Summer, 2023. Sherman University.
“Sherman University. Founded by the greatest statesman to ever live, Roger Sherman. The one man who signed all of America’s founding documents. A visionary whose memory and ideals were carved into the very brick and mortar of the school itself.” The tour guide said.
One girl stared wide eyed at the surroundings. College kids were playing frisbee on the grass. She had been coming to these tours for years, ever since she was a kid. She lived in Midport so it was hard not to be curious about the goings on of the campus that your city was most known for.
But this tour was different. She had recently been accepted so now she looked at University with barely contained anticipation.
“We are now entering the main hall,” the tour guide continued, “and if you look above us you can see an inscription of one one of Roger Sherman’s most famous quotes: ‘Government is instituted for those who live under it.’”
The girl mouthed along as the tour guide had read the quote. Such wise words.
“Perhaps these words were meant to echo the Bible verse Mark 2:27, the old puritan he was. For many years he even taught theology in the school's very own halls.”
She wondered what it would be like to be taught by such a great man.
“Truly a more prestigious university may not be found on this Earth. Scions of the elite the world over travel for miles to visit this institution of higher learning, enlightening each new generation just in time for graduation,” the tour guide said.
Next he is gonna say the good part. The best part!
“But not all students come from such prestigious lineages, every year students from the surrounding city are selected to attend this very school,” the tour guide said.
Now he is gonna ask if there is anyone here from Midport!
But the tour guide didn’t ask though. Instead he whispered something to her dad, who then whispered something back. She thought she heard her dad say something about doing it ‘the normal way’.
“Is there anyone here from Midport?” the tour guide asked. The girl excitedly put her hand up!
“We’re from Midport!” the girl said, with as much restraint as she could muster.
“That’s great! And are you planning to apply?” the tour guide asked. He said it with a smile, but his face twitched a bit.
She nodded. She didn’t want to mention she already got in, because she thought that sounded like she was bragging.
“You can tell him you already got in. No one is gonna be mad at you for being happy,” her dad encouraged. She looked around for reassurance, but it was just the three of them. Her dad had asked for special accommodations because he was worried about her getting overwhelmed. She was happy he was looking out for her, but she wished he wouldn’t be so overprotective!
After all, once the summer was over she would be on her own anyway!
“He is right. And I am really excited. I have been wanting to go here since I was a kid,” the girl said.
“Well, hope you enjoy your time here,” The tour guide said, “I am sure you will make a lot of friends.”
“I hope so!” the girl declared.
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19:23 Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Miles Dorm Common Room at Sherman University.
Margaret’s semester was going pretty well. Her freshman classes haven't been too challenging so far. But most importantly, she found a group of people she really connected to. They were all super nice to her, and she couldn’t be more thankful to have a group of people who were so accepting. (Two of them were even really cute.)
But more than anything, they were all about helping people and making the world a better place!
“Stack,” Margaret said, raising her hand. This was something she had never heard before, but in meetings her friends taught her that when you want to talk you say ‘stack’.
“Yes?” Janice said.
“I am confused, why are we attacking Poltergeist?” Margaret asked.
“In the name of the proletarian revolution! For the cause of Eternal Communism!” Marcus announced.
It was the weekly meeting of the main branch of the Revolutionary Alternative Movement (RAM). Formerly the Revolutionary Alternative Caucus (RAC) of the Sherman University Worker Activist Alliance-Youth Division (SUWAAYD). Now just called the Rammers for short. They had to recently switch from bi-weekly to weekly because now that they were independent they had a lot more to do.
“Comrade Founder Orwell, please observe some decorum,” Janice said. Normally Marcus would be facilitating the meeting, but he passed off facilitating duties to Janice in order to make his latest proposal.
“To answer your question, Comrade Lowry, which part is confusing you?” Janice asked.
“I don’t know, would it be too much to hear it again?” Margret asked.
“Of course, Comrade Secretary Gibson, could you please have the proposal read out as submitted?” Janice requested.
“Sure thing,” Roman responded.
Roman was a rare Psionic Conjurer. Psionics had the ability to influence machines, while conjurers were a type of general telekinetic whose talent had the properties of real objects. Roman’s talent,
She was a little jealous because his talent seemed super useful. One night he even showed her he could use his talent to play videogames by plunging them into a tv. It was super cool!
A voice came from nowhere as one of
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A Resolution Submitted by Comrade Founder Orwell.
Whereas, Comrade Founder Orwell has had a prophetic vision that the current capitalistic order must fall for the rise of Eternal Communism;
Whereas, the Rammers serve to bring about the rise of eternal communism through overturning;
Whereas, the organization known as ‘Graveyard Bash’ have become a simple tool for maintaining capitalist hegemony;
And Whereas, by taking out this organization, the Rammers may then supplement them;
Therefore be it Resolved, that the Rammers shall lead a Protracted People’s War in the name of eternal communism against the members of Graveyard Bash;
Be it Further Resolved, that after the Rammers supplant Graveyard Bash the City of Midport shall be the staging ground for the revolution for Eternal Communism.
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“Em, you don’t understand it because one of his sources is literally ‘it was revealed to me in a dream’,” Addy said. They said the last part with their eyes closed, touching both temples with their hand’s fingers outstretched. Play acting as someone receiving a prophetic vision. Margaret had to stifle a chuckle to not upset Marcus any more than he seemed.
“Comrade Huxley please refrain from interjecting,” Janice requested.
“Sorry, that wasn’t me. I was actually saying what was on Roman’s mind,” Addy said.
“Wrong, because all I have been thinking about is if PPW was maoist term or not,” Roman said.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
On paper, Addy and Marcus weren’t psychic. But Marcus had the ability to see the future, which he called
“Very funny but enough distractions though. Comrade Lowry, do you understand the proposal better now?” Janice asked.
“Sorry, maybe I just don’t grasp the theory of change?” Margaret said.
Marcus sighed. “Stack response…” I hope he isn’t mad at me. Margaret shivered.
“Proceed, Comrade Founder,” Janice said.
“Okay, before I was so rudely mischaracterized by a certain comrade, allow me to explain…” Marcus said.
Oh he is just frustrated with Addy. The cold feeling went away.
“Though the traitorous reformists in the WAA have chosen to not heed my vision for the oncoming future, this future must come to pass for us to reach a state of Eternal Communism. Poltergeist and her ilk represent a stop gap measure for capitalism to thrive.
“What have these so-called enemies of society done with their immense psychic power? Fight against forces of gentrification that plague the city? Take up armed struggle against the occupying forces of the Midport police department? No, none of this. They have all grown fat with victory, and allowed themselves to be tools for capital,” Marcus said.
“So by keeping out other costumed groups, Poltergeist and Graveyard Bash are aligned with the interests of capital?” Margaret asked.
“Precisely! Very concisely put Comrade Lowry,” Marcus exclaimed. Margaret beamed at the praise.
“Stack question,” Addy said, raising their hand.
“Comrade Huxley,” Janice said.
“Can I direct the question to the proposal’s author?” Addy asked.
“Please don’t abuse the privilege if let you,” Janice said, a tad exacerbated.
“Comrade Atwood, I would never dream of such a thing!” Addy said, holding up their hand in their face with mock surprise. They briefly glanced over at Margaret and, maybe hoping to get Margaret to laugh, gave her a quick wink. But all this did was cause her to blush.
“I am hoping this is just you getting it out of your system and not the lead in to more jokes.” Janice said. Addy shot her some finger guns, which caused Janice to roll her eyes.
“Anyway, Comrade Founder,” Addy said, clearing their throat and adopting a more serious tone. “You have proposed to take up armed struggle against this supposed ally of capitalism, and though your goals are of course noble and true and all that shit--”
“Decorum, please comrade,” Janice interjected.
“Fine, I’ll just get to the point. Why don’t we just do something simpler? Like breaking some hostile architecture. Something like that?” Addy asked.
“Because the vision said--” Addy rolled their eyes. “Don’t do that, I am serious! The vision said we had to do this. And that once Poltergeist was taken out it would set us on the path of Eternal Communism!” Marcus said. Addy really shouldn’t be so dismissive.
Margaret didn’t know why they always had to argue about this point. Can’t they just agree to disagree? They could both be right, just because Marcus has the gift of prophecy doesn’t make it okay to use it to win arguments.
“Listen, I agree with you on the importance of direct action. It’s why I left those hacks over at WAA. I just think it is important that we don’t bite off more than we can chew,” Addy said.
That is a really good point.
“Direct action?” Marcus asked rhetorically. He scoffed. “Of course someone as undisciplined as you would use anarchist rhetoric.” Why is it bad to use anarchist rhetoric?
“You used a Maoist term in your proposal and don’t think I didn’t hear you mutter about how RAM is supposed to be inter-tendency after Roman called you on it,” Addy said. Did he really say that?
“Alright, calm down both of you two!” Janice declared.
I’m happy Janice is here to keep things civil.
“I’m calling it. Can we just vote and get this over with?” Janice asked the group.
“Yeah,” Addy said at the same time Marcus said “Okay.”
“We are gonna do a roll call vote: I vote yes,” Janice said.
“Chairs are only supposed to vote if there is a tie,” Roman corrected.
Janice winced. “Sorry my bad, I am used to going first. Next is… Comrade Secretary Gibson?” Janice asked.
“Nay,” Roman voted.
Wait, how am I going to vote?
“Comrade Huxley?” Janice asked.
Marcus made good points, but so did Addy. A cool breeze sent a chill up her spine.
“Nay!” Addy declared.
“Comrade Lowry?” Janice asked. Everyone was staring at her. Marcus was gonna vote yes, so that meant if she voted yes, it would be tied. Roman said the chair votes in a tie and Janice already said she was gonna vote for it. The feeling of cold was intense.
“I don’t know which to pick.” Margaret admitted.
“You can always abstain,” Roman offered.
“But that would kill the proposal!” Marcus said.
She looked between Marcus and Addy. If she voted in a way they wouldn’t like, would they be mad at her?
“I’m…” Margaret said.
Ice started to build up in her fingernails.
“I vote…” Margaret said.
Her thermos on the table in front of her started to freeze.
“I change my answer!” Addy blurted out.
Everyone turned to look at Addy.
“Yeah, I, uh, changed my mind. Let’s do it and shit…” Addy said. “Good plan Marcus!”
Addy nudged him playfully in the ribs.
“Oh, yeah. Thank you for saying so. And of course you had some great critiques to offer. You and I should definitely get together after this to see how we can address them during the execution,” Marcus said.
The tears that had been frozen on her face melted and Margaret felt warm again. I am so happy seeing those two get along I could burst!
“Are we good?” Addy asked.
They were all in agreement.
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As she was packing up her stuff, Addy approached Margaret while Marcus, Janice, and Roman were talking about the current plan.
“Hey Em, good meeting, right?” Addy asked. Margaret loved when they called her that. It helped that it worked for both her real name and the name she got when she joined the Rammers.
Margaret wasn’t sure why they all chose to use fake names, but Marcus picked hers out and said it sounded pretty. She felt warm and fuzzy just thinking of that.
“Yeah definitely!” Margaret answered. She smiled at them.
Addy seemed… Relieved? It is really sweet that they care so much.
“Okay, well me and Marcus are gonna work out some of the details for the plan. You want to catch up later?” Addy asked.
“Don’t we have the sleep study thing later?” Margaret said.
“Sleep study thing?” Janice asked, leaving her conversation with Marcus and Roman.
“Yeah, it’s the part-time job Addy helped me get!” Margaret explained.
“You just sleep for a few hours while they monitor your brain waves,” Addy clarified.
“Seems like good cash. Are they still hiring?” Janice asked.
“I can check but my cousin is the one with the connection. We are just the lab rats,” Addy said.
“Okay, let me know then,” Janice said. She turned to Margaret, “Anyway if you aren’t busy, wanna grab a bite?”
“Of course!” Margaret said, “Just let me grab my stuff.”
Margaret finished packing her laptop and papers. But when she went to grab her hot cocoa, she recoiled at the temperature.
“Aw my hot cocoa got cold…” Margaret said, “This flask was supposed to be insulated too…”
But before she had a chance to dwell, Janice grabbed it from the table.
“I got just the thing for this!” Janice said, “You know the drill.”
“Um… sixteen times nine?” Margaret asked.
“Okay, Fifteen times two is thirty, plus two is thirty-two. Plus sixteen is forty-eight. Then you times it again by three. Fifty times three is one hundred fifty. Minus six is one hundred forty-four! That is the answer! Then just, shake the molecules around… Done!” Janice said.
Margaret’s hot chocolate was back to being hot!
“You know, you could have just multiplied it by ten then subtract sixteen,” Roman said, joining the conversation.
“Listen, it works better if I do use a lot of steps. It’s about the focus more than the answer,” Janice said.
When Janice was in her flow state, she was a powerful pyrokinetic. Her talent,
"Your lucky Janice," Margaret asked, "I wish I had a cool power like that!"
"Oh, um..." Janice said, looking over to Addy. Why would she be looking at Addy?
"You still have time, maybe you will!" Addy said, "Anyway don't wanna keep Marcus waiting on this convo. Go eat some shitty cafeteria food."
"It's not crappy! The cooks try really hard on it!" Margaret insisted.
"Yeah, yeah," Addy said, hugging her. Their hugs are always so warm.
“Wanna join us Roman?” Janice asked.
“Yeah I could eat,” Roman answered.
Margaret couldn't help but feel lucky to be surrounded by such cool and interesting people.