I woke up that morning to my brother, Noah, shaking me awake.
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“Loycelynne! Wake up, it’s time for school!” I sat up in response, still very much drowsy. “...School? Since when’d we have to wake up this early?” I said, very much tired. “Well, momma told me today was the last day, so…” “Oh. Okay.”
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We started preparing, changing into some clean clothes Momma had prepared for us the other day. Noah wore a white t-shirt and shorts, and I wore a white caftan dress, one of my best. Momma had told us not to take anything but ourselves, just in case ‘things went south’.
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We arrived at the ‘school’, which was actually one of our neighbours houses, since it wasn't like the Hodinsae wanted us to know anything. I knocked, Noah’s hand in mine, waiting for a response. “Who?” “The Roberts.” “Come in.” And we entered.
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Our classmates, some were our friends, some were not, sat on the floor, the lack of a proper schoolhouse more apparent than ever. We took a seat, the talk surrounding us as Mrs. Rodriguez walked to the front of the class, her presence emanating a demand for silence.
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The class, now quiet, listened to her speak. “Students, today is your last day of school. Now-” “What? Why?” “If you’d let me finish, Montague. Due to some… circumstances, this proves to likely be the last time we see each other. However, this does not mean you will not learn today.” Everybody groaned at that. She picked up a stack of papers near her and started to pass them out. “You have one minute to solve this,” and once she had finished passing them out, “begin.”
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It was easy enough, in my opinion, and turning it in, I hoped I got a pass. We sat through a review for the following thirty minutes, covering a variety of subjects, with Mrs. Rodriguez teaching us all that she knew. Then, standing before us, speaking of the moment she talked of earlier, she spoke.
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“Very well class, you are dismissed.”
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And we all flooded our house, heading home. We walked down the dusty paths, holding Noah by the hand, and thinking longingly of a sandwich I could eat (if we had the ingredients). We walked to our door, and I would have entered if not for the voices I heard.
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“Essie, you have to listen to me.” My Momma’s voice. “Look, sis, they can’t have done this, it would mean war-” Aunt Essie’s voice. “They don’t care! The Hodinsaenese have begun executions, and war with Galaxia won’t stop them!”
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“Executions…?” Noah said. We looked at each other, scared and confused. “I’m still not taking them, Denitah.” “Please Essie, you have to! They’re only-” “Goodbye Denitah.” “Wait, no, no-” And then there was a crack, then silence. The door then suddenly swung open, and there stood our Momma.
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“How much did you hear?” “I-” I began, but I was cut off. “Doesn't matter. Come inside, you two have to get packing.”
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