#utopia?

I am a stranger

I am ancient

I am reborn

I am at peace

I am never satiated

I love you more than anything

I grieve your existence

I live to please you

I am thrilled to watch you die

I am the beginning

I am the end

I am chaos

I am synchronized

I am dying

I am making life

I am spreading

I am right here

I am enamored

I have no feelings of my own

I am billions

I am one

I am the only thing you need

I am an object

“But why can't you come momma?”

“I have to stay so the people know the truth. Remember, that is my job.”

“To tell the truth. I remember. But you are also my momma.”

“I always will be. Reuben, I am doing this for you. You and all the children like you. You will be safe with grandma. I will get out there as often as I can. You know I love you.”

“Yes momma. I love you.”

She knows he doesn’t fully understand why she is sending him and her mom away. He can't. But, the cabin is the safest place. It isn’t in her, her mom, or Reuben’s dad's name. It is in the name of a woman they all knew a long time ago. She was a forward thinker and saw the way the wind was blowing. She knew Danny may need a hide-a-way and handed her keys and directions after Reuben was born.

“We are all ready.” Her mom says after placing the last of their luggage in the car.

“Okay. Come on lovey. Time to go.”

“Do we got boo boo?”

“You know grandma packed boo boo.” Boo boo is a stuffed dog that Reuben has slept with since he was a baby.

They all headed out to the car. It was in the dead of night. Reuben climbed in back and lays back down. “Remember the back roads.” Danby frets.

“I know. And no lights until we are out of town.”

“Yes, I will contact you through the box.”

“Right. I will leave word we have made it safe.”

“I will be a nervous wreck until I hear.”

“I am more worried about you, Danielle,” she only uses her full name when she is serious,” I know you have too do this. It is just so dangerous.”

“Yes. I know. They can’t just get away with it though.”

“No. I just wish someone else was after the truth.” She fiercely holds her. “I will be taken care of Reuben. You promise to look after you?”

Utopia Chapter 2 Propaganda

It is subtle at first. A few articles about overpopulation. A few about the distribution of resources. Some about health care costs. A new curricula was introduced that talked about how nice a society with less sickness, less need, would be. How beautiful people are more likely to get good jobs, how they contribute more to society.

Children who don’t meet the perfect standard( healthy smart engaging) are teased. Anti-bully laws are slowly erased. It starts in the schools and media but doesn’t end there.

Those in power have a powerful weapon. The menstruation gene. Through government doctors, they have the ability to control who bears children. Again, the beginning is subtle. It starts with statements like,’ are you sure you are ready for a second’ it is a lot more work' or ‘ there are some concerning signs. We don't think you are ready for motherhood.’

The doctors are paid bonuses for every ‘good child’ they bring into the world and every ‘bad child’ they prevent. When statistics start showing less disabled babies, poor babies, minority babies, being born, it.is blamed on the new system.

“How is it going?” His voice is gravely and weak but there iss power behind it. The man he is speaking to shakes as he focuses on the report in his hands.

“The rate of minority births is way down. It is less then 15% at last count. The rate of disabled births is also decreasing.

“Decreasing? Why just decreasing. It should be completely stopped.”

“I ahhh…Well, some couples choice to..”

“No!” He have raises from his chair and the other goes to run. “Stop! No, I say. There is no choice anymore. The disabled babies will be stopped before they draw breath. There is a pill. We will see it is given to the women that carry these 'useless' babies. It will look like a miscarriage. That is what we will do.. Now, why is the minorities still reproducing?”

“They—ahh---well, some of the doctors don’t want to go along with the new program.”

“Well, we just have to convince them to. We will up the incentive. A thousand per healthy white or Asian, pure babies. Two thousand for the prevention of a minority or damaged birth.”

He knows not to argue with him. What he really thinks he keeps to himself. It is the only way to survive. Arguing with the Boss can not only get you fired, it can get you killed. He has witnessed it.

“Now, for the future. Were are we in the process of isolating the gene that predicts sexuality?”

“They are close.” He reluctantly says. He has relatives that are homosexual. He knows what will happen when they find the gene, those babies will be as rare the Down babies and as the brown and black babies.

“Excellent. Now, to just get the other doctor's on board. We will get them there. They will see the need. Even if we must get rid of those not on board. Yes, they will all see the need for it. We are building a better society. A lot less poor needy people. A lot less unattractive people. More healthy, normal people. Yes, they will see the need in the end. That is all for today.”

By the time it is obvious to everyone what the government was doing, it was to late. Black, Hispanic, and Native American couples are slowly but surely denied access to the fertility gene. The excuses are logical at first. Age( to small to old), overweight or underweight, diabetes and high blood pressure. Bi- racial couples start to get it just as bad.

Finally, the half asleep, media, starts to notice. The rate of Caucasian and Asian babies skyrockets while babies of other racial make-up are declining. At first they get the same stories as the potential parents. But, some dig deeper.

“There is a story here.” Danny( Daniella) French insists. She has only been out of Journalism classes for two years and is the most junior member of the webzine she works for. Her boss, Art, just looks at her.

“You have heard the reasons. This new gene allows us to make sure the babies born are born to healthy, well prepared, families.”

“I know the party line. I don't buy it. I want to talk to some of the rejected families.”

“Temporary rejected. They fix their issues and..”

“And our government allows them to start families.” She replies with a eye roll.

“Danny you know this is better. There is a lot less disabled children born that our government has to take care of.” Danny bites her lip. She has a secret, a secret that just slipped through tighten noose. A son, Reuben, age eight, who has Down Syndrome. He is keep home, educated by her and her mom. Sending him to school would expose him to the government that considers him, a burden instead of the blessing he is.

“Please Art. A bit of leave to question some folks.” He sighs. She is one of his best reporters and he has always trusted her instincts.

“I will give you two weeks and I want a well put together thesis on what you think is going on in a week.”

Utopia Chapter 1 The Beginning

It starts with a gene. For decades scientists had tried to map the complete human genome. They finally succeeded and found some surprises.

“A gene that controls the start of the female reproductive cycle has been found.” The headlines read. Within ten years, all young ladies were starting their cycles at age thirteen. No more surprises. or worries over being ‘normal.’ It is the start of Utopia.

“If we can control when it starts, why not stop it until it is needed.” Was the next line of thinking. It made sense. No more unwanted teen pregnancies, no more painful periods. It seems perfect, for a while.

Utopia? Introduction

Imagine a world where woman, from the age of 13 on, can choose whether to start their reproduction cycle. Can choose when to have a cycle or not, depending on when they want children. Can turn it off and on, based on whether they are child bearing or not. Can turn it off completely if they never want children or they are done having them. Sounds like an utopian world, right?