The Twelve Days

[Tuesday, 14 December, 2258 | A Christmas Offer]

After being stuck in traffic for what felt like hours as the city’s denizens made their commutes to work, school, make their attempts to save money during the Christmas sales, as well as buy illegal pharmaceuticals to get them through the season, Mr. Northbridge pulls up at the school.  As he leans over to give Virginia a peck on the cheek goodbye, he spots the headmaster through the tinted windows.

“Is there a problem?” Mr. Northbridge asks as he opens the door.

“We can talk in my office,” the headmaster responds.

The headmaster leads them into the monolithic concrete brick calling itself a school, up the elevator and onto the top floor.  “Hold my calls,” he says to an android manning the desk as he guides Virginia and her father into his office.

As the headmaster closes the door behind him, Virginia and her father notice the uniformed officers stationed throughout the office.

“What’s going on?” Mr. Northbridge asks.

“Last night, Mr. Northbridge, your daughter placed a call to Santa Claus.”

“I didn’t realise that was illegal,” Mr. Northbridge says.

“It isn’t,” the headmaster replies.  “But seeking the removal of her Nanny chip is.”

“Is this true?” Mr. Northbridge asks his daughter, exasperated.

“I…I didn’t know,” Virginia replies.

“This morning, the school was advised that Virginia has been declared a person of interest.  A risk to the city, thanks to her rebellious nature.  Due to her history of infractions, the state considered prison time.  Due to her young age, however, I managed to successfully argue for a less severe punishment.  The state has agreed to two weeks in a re-education camp.”

“Two weeks?  I’ll miss Christmas!” Virginia protests.

“You should have thought about that before asking to have your chip removed, Virginia,” her father tells her.

“Will Santa be able to find me there?”

“I don’t know,” says her father.

“You may leave, Mr. Northbridge,” the principal instructs.

Mr. Northbridge bows to the headmaster, and motions to leave the room, disappointed in his daughter’s behaviour.  As the door closes behind him, the headmaster reaches for a syringe.

“This won’t hurt much,” he says, injecting a sedative into Virginia’s neck.