Tarlab sat on the swing swaying back and forth and watched the group of kids play in the dirt. There was so little to do on the playground, if one could really consider it a playground. It consisted of four swings, but only two were completely functional. The other two were cracked and hanging partially off the chains. Only a very light, small child could sit in the broken swings and even then they would be taking a chance of falling. Tarlab had grabbed one of the working swings as soon as school was out, and he still sat there a half hour later to the disappointment of a line of kids waiting for a turn. Normally, he'd let one of the younger kids enjoy the freedom of the movement and flying high while feeling the wind whip across their face. It was as free as one would ever feel in this world. But not today since today was his last day of childhood. His last day to be among the kids sitting on the ground scooping handfuls of dirt and dumping it to the side as they paved make-believe roads. It was his last day to watch a group of kids swinging sticks around as weapons or hitting stones into the field beyond the playground. It was his last time to swing and enjoy his freedom. Tomorrow started his purgatory before adulthood. He knew he should be frightened. He knew making it through purgatory was unlikely, and he should be worried, but rather his heart weighed heavy. So he watched the children with envy...nostalgia for days of freedom gone, never to return. Birthdays should be happy, memorable days, especially one's 18th birthday. But for the citizens governed by the Ruling Assembly, the 18th birthday is a dreadful day, where the only gifts are fear and a looming uncertainty. Taken from their families by the Ta-Ta, the 18 year old betwixts are turned into reality stars of their own hellish show, where death is just as real as life and sacrifice in the name of science is nothing more than an apocryphal promise. And the promise and hope of youth is d
