carryville chapter 4

“Burn, burn, burn” that was the chant heard from main street and it wasn’t long until every single person was chanting except Mr. Henderson who was in the center of the crowd holding his book tight in his arms. This book was much bigger compared to the two I wrote, this book seemed like it held every secret sandal and every government motive behind their actions; this was a book that no citizen would ever get to read not because it’s just a book, but because of the harm it could cause on the hold the government had with its citizens.
     I noticed that Gabe wasn’t anywhere to be seen, I had started to fear of what would come of this as there was always a camera lurking in the distance, and every single person was watched very closely. I’m not sure why Gabe wouldn’t be here he is always the first person in the family to know anything, I could even see my parents way on the other side, my father was whispering something to my mother and then I saw him shake his head in total disgust with the man who was once his best friend and couldn’t believe he had betrayed not only his trust but also the mayor’s trust as well.
     “Attention, I said can I have your attention?” the mayor yelled through a microphone, the mayor looked as he had aged ten years since I had last seen him. He had even grown a full white beard and his face was full of wrinkles. “We are here tonight for the burning of Mr. Henderson’s piece of trash and I assure my fellow citizens that this book like the others is full of lies that bash this great community that we all love, we must get rid of this trash.”
     Mr. Henderson who was once in control of the sheep was now on his knees asking for mercy from the mayor, but we all knew that wasn’t possible. “Mr. Henderson this is the last straw for you, I hate to do this to an old friend but it’s the law.” Everybody in the crowd was in awe of what was coming, nobody wanted to be forced away but after three strikes you were out. “Mr. Henderson after the burning you will be sent to room 227.” The crowd became quiet and nobody uttered a word in fear of being sent there with him.
     “Before we start this burning do you have any final words?” the mayor asked the weak and scared Mr. Henderson, “one day when the fire dies and everybody sees the ashes, maybe then you people will wake up.” The mayor held out his hands and ripped the book from him. “Now take Mr. Henderson away” the mayor ordered towards his body guards, Mr. Henderson’s wife was motionless towards the whole ordeal. I wasn’t too surprised as nobody really felt love in this town. “This is one piece of trash the whole town will never ever have to see again, I can’t believe that some people in this town feel as if I’m out to get them! Why do some people feel as if I’m the bad guy?” the mayor yelled out in anger. My father stood up next to him and looked towards the people, “you’re doing such a great job mayor, some people like Ray, Mr. Henderson will never fully understand you” my father spoke as he looked towards me. I knew he still hadn’t forgiven me for ruining his Rep and I wasn’t sure if he would ever get over it. “THANK YOU, Francis you have always had my back when it came to trust and your such a courageous man, Ray should be very proud of having you and Juanita as his parents.” My parents both were smiling at the mayor and once again were lost in awe of the lies that the mayor spoke. “If only we could convince Ray to believe in you” my father said after a moment of silence, “I believe he will in time.”
     Ten minutes had past and everybody was on their way back home, but I just couldn’t go home I wanted to see the mystery man again; I wanted to ask him so many dying questions. I started walking into the woods but I didn’t have to go far until I saw a dark shadow holding a sign and I knew it was him, I ran as fast as I could but it didn’t seem to matter how fast I ran the shadow ran twice as fast as I did. Suddenly I had this sick feeling that something or someone was watching me so I decided to turn around and walk back home.
     I saw Maggie still at the spot of the burning, “can I walk home with you Ray?” I looked around to make sure nobody was watching us and nodded my head. “What’s room 227? I asked with a nervous tone in my voice as if I was being recorded, “I’m not very sure myself; I heard there’s only been one other person who has been sent there and that was T….” But Maggie couldn’t finish her sentence as she started to stutter as everybody else whenever they tried to speak his name. It wasn’t  long until we reached my driveway of what seemed like the perfect family in this perfect fairytale world I was living in. “well Ray I got to get home before I get caught walking alone in the street, you know they are all watching us.” Maggie gave me a hug and walked the other way, “I’ll see you in a few days before the ceremony starts.” Maggie just smiled and waved goodbye.
     I enter the living room and noticed that my Father was giving Gabe the good boy, bad boy speech he gave me whenever I did something wrong. “I’m sorry dad I overslept; I just wasn’t feeling that great so I laid my head down and fell asleep, I didn’t miss the burning on purpose.” My father looked at Gabe as he looked at me whenever I talked back to the mayor, but there was this innocence in Gabe’s face that made it hard for my father to be really mad at him. “Just go up to your room” my father ordered at Gabe. I felt like this was a great time to cheer my little brother up so I decided to follow him up to his room.
     “Where were you tonight?” I asked Gabe who started to rub his right eye and then yawn, “I started to feel sick at school so when I came home I figured I would come home and sleep for a little bit then go to the burning; but instead I overslept and now father is pissed.” I stood up and walked over towards Gabe’s window and peered into the woods, “I saw him again tonight? Gabe had a confused look on his face, “saw who?” he asked, “the mystery man he was deep in the woods so I started running towards him, but the more I ran the faster he ran and I got scared that I would be caught..” I stopped and turned my attention to Gabe, “caught by?” I was lost in thought trying to explain the unknown, I looked around to make sure nobody was near to hear or see me. “I was afraid that the Committee Of Gentlemen would catch me.” I turned back to the window and peered out towards the woods, “I heard that Mr. Henderson is gone, what does that mean for you Ray If you write again?” I shook my head, “I’m not sure what it means but I don’t want to find out either way.”
     I sat next to Gabe on his bed, “the only other person to be sent to room 227 was Thomas Carryville” Gabe was in total shock that I spoke his name, “we are not allowed to speak of that name.” Gabe was getting a little scared and paranoid at the same time; it was like his name was a cursed word or a sin. “What’s wrong with saying his name?” just wanting to know what the big deal was, “we were taught in school not to speak of it, he was a bad man and if we’re caught saying his name we could be sent to room 227 or kicked out from Carryville by the Committee Of Gentlemen.” I still wasn’t sure what was wrong with saying his name.
     “I don’t know the full story but all my teachers say that he’s evil and dead to our community, Ray I just don’t want to see you in trouble again; it was hard to watch those two burnings I could actually witness and feel your pain…” Gabe stopped and walked over to the door and made sure it was shut. “I would hate to see you get banned from here you’re my brother and always will be.” I was proud to call Gabe my foster brother, he reminds me of myself. But it pains me that Gabe couldn’t fully see between rights and wrong, most people in this town can’t or if they can then they refuse to knowledge the difference, maybe one day when Gabe gets older he will stand up next to me and fight for his rights if they don’t completely brainwash him by then.