PROLOGUE
“Remember, my son, this place is not
our real home! Never forget your true home.”
The boy looked up with tears in his
eyes. “But, Mother, I just wanted to play a game with him!”
The mother regarded the small boy
with little sympathy. Her husband was a weak person; a man incapable of
conceiving the real reason for their marriage. She would not allow her son to
become as these Americans, no matter if they were no longer called by that
name. They were all weak and stupid. No, she must encourage the strength she must instill in her only son. “Games are for the weak. We are stronger than our
neighbors. Look at them! Do they have a higher purpose such as us? No! They
play games and waste their minds on endless TV. Someday, Son, you will have a
name worthy of your strength. For now, you need to grow strong in mind and
spirit. Have you completed your studies?”
“No.” The boy felt defeated as he
headed up the stairs to his quarters. His mother never used his name. She only
referred to him as “Son.“ The only reason he was allowed to go to school was so
he could learn to “fit in” but he was not allowed to “fit in” with friends. His
mother kept hawkish eyes on every activity and insisted on diligence toward his
homeland studies. He understood but he felt lonely. His only pleasure was in
pleasing his mother. His father was hardly ever home and when he was, his
mother had him completing her list of things that needed to be done. His father
looked at him as if he belonged to only his mother anyway.
The computerized wall danced with
images from his homeland. He watched in fascination. Would he ever have the
chance to see this magical place? His real country was so different from PROD.
His mother was right. They were better than Prodans. He would grow up to be
stronger and braver and smarter than that boy with whom he had walked home from
school. So what if he said his father was a hotshot astrologist. He touched the
link that took him to the audio of a song from his homeland and sang with all
his might along with the soaring crowd. He knew his mother would smile at him
from downstairs. She was a strong woman.
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