered."
"I know this is hard to believe, but there was actually never anything wrong with the water. It's not hazardous. They just told us that!"
"I know, right?! Why would anyone do such a thing?! It still makes me angry just thinking about it.
"Apparently a small group of people in power decided it would help them remain in power. They seized the opportunity almost immediately after The Disaster. And it wasn't just the water supply they were controlling. Apparently they were purposefully dragging their feet in reestablishing waste management services too. All with the ultimate goal of keeping the population in the area vulnerable and thus making it easier for them to maintain their power."
"Apparently a small group of people in power decided it would help them remain in power. They seized the opportunity almost immediately after The Disaster. And it wasn't just the water supply they were controlling. Apparently they were purposefully dragging their feet in reestablishing waste management services too. All with the ultimate goal of keeping the population in the area vulnerable and thus making it easier for them to maintain their power."
"When I first found the undeniable evidence -- proof that this was true -- I was angrier than I have ever been in my entire life. I felt like strangling someone. I wished I could strangle the people responsible for all the added misery over the years.
"I was also sure that the government Proctors were somehow involved. But I don't have any proof of that. They were evidently not in direct control of this particular situation, but my gut tells me that they were at the very least turning a blind eye to the villainous people who were hoarding all the water. Because it still seems pretty suspicious to me that no one else was looking into this.
"But now that I've confronted them with the evidence the government is giving me the hero treatment. I'm sure it's all an act. They're just trying to save face. And since I'm a government employee, they're painting the picture that I was doing this work under their orders. Now they get to look good restoring water supplies, reopening fisheries, restarting waste management programs. And the huddled masses cheer.
"It was enough to make me feel a little sick."
"I was also sure that the government Proctors were somehow involved. But I don't have any proof of that. They were evidently not in direct control of this particular situation, but my gut tells me that they were at the very least turning a blind eye to the villainous people who were hoarding all the water. Because it still seems pretty suspicious to me that no one else was looking into this.
"But now that I've confronted them with the evidence the government is giving me the hero treatment. I'm sure it's all an act. They're just trying to save face. And since I'm a government employee, they're painting the picture that I was doing this work under their orders. Now they get to look good restoring water supplies, reopening fisheries, restarting waste management programs. And the huddled masses cheer.
"It was enough to make me feel a little sick."
"I'd probably still feel pretty darn angry if it wasn't for that first shower. I had forgotten how a nice shower can literally wash all your worries away."
"It was heavenly."
"I only wish it could have lasted longer. But it was enough. I'm filled with enough happiness about being able to clean myself again that I'm not that concerned about the possible shady actions of the government, at least not at this very moment."
"I mean everything seems a little better after that shower. Even the crappy rations smell better and taste better.
"But the clean water is only part of the reason I'm so happy."
"But the clean water is only part of the reason I'm so happy."
"As a part of the show that the government is putting on for the public they've decided to finally approve our -"
"Mom?! Who are you talking to in there?" Jay calls from the other side of the house.
"Just practicing how to tell the story for your dad when he gets here."
I can hear him laughing before he responds. "You're practicing your speech? For dad? Mom, you're too funny."
"Hey, what can I say? I'm excited!"
"I know. What time is Dad supposed to get here?"
"Any minute now."
"Mom?! Who are you talking to in there?" Jay calls from the other side of the house.
"Just practicing how to tell the story for your dad when he gets here."
I can hear him laughing before he responds. "You're practicing your speech? For dad? Mom, you're too funny."
"Hey, what can I say? I'm excited!"
"I know. What time is Dad supposed to get here?"
"Any minute now."