Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Prologue: Being Poor Sucks...

Or, How I Became An Indentured Servant



That's my family. Yeah, I've got a LOT of siblings... four sisters and a brother. That's Mom and Pop. They work hard and take care of us as best they can. But, like a lot of large families, money's tight and there's only so far you can stretch a simoleon. But, we get by. Or... we did.



I knew something was up when Pop called a family meeting. He left the two girls watching the toddlers and then sat the rest of us down at the kitchen table. Cutbacks at the mill...



And winter coming... means we're going to have problems paying the heating bills. I don't know what we're going to do. All of us except Mom are already working, and daycare for all the babies would cost more than she could bring home.



That was when Pop spoke up. "There... may be a solution."

"A solution?" asked Mom.

"A solution. A gentleman met me outside the mill when I got my final check. He said that if Joseph would be willing to indenture himself, he'd pay us 5,000 simoleons per week."

"FIVE THOUSAND simoleons. Per week?!? For how long? And what would the indenture entail?"

My father swallowed. "Five thousand simoleons per week for as long as the indenture lasts. And he wants Joseph, and the first-born male of each generation... for ten generations."

I think my sister and I were in shock. Then pandemonium broke out.

"Jason! Is he mad? Ten generations?!? We can't... that's crazy. Joseph... my baby... We'll find another way."


I didn't have to think long. Before I realized what I was saying, I leaned forward, and out of my mouth I heard the words "I'll do it."

My mom looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Honey, what are you saying? You can't... you don't even know all the details..."

"It doesn't matter, Mom. Five thousand a week is enough that you'll all be taken care of. It'll let us finally do something... the little ones can go to private school. You and dad can take care of yourselves, too. It's okay... really. I'll do it."

~~**~~

And that was that. On my next birthday I would be leaving to start a new life in a new town. I'd never see my family again, but would be starting a new life. I'd be providing for my brother and sisters... but I don't know what will become of me.


8 comments:

  1. Oh man! That must blow hard! You are basically sold off so your family gets paid? And they will get paid through all 10 generations? Hmmm....

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  2. aw what a great guy. he put their needs before his own.. of course it was very hasty of him to agree so quickly with no guarantee of payment to his family and what if he renigs on the deal? Joe would never know if his family was getting the money or not ..
    ah well still .. Joe's a great guy.

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  3. What a twist! And teenage Joe is a cutie :D

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  4. Oooh... very creative way to explain the way this legacy begins!

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  5. Awesome start! I can't wait to see how Joe gets that chip off his shoulder and does something about his situation.

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  6. *sniffles* Wow ... Joe is a man ... even before becoming a man. Looks good on him! What a guy. He's going to make some woman very happy some day.

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  7. Very cool start, and I love seeing young Joe and his family!

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  8. Uh-oh, that doesn't look good, getting laid off and needing to worry about healing bills. (Is the older sister, with the long red braid, a female Joe? She's really cute, whoever she is!)

    The first born male of every generation for TEN? That's some serious indenture contract!

    That's a serious sacrifice Joe was willing to take on for his family. But he's right, §5,000 every week is a lot of money! What happens if the guy defaults on his payments though? *peers*

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