Good morning all. Running just a little bit late today. Personally, I’m going to blame the fog. It blocks the sun and makes me feel like I should have an extra hour to sleep. But alas it is not so. However, the morning writing prompt awaits. Shall we?
Hmm. Not sure where that came from, but it could be interesting. at the moment it is more about the world setting rather than the actual story. It does set itself up for several lines though so it might be fun to come back to this.
Wednesday, August 25th: Their friendship had a deeply practical dimension.
Their friendship had a deeply practical dimension. It in fact began as a partnership of sorts. Both of them found that they needed the cover the other could provide. In Jercol it was better to appear married.
The population was greatly decreased from the war and the government was trying its best to encourage the population to increase. There were not only tax benefits for larger families, but privileges were awarded to those with children. They were allowed extra food credits and housing limits.
Those unmarried were, once they were of an age to leave home, allowed accommodation in what was called the singles district. The housing was notoriously cramped, privacy almost non-existent and the food rations alone made anyone with any sense want to pair up merely to leave the district. Many families arranged marriages for their offspring so that they could go from the family home into couples housing and bypass the singles quarters completely.
Mia never really minded the singles quarters. She grew up in a large home where the multitude of children was a fact of life. The singles district was not all that much different in terms of privacy and space. However what she did mind was the lack of carrier progression.
Not being married was not officially viewed as a reason to deny someone a promotion, but companies did it all the time and the government tended to turn a blind eye to it. Mia was ambitious. She had plans for her career and they didn’t include stalling out on the lowest rung because she had not found a mate.
Kye on the other hand grew up in a single child household. His mother died in childbirth with him and even though his father remarried, no children came from the union. He was finding the noise and the crowds of the singles section of the city harder to take. It was affecting his sleep and his work. Their pairing up had little to do with love or companionship and more to do with escape. Kye felt he had been awake for too many days without end and Mia had once again been denied advancement at work. They complained in each other’s hearing and a plan was formed. The next day they went to the marriage licensing office.
Once officially married, things changed rapidly. The ink was hardly dried on the paperwork before they were assigned new quarters. Their belongings were gathered and within two hours of becoming officially a couple, they were in the blessed quiet of couple’s housing. Kye celebrated by moving to the bedroom and falling into a deep sleep for eight solid hours.
Mia took more time to unpack, but within an hour of unpacking she was sent a letter of congratulations from her company along with a notice of promotion.
Ten til Midnight 