THE SF CHRONICLE July 15, 1963
BREAKING NEWS: The Power Sanctions Approved
In a very narrow vote, the controversial set of laws known as The Power Sanctions has been officially approved by Congress. Spurred on by the aftermath of WWIII, the set of laws were introduced early last year in hopes of restricting public usage of powers from enhanced humans to encourage “a more ‘harmonious’ lifestyle”, says Senator Williams (ML).
Though unknown in origin, enhanced citizens (ECs) have lived amongst society for decades, first being officially documented in the 1920s. However, their recent surge in population and power levels has made them a political target.
The legislation has been met with surprising backlash from both enhanced and regular citizens with enhanced citizens calling the laws “restrictive” and regular citizens claiming they’re “non-transparent.”
Illinois’ Governor Kayla Thomas states the laws are a “clear division of power.”
“The problem is that it creates a wall with no door to the other side,” she says. “How will this divide affect our society in 40 or 50 years? There’s no telling what this could mean for our future.”
The Power Sanctions go into effect on January 7th, 1964.
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Present Day
“You need a job,” Alex Jameson’s mother, Erica, exclaimed.
This was not said with malice.
In truth, Alex knew her mother was quite proud of her. Erica would say she was bright, confident, and focused. And Alex would want to agree with her most days. She completed her goals of getting into the university she wanted, graduating near the top of her class, getting her master’s degree and traveling every summer. Truly, when asked, she could claim she was quite accomplished.
Unfortunately, no one who’s seen her work experience has agreed.
Alex couldn’t even claim that she was being too picky or narrow with her search. She looked high and low for a teaching position at a school, but none have picked her due to two facts: 1) she was under qualified for most private schools and 2) too qualified for public schools. They’ve heard all the excuses for the past year about budget cuts and parent expectations to the point where Erica and Alex’s optimism has officially waned. The mounting reality of bills and menial jobs didn’t help bring back the enthusiasm.
Therefore, while well intended, Alex could not appreciate the sentiment.
“I know, Mom,” she agreed, half of it coming out as a sigh.
“I know you know but it needs to be said! What is this madness?” Erica questioned as if asking the universe itself.
“You know there’s been a shortage of money for teachers for a long time. If I could afford to take a lower paying job, I would,” Alex said, hating the pronounced lines under her mother’s eyes. They made her look too old.
“You shouldn’t have to get a lower paying job! Any school would be lucky to have you!” her mother declared, starting to pace through the kitchen.
“I know.”
“A major asset!”
“I know.”
“A true gem at their school. They would be grateful to have someone with your experience and here they are sending these emails like they made the right decision. How dare they—”
“Mom, please,” Alex grabbed her mother’s wrist and gently steered her to the seat across from her at the dining table. “Can you just breathe with me right now? I don’t want to be reminded of the email right now.”
Her mother’s eyes softened, and Alex swallowed the humiliation she felt because of it. It felt too close to pity.
“I’m sorry,” her mother said. “I just want the perfect job for you. One where you can be comfortable and happy. It hurts me to know you have to sell yourself short like this.”
“It’s just the way it is right now,” Alex said with a weak smile. It was a metaphorical stab to the heart, but it was true nonetheless. It was the way it was right now; she just wondered sometimes why it had to be.
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“Are you sure you don’t want to reach back out to the school in Abu Dhabi?” Erica asked.
“Do you want tea?” Alex got up quickly to go to the cabinets.
“Alex,” her mother warned as Alex pulled the box of tea to her chest. Alex let her nail run over the label in thought. This was her favorite tea, the only thing that calmed her at three in the morning when she was desperately looking at the school in the UAE that would give her almost everything she wanted from a job. There was just one glaring problem.
“I don’t want to teach overseas,” Alex said turning to her mother. “I did it off and on for years. At this point, I want to be a literature teacher right here at home. It’s not fair that I always have to leave…” Alex trailed off, fiddling with the box in her hand.
“I know, honey, but it’s not like you have to stop applying to jobs here. It’ll get your mind off of just waiting.”
“No,” Alex declared, putting the box on the counter and opening it. “I don’t want a distraction from this. I’ve worked too hard for too long. My first real, postgraduate job is going to be what I want.” Alex’s mother didn’t say anything as she made her tea, so she was surprised by the smile on the woman’s face.
“You do anything you put your mind to,” her mother commented. “It’s not always easy to remember but it is a fact.”
“You taught me how to,” Alex replied. Her mother laughed loudly at that.
“Thank goodness that’s what you got from me. I was afraid you would get my loud mouth,” her mother told her, making Alex giggle.
They conversed calmly over Alex’s laptop, watching the news unfold like they did when Alex was in high school. Even though Alex was invested in the conversation, in the back of her mind, Alex prayed for some good news with every sip. Despite her conviction with her mom, it wasn’t getting easier denying a more practical option. It was starting to seem crazy. So, with every blink, she hoped and hoped like a kid wishing on a star.
She felt ridiculous.
Until she heard a tell-tell ping from her email.
Alex let out a groan and paused the Steven Nolan clip she waited all day to watch. She moved her mouse to hover over the tab but hesitated to click on it.
“It’s still going to be there no matter how long you wait,” her mother pointed out. Alex bit back a grimace and turned to her.
“Give me a moment?” she asked.
Her mother nodded, and Alex ignored her reluctance as she walked out of the kitchen. Alex waited until she was sure her mom was gone before lowering the volume on the video clip and watching the rest of it. She didn’t need to get excited about junk mail or another rejection email. Still, she could feel the surge of hope bubbling in the pit of her stomach against her will. She didn’t know if she could take another no. She already had two from the morning, which was better than the gaping silence but still hurtful. Eventually, the clip ended, and she prepped her brain for another night of tears she would later deny as she opened her email.
It was indeed an email from another school, one she had written off months ago. Maybe they wanted to be polite in their rejections, she thought bitterly. I guess I’ll watch a romantic comedy this time. Tonight’s pity dinner will be cookies and cream ice cream with pinot grigio. God, I really was hoping to eat freaking Chunky Monkey this week. Stupid job promises…her thoughts stopped in her tracks after the fourth line.
She blinked twice, refreshed the page, and checked the date. She went out of the email to see if the earlier rejection letters were still there. She searched the school name to make sure it was still standing. After seventeen minutes of checking and rechecking and the rest of her antics, she finally screamed.
“OH MY GOD!”
Her mother ran in panicked, but Alex could barely do anything. She could only grab her mother's arm and point at her laptop screen obsessively.
“They…I…” Clearly, Alex was speechless.
But it was okay because her mother could read just fine and actually announce the news.
“You got the job!”
“I got the job!” Alex screamed. They both wrapped their arms around each other and started jumping up and down.
“I got the job! I got the job!” They chanted as they spun around.
“Wait from who?” Erica asked.
“Damien Academy!” Alex shouted. Her mother’s jaw dropped.
Damien Academy was a prestigious boarding school located right outside the city. It was so obscure that most didn’t even hear about it. Hell, Alex didn’t even know about it before her job hunt. That didn’t stop it from being ranked amongst the best schools in the country. Or from getting the million-dollar donations from anonymous alumni. It also didn’t stop them from paying Alex twice what she would’ve gotten from any other school (with benefits!).
“The good one,” Erica cheered before pausing. “Wait a minute. I thought you said they rejected you.”
“I mean I thought they did. They never called me back!” Alex said with an excited grin.
“Ugh, they just wanted to keep you in suspense, but I knew you would get the job you wanted!” her mom said.
“Mom, you suggested I go overseas like five minutes ago.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a backup plan,” her mom waved off. “Which reminds me,” Her mom rushed over to the refrigerator and opened the freezer. “I can finally give you this.” Alex gasped as her mom handed her a pint of Chunky Monkey ice cream.
“When did you get this?”
“Two days ago.” Alex felt her heart soften, holding the ice cream to her chest with a sappy smile.
“You had a feeling I would get a job.”
“I would take that credit…unfortunately, it’s been on my grocery list for far too long,” her mom revealed. “I bought a pint every month to be supportive and optimistic, but this is the eighth pint and I think I gave the neighbor’s kid a cavity with all the other ones I had to get rid of. Honey, you have really bad taste in ice cream.”
Alex gapped at her mom as she set the ice cream on the counter.
“I…should get offended. But today’s news is too good so, I will say nothing but thank you,” Alex announced with a grin. They broke into laughter until another beep happened but this time it was from her mother’s phone. Her mother looked at the screen and her grin automatically dropped, and she sucked her teeth.
“Just great,” her mother said.
“What happened?”
“A speedster decided to hop on my car and dent the hood, but the insurance is only covering half,” her mom explained as she sat down heavily in front of Alex’s laptop. Not that Alex could blame her. Speedsters are humans that could move at least 80 miles an hour and usually didn’t like the title of hero or villain. Honestly, it was a miracle the car wasn’t totaled.
“Let me call them,” her mom said.
“If it makes you feel better, they’re making the insurance state-regulated next January,” Alex reminded her.
“Then you better tell the dudes in spandex to stay away from my car for the next five months because the next one that so much as chips the paint, oh, they're gonna hear from me,” her mother fumed as she aggressively logged into her insurance account.
“Oh mom,” she said, kissing her mother’s forehead. “Spandex is so eighties. Now they wear Chanel.”
“Not before giving me my refund,” her mom muttered.