Mondays with Mavers

Sunday, 1 March 2099

Bruno felt like a complete and total idiot. He accused Anzalone twice of being someone who shouldn't be trusted. Dixon the Plumber explained how he had met Anzalone in the Heart of Espington simply for a job opportunity. Bruno needed to worry about his own new life, and not think about Tyler Anzalone and how he really wasn't a spy or terrorist.

Bruno climbed up the sewer ladder, felt his way past the dumpsters and crates, and hopped over the fence. He walked to the glass doors as if he had just gone out for a nice stroll around Espington Square. Katrina was standing in the lobby, holding a small cup of coffee.

"Bruno, back so late? It's almost curfew!" she said nervously.

"Curfew?" Bruno repeated.

"Yes. Sunday through Thursday the curfew is one AM," Katrina explained. "There is no curfew Fridays and Saturdays. The only exception with curfew is if your job has you working later than one, which only applies to the Guard and all Doctors."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know," Bruno said.

"It's fine," Katrina smiled. "It's only twelve forty! Twenty more minutes to spare!"

Bruno walked to the elevator and pressed button number four. The music was soothing,

made Bruno forget about his entire day of chaos and information. The doors opened and Bruno walked down the hall, swiped into Room Nine, and entered the common area.

Lee was passed out on the couch, the television still on with Espington News.

Bruno heard light footsteps and that was when Valinoti appeared. "Dude, ten minutes? You were gone for almost an hour!"

The suite was quiet, although Bruno didn't know if Lee was still asleep or not. Bruno pushed Valinoti down the hall and into their room, closing to the door.

"I saw Anzalone go behind Inns Two," Bruno explained. "He went down in the sewers. I thought he was doing something sketchy but it turned out he was meeting a guy named Dixon to talk about the Plumbing Occupation."

"You gotta stop with Anzalone," Valinoti said. "Just accept that he was an Adlington Miner like us two."

"I already did," Bruno sighed. "It's done. It's over."

"Good. Had me worried for a second. I was already worried that I almost got my head

wet, now I gotta worry about Detective Bruno over here!"

"I know, I know. Sorry, Tim."

"Wow, that's weird," Valinoti said. "Y'know, callin' me by my first name."

"Eh, I'll be doing that once in awhile," Bruno admitted. "To make us feel as if we're back home."

"This is our home now," Valinoti said. "So let's get some rest because we start work at the Factory tomorrow with Lee and Mavers."

"You're right," Bruno said. "But I needa shower. I smell like actual sewage."

Monday, 2 March 2099

A loud buzzing noise filled the suite and Bruno fell off his bed; Valinoti sat up screaming bloody murder.

"Wakey-wakey!" Lee shouted. "Work in thirty minutes!"

Bruno looked at the clock and it read 5:29AM in bright red. Valinoti was already changing into his Factory Worker uniform that he had taken from his top drawer.

"You probably woke up Cariddi and Anzalone," Bruno shouted from his Room B.

"They're both gone," Lee yelled from the kitchenette.

"This early?" Valinoti gasped.

"Cariddi goes to Lobby Fitness every morning at five. Not sure where Anzalone went," Lee said.

Bruno wanted to believe that Anzalone was a regular guy just trying to start a new life in Espington, but every little, suspicious thing made Bruno uneasy. Where would Anzalone be at five thirty in the morning? Did he already find a new Occupation?

"I got cereal and apples on the table when you guys are ready," Lee said. "Big day for you two. You get to meet our boss, Rodney Mavers."

"Is he nice?" Bruno asked, putting his grey khakis on.

"Eh" was all that came out of Lee's mouth.

"So he's bad?" Valinoti guessed.

"Just don't get on his bad side," Lee said. "And try not to screw up."

Bruno and Valinoti looked at one another, both of them with a concerned look on their faces. Was working at the Factory going to be the worst time ever? Bruno was thinking that an Occupation Change Form seemed good right about now.

"What will Mavers teach us today?" Valinoti asked.

"Oh, the basics," Lee said. "And he'll be assigning you guys to a certain section to be working under. Remember the Fab Four? Those are also the four sections. I work in the Finery Department; I handle the jewels: clean 'em, polish 'em, place them properly into necklaces and bracelet and earrings."

"Seems like fun," Bruno said.

"Yeah," Lee said. "Now come eat your Espington's O's before they get soggy!"

Bruno and Valinoti walked to the table. Lee had set up two bowls of cereal along with an apple and orange juice.

"Thanks, Mom," Bruno chuckled.

"Hey! I would switch to be a Cook any day!" Lee shouted.

"Why don't you?" Valinoti asked, slurping his cereal.

"Don't have a good enough reason," Lee sighed.

Bruno thought it was dumb that people couldn't change their Occupations when they wanted to. Then again, Adlington only provided around five major jobs: Mining, Building, Sorting, Cooking, and Maiding. Hopefully Bruno would like being a Factory Worker with Valinoti.

There was a knock on the door. Lee got up from the table and walked over as if this was a daily occurrence.

"Who'd be knocking at a quarter to six?" Valinoti asked.

"I know!" Lee laughed.

He opened the door and a man stood holding a small, brown box. His uniform was grey as was his cap. The only blue accessories were his belt and shoelaces.

"Delivery for...Bruno, Valinoti, and Anzalone?" the man asked.

"Yep!" Lee said. "Guys, come over here."

Luckily, Bruno and Valinoti had already finished their cereal. They walked over to Lee and the delivery man.

"One of you needs to sign this packet," Lee said.

"What is it?" Bruno asked.

"You two, plus Anzalone, are getting your mobiles today!" Lee smiled.

"No way, really?" Valinoti grabbed the clipboard from the delivery man and signed each page with either his signature or initials.

"Thank you," the man said. "Have a good one!"

Lee shut the door and brought the box to the table. "Let's do this quick 'cus we have to leave soon."

He grabbed a kitchen knife and sliced the box open. Inside were hundreds of little styrofoam peanuts. Lee reached inside and grabbed three turquoise wristwatches. They looked very futuristic; the clock itself was square and looked more like a mini television screen.

"These are your mobiles," Lee said. "Call whomever you like, text, listen to music, and obviously look at the time."

"This is insane!" Valinoti shouted, taking one mobile.

"Yeah," Lee said. "This one's mine. Has a few scrapes on it over the past few years. Your mobile numbers are on the strap."

Bruno had never seen anything like this. Back in Adlington, the most intriguing thing was a two-ounce piece of gold he had dug up in the Mines back with his friends, Amaury and Mickey. Seeing this mobile, Bruno couldn't tell how much money Espington owned.

"All right!" Lee clapped. "Brush your teeth and let's get going!"

Bruno and Valinoti brushed their teeth together, strapped their mobiles on tightly, exchanged numbers, and headed out of R9 with Lee.

The Factory was the third largest building in Espington━after Inns One and Two. Three large, cylindrical barrels spewed white smoke from behind the edifice. The Factory was made of grey stone; however, there were many black and brown spots of who-knew-what on the façade. Bruno was glad to see that there was still blue paint on the windowpanes and front doors. Eagle gargoyles stood at the rooftop, staring down at the residents walking throughout Espington Square.

"Mavers will be waiting for you guys and any other ex Miners that got the job," Lee said, walking Bruno and Valinoti into the building.

. . .

The sound was as if seven different orchestras were playing at the same time. Valinoti and Bruno covered their ears immediately.

"YOU KINDA GET USED TO IT!" Lee shouted.

A man in the same uniform as Bruno, Valinoti, and Lee walked out of a backroom and made his way over to where the boys were standing. He had a large beer-belly and whitening, brown hair. There was dirt on the man's neck and it looked as if he was trying to grow a beard, but was failing miserably.

"Good morning, boys," the man said. "My name is Rodney Mavers and I am the man who makes sure Espington is full of food, finery, furniture, and fabrics. You two must be Rich Bruno and Tim Valinoti...now where is Logan━"

Just when Mavers said the name, a scrawny, short boy barged through the Factory's double doors. His long, sweaty hair stuck to his forehead; his eyes were bloodshot as if he had just taken a shower in hydrochloric acid; and it looked like his shirt was on inside-out.

"Ah, Logan Schmidt," Mavers sighed. "You're a minute late."

"I apologize, Sir," the boy said. "It'll never happen again. I fell in the middle of Espington Square trying to run here."

"Well, I am pissed I missed seein' that: you fallin' on your scrawny knees, ha-ha! Now, where was I? Oh, right! Welcome to the Factory. What you see behind me are the conveyor belts that ship the Fab Fours to each Market. The conveyor belts lead underground! How exciting?"

Bruno and Valinoti looked at each other. Mavers seemed like a complete weirdo. He was rude to Schmidt when he came a minute late and now he thought conveyor belts were something spectacular. Bruno didn't know about this job. Lee had left right when Mavers started speaking.

"The Workers at the conveyor belts make sure the items are on their way to the correct Market and if any of the items look broken or mismanufactured," Mavers explained. "Schmidt, I am placing you there for tomorrow because after today's grand entrance, I don't think you're fit enough to manufacture any of the Fab Four."

"Y-Yes, Sir," Schmidt mumbled, looking at the ground.

"What's wrong with your head, kid?" Mavers asked, pointing at Valinoti.

"Oh, um, I was hurt during the carriage explosion," he answered. "I have to have these bandages over the stitches until Sunday."

"Fuck," Mavers growled. "I can't have injured people workin'. This week you'll work with Schmidt in the Conveyor Section while you heal. Let's continue."

Mavers walked the boys down the hall between all the conveyor belts. There were dozens of them, some near the floor and some by the rafters. Objects like stools, jewelry boxes, and jackets took a journey down the belts and through open squares in the walls where they would be sent to the nearby Markets. Dozens of Workers with cyan helmets checked the items as they travelled across the belts. Bruno saw one lady grab a belt buckle and throw it in a bin next to her. Another Worker grabbed a rocking horse, tightened the pedestal, and placed it back on the conveyor belt.

"We will be entering the Furniture Section now," Mavers said. "Think of it like Woodshop class in ESH."

Luckily, Bruno and Valinoti knew what ESH was after Cariddi and Lee explained it to them, but did Schmidt know? Mavers talked as if the boys knew the basics of Espington already.

Bruno walked through opened doors and saw wood everywhere. There were boards and planks of softwoods like cedar and fir, as well as birch and redwood. Bruno loved the smell and remembered working a couple months cutting down pine trees with his father. Bruno then realized how much he missed his father.

Mavers explained the different woods and log cuts. "If you work here, you'll learn the through and through milling, the quarter-sawn milling, as well as the plain-sawn milling..."

Bruno saw how one Worker was finishing up on a rocking chair; the man blew the sawdust off the armrests. Two other Workers were placing the last beam to a baby's crib.

"Just a reminder that it is dangerous here," Mavers said, "with all the heavy planks and saws and such. Bruno, this will be your section. Valinoti, you too, when your injury is fully healed."

Bruno and Valinoti high-fived each other, but Bruno quickly looked at Schmidt. The small boy was still staring at the dusty ground, with a look of embarrassment. Bruno's smile quickly disappeared as he felt sorry for Schmidt.

Mavers continued showing the boys the rest of the Factory. He went through the Food Section where Workers checked if the food from Belington was cleaned and packaged properly. Mavers then brought the newbies into the Finery Section. Bruno and Valinoti immediately saw Lee sitting on a bench, polishing what looked like a ruby with a handkerchief. Lee's face was hidden by his helmet, which was much too large for his head.

"In the Finery Section," Mavers began, "Workers will polish all the jewels that we've gathered from Adlington or the Elmray Mountains. Then, the Workers mold out the bracelets, necklaces, and such. Everything made in this section goes to the Jewels Market."

"Adlington gives Espington jewels?" Bruno asked.

"Occasionally," Mavers answered. "When we give them something good in return. We have a few Gatherers, however, that go to the Elmray Mountains every two weeks to gather jewels. They're professionals."

Bruno didn't like what Mavers just said. Adlington did not have a lot of supplies; they were the second poorest City in Togluagoa. Bruno knew Adlington and Espington were not that friendly with each other─what did you expect when both of their Presidents were brothers that hadn't talked in over a decade after the Brethren War.

When Bruno was around eight years old, Adlington declared war on Espington because Sir Adlington believe his brother, Sir Espington, was trying to steal his wife. Turned out he wasn't stealing anybody; the wife just did not love Sir Adlington. Bruno did not know any of this, though. He never learned the real truth behind the war, and his parents told him the Brethren War started because of trade disputes. The Brethren War lasted only a week with no victories, but hundreds of casualties. Even though Espington had hi-tech weapons such has semiautomatic rifles and grenades, Adlington's army was known for its well-trained Vikings who specialized in swordplay and archery. Their stealth and brains made it a tough battle with the Espington Guard. Unfortunately, the Brethren War ended when both Madam Espington and Madam Adlington committed suicide because they couldn't see their husbands (brothers) fighting each other. The two Cities ended in a truce, but nothing more. Neither Cities trusted one another, and the two brothers haven't communicated since. It was a surprise Espington even let the group of Miners enter their City to start new lives.

Mavers finished the tour with the locker rooms, break room, and storage rooms. He explained where to clock in and to "under no circumstances, not clock in before Call!" Schmidt had to repeat that to Mavers twenty times in a row (poor guy stuttered the entire time). The boss proceeded to hand the three boys a textbook titled Espington Factory's Fab Four: Food, Finery, Furniture and Fabrics.

"Read this by next Monday," Mavers mentioned, "because all Workers are required an exam."

The Boss let the boys go after giving them extra uniforms and their very own nametags and helmets. Schmidt's was much too large for his thin head; he nearly walked into a lamppost after exiting the Factory. Valinoti and Bruno exchanged numbers with the kid. They had found out he was only fifteen and that he lived right next door to them in floor four's R8.

"Yo, Schmidt," Valinoti whistled. "Wanna get lunch with us at the Eatery?"

"Oh, wow!" the boy smiled. "I would love to!"

Bruno, Valinoti, and Schmidt got a table on the first floor of the Eatery, right next to the windows. Once again, Otis was their waiter.

"Good afternoon, men," he said. "Can I start you off with something to drink?"

"Water is fine," Bruno and Valinoti said.

"Soda pop, please," Schmidt said.

Otis walked away, through the kitchen doors. Espington Eatery was packed for one o'clock in the afternoon. There weren't any lines, but almost every single table and booth were taken. Bruno noticed two ex Miners sitting on the other side of the restaurant. He didn't remember their names, which he kind of felt guilty about, but he knew he had worked with them before back in Adlington. Bruno then noticed Klaudine, the Fabrics Marketer, sitting at the bar drinking a martini and nibbling on some nachos.

"Schmidt, how do you like Espington?" Bruno asked.

"I'm lovin' it," the boy answered. "I don't like Mavers, but─"

"You don't like me, Schmidt?" the Boss asked from behind. Bruno and Valinoti had no idea Mavers had been sitting at the table next to them. How did he even get to the Eatery before them?

"Um, no, no, Sir," Schmidt stuttered. "I, uh, I didn't mean it like that!"

"Sure sounded like it," Mavers shouted. "You know what? I'm cuttin' your pay in half this week, Schmidt!"

"But, Sir!" Schmidt yelled.

"Don't ever disrespect me! You're a child and I am your Boss! I'll see you tomorrow, Shit, I mean, Schmidt!"

Mavers threw his ID Card onto the middle of the table screen and picked it back up after the ding of the tab being paid. He kicked Schmidt's chair before exiting the restaurant.

"What a dick," Valinoti muttered under his breath.

"Watch out, he may hear you," Schmidt sighed.

Otis had handed the boys their meals and drinks a few moments after Mavers left the building. They all ordered burgers and fries.

"Don't ya love your suite?" Valinoti asked.

"Eh," Schmidt mumbled.

"Eh?" Bruno and Valinoti repeated.

"I live with O'Neill, Benson, and Faulkner," Schmidt sighed. "Faulkner is my roommate."

"Dude, he's a douche," Valinoti said. "Get a Room Change Form and room with Anzalone."

"Good idea!" Bruno said.

"Nah, I don't have a good enough reason to switch."

"Do the guys bully you?"

"Well...yeah."

"There's you reason!" Valinoti laughed.

The boys finished lunch and they all split the bill. Bruno held the door for his friends and waved goodbye to Klaudine.

Outside, the breeze was refreshing on Bruno's face. Espington Square was crowded with residents walking to and from Markets, lunch, or work.

"I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow!" Schmidt said and waved goodbye as he made his way to Inns Two.

Suddenly, Valinoti and Bruno's mobiles buzzed at the same time. They clicked the screens and saw that they had each received a mass text message from Sir Espington:

"Attention, Espington residents: tonight we will be holding a memorial for the lives lost in yesterday's carriage attack. We hope you all can attend. God Bless Espington.

Location: the Heart

Time: 8PM

*All buildings will be closed from 8-9 PM tonight and reopen at 9:15 PM tonight*

-Sir Julius Espington"

Immediately, Bruno thought of Alec and the two others that lost their lives during the carriage accident.

"We're definitely going," Bruno said.

"Absolutely," Valinoti agreed.

They clicked their mobile screens off and started to walk towards Inns Two. As they were walking, Bruno noticed O'Neill and his buddy Benson walking out with Schmidt.

"Didn't Schmidt just go into Inns Two?" Valinoti asked.

Bruno was too busy staring at the boys. What was going on?

O'Neill was grabbing Schmidt by the forearm, forcing him to walk behind Inns Two; Benson was doing a poor job by making sure nobody was watching them. The three boys disappeared behind the building.

"I gotta go behind there again?" Bruno sighed, but he ran anyway with Valinoti right behind them.

They tiptoed down the side of Inns Two, making their way quietly to the fence that Bruno had jumped over the night before. Bruno heard people speaking, knew one of them was Logan Schmidt.

Bruno and Valinoti peered past the wall and noticed a group of men. Benson and O'Neill were holding Schmidt's arms; the boy was down on his knees. An older man stood in front of Schmidt, just watching the kid intently.

Bruno gasped when he realized the man was Rodney Mavers.

"Why is Mavers there?" Valinoti whispered.

"It was because of what Schmidt said at the Eatery," Bruno realized.

"Quick, click your mobile to the Recording option," Valinoti said.

Bruno did and his wristwatch started to record the conversation; there was a microphone icon and a timer on the mobile's screen.

"You got a lot of nerve, Shit," Mavers growled. "Sayin' you didn't like me at the Eatery."

"Sir, I told you I was sorry!" Schmidt cried. "I was upset about my first day and─"

"Why were you upset on your first day?" O'Neill interrupted.

"Hey, shut up, kid!" Mavers shouted. "I do the talkin'! You're just here for the money!"

"Sorry, Sir."

"Anyway," Mavers continued, "I decided to not pay you half anymore, that seemed a bit harsh."

"Oh, really? Thank you, Sir! I swear, I will work my hardest tomorrow!" Schmidt smiled.

"Shut up, Shit!" Mavers shouted. "You're still gettin' a punishment for disrespectin' me. Nobody disrespects Mavers."

"What-What are you gonna do to me?" Schmidt asked.

"O'Neill, Benson, hold on to Shit's arms tightly, please," Mavers ordered.

No way, Bruno mumbled. He knew what was coming next.

Mavers slammed his fist into Schmidt's face. The boy shouted, but his scream was cut of by Benson's other hand.

"You're lucky you're only gettin' one punch," Mavers grinned. "Next time it'll be five."

O'Neill and Benson dropped Schmidt, who fell to the floor clutching his swollen cheek. Mavers snapped his fingers and the boys headed for the fence. Bruno and Valinoti quickly hid behind the eagle statues that stood in front of the Inns Two entrance. Mavers and the boys passed them without noticing.

"I sent the eDollars to your mobiles," Mavers said. "Transfer it to your ID Cards."

Mavers turned and headed back to the Factory; O'Neill and Benson walked back into Inns Two.

Bruno and Valinoti ran straight back to the fence, hopping over it, and stopping at Schmidt. The boy was crying, his cheek swollen and already starting to bruise. Part of his skin split and blood dripped down his cheek and onto the pavement.

"Schmidt," Bruno said, "we got the whole conversation on tape. Mavers is going down!"

"No, no, no!" Schmidt whined. "Don't do it! Even if you do turn him in, he'll still somehow go after me, and you guys, too!"

"We don't care!" Valinoti retorted.

"No one's going to hurt you, Schmidt," Bruno said. "And you're moving in with us; O'Neill and the guys are no good."

"T-Thank you," the boy mumbled.

"Let's bring him to the Clinic and have Madigan and the girls check up on him," Valinoti said.

"Right," Bruno said, helping Schmidt up to his feet.

Schmidt got up and wiped the dirt off his clothes. He rubbed his eyes, winced at the pain in his left cheek.

Bruno couldn't believe this had just happened. Lee said that Mavers was a jerk, but he never said anything about him being dangerous. Would the Factory be a good job? Bruno looked up at Watchtowers Three and Four; it was outrageous how none of the Guard had not seen the attack by Mavers.

Bruno wasn't surprised when he saw Jago at one Watchtower and Sayer at the other.

It looked as if they only cared about the outside of Espington and not what happened on the inside.