Prejudice: 03

As soon as I sat down, an email was hanging on my notifications.Louise was the only person I knew that still used that thing, even though I begged and volunteered to teach her how to use a cuff. She refused with a solid, "If you don't stop, I'll catch some bugs and send them to your apartment." I had no idea what kind of things she had access to on that farm—just the thought of such creatures gave me the creeps.The message said:"Hello, kid, how are you doing?I saw the pictures you've sent me from the city, they looked dangerous. I'm sure it's illegal to get on the rooftop of buildings like that. Do you have a death wish?In particular, I prefer the ones you took here. I wish I could have them printed. I'd like to put that picture of the horses running in my bedroom.But that's not why I'm writing to you. I was wondering when you are coming for a visit, I have something I wanted you to look over for me."

Each new email was longer than the last. Louise wrote, as she liked to say, at least twice a week, updating me on one of the horse's pregnancy or any other farm-related matter that she judged worth mentioning.Ever since she told me she hadn't been in the city for almost a decade, I started adding pictures to my replies. Her comments were priceless. Reading and coming up with just as elaborate and formal responses had become a new hobby of mine.Although we have been exchanging ancient forms of communication, I never went back to the farm after our first encounter.Truly, I never put too much thought into the idea, at least not so soon. But for her to invite me over, it meant she had something very important to show me.

"Dear Louise,I'm happy to hear you have not enjoyed my pictures. It's very kind of you to flatter me with your words.Regarding the printing of the horse image, I may know someone who can arrange it if you're still interested. Have to say it will not be cheap, but since you refused to accept my holographic frame, I guess you have the means."

Before writing my answer to her invitation, I thought about the long journey to the countryside—all those buses and boats. Last time was traumatic; I was still dealing with the consequences of that little trip.As I sat there remembering the fresh air, I closed my eyes and I could feel the grass between my fingers and my face burning from the sun. What was traumatic was the encounter I had after going back to the city, so it wasn't the farm's fault.Having sorted the trauma, the excitement to go back settled in. This time I would bring snacks to eat under a tree. If I was annoying enough, I could get Louise to join me.

"I must confess I was reluctant to accept your delightful invitation for a visit. However, since you asked so nicely and I take you for good company, I simply cannot decline. I'll be there in a couple of days.Your charming friend,Saint."

Going away, even if just for a day, would help me clear my head. There was a lot happening and I couldn't deal with it all. Cops beating up kids in the city, the Mayor planning invasions to the slums, Officer Abrom asking for help—everyone was attacking me and I couldn't keep up.

"Hey, are you going to sit there during the day now?" Jake had been in the kitchen the entire time I was writing to Louise.He was serving a generous portion of rice into a bowl, then putting something I supposed was curry on top of it. Standing in the kitchen in front of the stove, he looked like he owned the house."What did you cook?""Spicy curry." His dreads were up in a thick bun and he had an apron on. "Are you gonna work days now too?""No." I got off my chair and stepped into the bathroom to wash my hands. "I was just checking something."

On my way to the kitchen, Jake crossed me with a bowl emanating hot steam as he made his way to the bed.The smell of spices had spread all over the apartment."That looks amazing!" I said as I checked the pan.

On my bed, he was making himself comfortable to begin eating and I was in the kitchen sticking my face inside the pans."Wanna watch a movie?" I asked while serving myself a bowl."You're not going to sleep?""Maybe later. I've been wanting to watch one by that old animated studio—the one with the giant teddy bear with the umbrella…""Wow, how did you find it? It's like over a million years old!"

Jake always got excited when we talked about ancient movies. He even uploaded them on his public platform. No matter how many times the Force took it down, he always put it back up on another page.Certain contents were banned from the city. Anyone caught consuming or advertising it was arrested. As the cyber division was never able to trace Jake, he kept posting all the movies and shows I found online.

A part of the Mask's agenda was to do exactly that: restore some of the culture our city lost after the civil war.Films, literature, and pieces of art that celebrated the old nation the city belonged to were preserved by the rebels, who used it as symbols of their fight.Jake was passionate about this particular aspect of the rebellion. He searched the entire web for forbidden material, especially books and movies.

"Found it in an old international server a while back. It's in pretty good condition." In my hands, I had my bowl and was on my way to sit on my chair while Jake was looking at me with puppy eyes."Put it on, and later you'll have to show me this server."

When I was younger, I never understood what harm a kid's animation could possibly do to a whole nation. Once I had enough money to make my way through the web, my curiosity led me to watch those films. I wanted to know how evil they were, what elaborate strategies artists from the dead countries used to manipulate the people.

Months I spent watching and reading all sorts of things. No matter from where or how old they were, every time I finished one I was desperate for more.After watching thousands of films and shows, what fascinated me most was that there were trees in the middle of the city—great pillars of nature standing defiantly in the heart of the urban sprawl. Rivers flowed openly under the sky, forests stretched wider than cities themselves, and birds sang at dawn—so many impossible things I had never dared to believe were real.

One day, at the end of a film about a girl raised by wolves who tried to save the forest she lived in, I got so mad at the world I went out with a bunch of kids from the block to paint the walls of some building downtown.That night we all got beaten up by cops, but I was so angry I didn't care and just kept going back night after night. I had the sudden urge to fight somehow.Only after realizing what we had lost did I understand why we weren't allowed to access those parts of our history anymore. Those apparently infantile movies showed me what humanity had destroyed and would never get back. Life.