Graduation Day

“Congratulations Graduates!” Principal Banes’ voice boomed over the PA system. The sound commanded the attention of the teens who had been talking excitedly amongst themselves, seated alphabetically in rows of plastic folding chairs. He gazed out over the gymnasium taking in the bright young faces of his students and their proud parents filling the bleachers in the back. Freshly polished vinyl floors gleamed in the fluorescent lighting, and a red carpet had been unfurled down the aisle for the students to be presented with their new destinies. He cleared his throat into the mic. “Today is a celebration! All of you seated before me have achieved a great accomplishment! Your fundamental educations are complete, and today is the day you will receive your futures!” A cheer erupted from the group, echoed by the parents with some energetic WAHOOs in the back. 

           Jacob Green sat amongst the young adults, waiting in anticipation for the ceremony to begin. He wondered if he would be a rich and successful lawyer like his oldest brother, living in a penthouse apartment downtown. Or perhaps he would get to be a scientist like his cousin, making ground-breaking discoveries through research. His musings were interrupted by Rachel Hughes.

           “My sister told me that she had a classmate who was given a terrible future. He was to become the butler for the wealthiest man in town, but when he got there, he was treated horrifically by him. Was forced to live alone in the attic. Wasn’t even allowed to go home for the holidays”

           “Oh, come on Rachel.” Colin Ingram piped up with an eye roll. “Your sister made that up to mess with you. Nobody gets screwed over that bad. At least he gets to explore the mansion and eat food prepared by the chef. It can’t be that bad.”

           SCREECH! The microphone wailed over the loudspeaker as Principal Banes captured the crowd’s attention once again.

           “This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for!” An excited smile curled across his face. “Years of testing and analysis throughout your development from children to young adults have given us all the data we need to determine how you will best contribute to society. We’ve calculated how each of your genetic, physical, mental, and emotional capabilities will factor into your career, community, and reproductive lives so you can all go out into the world and be the best you can be!” He paused and looked out over the crowd; exuberant arms raised in the air. “So, let’s begin, shall we? When I call your name, you will rise from your seat and proceed up here to the podium where Syber will determine your future!” He gestured towards a compact black box, centred onto a folding table at the front of the room. Jacob narrowed his focus on the front, waiting to hear the fates of his childhood peers. Principal Banes glanced down at the list in front of him and announced the first name. “Emily Adams.”

           A slender girl stood and smiled shyly at her recognition of the hundreds of eyes fixed on her. Her mousy brown hair was curled in soft ringlets for the occasion, flowing past her shoulders along the smooth blouse she had picked out that morning. Jacob watched as she took a deep inhale, tilted her chin up, and slowly began to walk along the carpet past her classmates to meet Principal Banes at the front.

           Emily Adams. A friendly female voice crooned from Syber as it produced a small yellow piece of paper – presumably containing the details of her future existence.

           Principal Banes whisked the report from Syber and stepped up to the microphone, eyes shining with anticipation. Jacob watched as Emily’s expression hardened into stone and her breaths slowed.

           “Career: Writer. Income: $30,000.  Renter of a two-bedroom apartment in Faregate. Allotted children: Zero human, two feline.” An enthusiastic applause broke out from the audience as Emily’s shoulders visibly relaxed. “Congratulations my dear!” Principal Banes gathered her meek hand in a hearty shake and presented the paper beholding her sentence. “It is a gift to know!”

           And so, it continued. Jacob watched, enthralled as his friends were called to the front one by one. A variety of futures were beheld. Mechanic, Teacher, Physician, Public Servant, Engineer – each connected with a neighbourhood, income, and number of offspring that could be budgeted. Eventually, Jacob zoned out of the drawl of the ceremony. So much so that he almost didn’t hear his name over the loudspeaker.

           “Jacob Green!”

           His stomach turned to jelly.

           With discreetly trembling legs, he rose from his seat and allowed them to carry him to the front of the gym, one foot in front of the other. He turned to face the crowd, all eyes centred on him and the small black box. Somewhere in the back his parents were watching, waiting to hear what Syber had planned for their son. Jacob swallowed a lump in his throat.

           Jacob Green. Syber purred. Out came the yellow slip of paper. Jacob watched as Principal Banes raised the report and stepped up to the mic. His eyes scanned the words on the page and widened as his mouth cemented into a terse line. He cleared his throat. 

           “Error. There are no suitable opportunities matched to the candidate. The subject will be re-entered into the database and re-evaluated next cycle.” Jacob felt heat flush his cheeks. Hundreds of blank gawking stares and wide mouths gaped up at him. Principal Banes let out a nervous laugh. “Well, uh, what a surprise! That’s all-right Jacob my boy. There will be more in store for you in another year. Let’s move along now!” He hurriedly ushered the young man away. With legs of lead, Jacob trudged back to his seat and endured the remainder of the ceremony – painfully aware of the gobsmacked eyes burning into him from behind.

           “This is outrageous!” Jacob’s father’s voice boomed behind the thick oak door to Principal Banes’ office. “How is it possible that there are no options for my son? You and this institution have completely and utterly failed him! This will not go unchecked.” Jacob sat outside the office as the argument progressed on the other side of the wall. His head hung in shame as his thoughts spiraled.

This was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Everything was supposed to fall into place. I’m a failure.

 Principal Banes’ muffled voice interrupted his thoughts.

           “Mr. Green, it is out of my hands. If Syber states that there is nothing for him out there, then there is nothing! Jacob will simply be re-evaluated next cycle.”

A long pause.

Principal Banes sighed, “Look, if there is anything to be done, you will have to take it up with folks at the Young Futures Bureau.”

           The next morning, Jacob found himself arching his neck up at a building dominating the downtown street. The grey marbled exterior was a palace amongst the drab offices and shops. His eyes met the letters over the glass entrance. Y.F.B.

Tightening the straps on his backpack, he heaved open the heavy glass door stepping inside the glimmering lobby. 

Truly he had never seen anything quite like it. Floor to ceiling windows reached up to vaulted ceilings painted to resemble the sky. A modern twinkling chandelier looked as if it floated in the centre of the entrance, reflecting the sunlight in rainbows scattered across the marbled floor. He stepped up to a sleek desk arched along the back wall and was greeted by a cheerful receptionist.

“Good morning!” A wide lip-sticked smile lit up her face. “How can I help you?”

Jacob felt the nerves begin to churn in his stomach.

“Hi.” He gulped. “My name is Jacob Green. My graduation ceremony was yesterday. Only, I don’t think I graduated? I wasn’t given a future I mean. Syber said there were no opportunities for me. I’m here to make a complaint. I-is there someone in charge I can talk to?” While the grin remained plastered to her face, Jacob watched as the receptionist’s eyes widened, her cheeks tightening as if it was painful to smile. She inhaled a slow breath through perfect teeth. 

“Forgive me, have I misheard? You’d like to make a complaint?” Her voice quietened. “We don’t have a protocol for that.” Her eyes darted around the room. “Wait here, boy.” She scuttled away, high heels clacking against the floors as she disappeared behind a back door.

After what felt like the longest twenty minutes of Jacob’s life, she returned. 

“Follow me.” She motioned through the door. Jacob obliged.

It opened to a long marble corridor, terminating at an onyx door – so black it seemed to consume all light that dared shine its way. As Jacob followed her down the hall, the sound of their footsteps reverberated off the walls and high ceilings. When they reached it, the receptionist gave two shark knocks. A voice from within beckoned,

           “Come in.”

With an elegant click it opened, and Jacob found himself standing in a lavish office space. Thick lush carpeting softened his step, the colour a deep royal blue. Floor to ceiling bookcases flanked the walls, the wood made of rich mahogany. Directly in front of him a large desk was poised like a sculpture in a museum, with fine carvings decorating the legs and body. The young man was so stunned at the sheer beauty within the four walls, he almost didn’t see him.

Sitting behind the desk was a man, mid-forties, in a clean white T-shirt and jeans. His eyes were emotionless, boring into Jacob with such intensity that he felt goosebumps appear on his arms. The sides of his mouth curved into a wide smile as he beckoned to young man to enter the depths of his lair.

“Jacob Green!” The ostensible cheeriness in his voice sent a chill down Jacob’s spine. “What denotes the pleasure of such a visit?” Jacob opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. “Apologies, how rude of me not to introduce myself properly!” The man started, “I’m Walter Jenkins, CEO of Young Futures Bureau. I understand you’ve got an issue with your graduation determination?” He raised an eyebrow. Jacob steeled himself.

           “Well actually sir, that’s just the problem. I wasn’t given a determination. I was just told that there was nothing available for me.” The man sighed, brushing an invisible piece of lint from his t-shirt.

           “While understandably unfortunate for you, my boy, there’s simply nothing that can be done. It’s so much more complicated that you realize, and if I were to tamper with just one assignment, society as we know it could be disrupted beyond repair.” He ran a hand through his black hair. “Everything is a fine balance, you see, and we are always one small grain of sand from sending it teetering over the edge.” Walter stood from the smooth leather office chair and beckoned for Jacob to join him by the window. “Believe me,” he purred, “I don’t enjoy making these decisions, nor do I make them lightly. But sacrifices must be made for the betterment of the community. We’ve worked hard to ensure every person in the city is placed in a role where they can achieve their full potential – for their benefit and for the benefit of the greater people. Unfortunately for your case, our analysis shows that at this time placing you into society would do more harm than good. There is no perfect spot.” He turned to Jacob, eyes locked on his. “But,” A nefarious sheen in his eyes, “that doesn’t mean that there will not be a future for you in time. One year, two years, ten years. You must be patient. Everything will work out. It usually does.” He reached out and ruffled Jacob’s hair. “Besides,” he trilled, “it’s a gift to know, after all. Think of all the failures we’re saving you. There’s no need to waste years of your life pursuing higher education, only to wind up at home with your parents. There’s no need to have a go at the real world, only to find that your job doesn’t afford you food or rent. No need to spend countless nights lying awake at night worrying about what you should do – how could anyone make such choices? Society was a wreck before this system came into place – trust me. Indeed, the best thing for you to do now is head home and thank the stars you do not have to be put through such trials.” His arm tightened around Jacob’s shoulders as he steered him towards the door. “And if it doesn’t work out,” he added, “just know that it is for the greater good. For it is still noble to stand aside if not to get in the way.”

A conclusive click told Jacob that the light-eating door had been closed behind him. He was left alone to retrace his steps down the hallway, back into the lobby, and then… home. His parents home. To wait. One year, two years, ten years. To be part of something bigger. He was overcome with the realization that either way it turned out, he would have to accept it for himself. For the people. For it was gift to know.