Dystopian Rebellion
“And this has gone on long enough! We have been under the rule of the Protector’s for far too long for the atrocities that they commit under their name!”
“Yeah!” my crowd yelled.
“We can join ranks! We can create our own new society! It will be built humanely!”
Another affirmation from the crowd.
“Now who’s with me!?”
Explosive cheers from all that gathered. The barn was overflowing with supporters and they all looked up to me on the scaffolding holding our super secret sign up to each other in solidarity of our ideals and our support!
“Let’s move!!” I roared. I jumped down the ladder and marched my way out the barn, screams, roars, and applause flooding the world behind me. I walked for about twenty steps before checking behind me to see all my followers. Except they weren’t there. They were still cheering in the barn.
I waited another ten seconds. Still nothing. I ran back inside and climbed back up to my pulpit. They quieted down after a few seconds.
“Let’s go!!” I roared again. They cheered in response. But they didn’t move. I gestured with my hands for them to move out, but no one moved an inch from where they were.
“Are… are we going?”
“Yeah!!” they screamed, as if it were a call and response.
“Why aren’t you moving?”
They looked to one another quizzically.
“Where’s the chick?” some guy called.
“The what?”
“The girl!” another girl yelled, “where’s the girl!?”
“What girl are you talking about?”
“The empowered young women ready to inspire us to take on the world!”
“Yeahh!” the crowd screamed.
I looked to John. He shrugged.
“There… there is no girl?” I said, but it was like I was trying to convince myself of something.
Some people still called out in response, but they sounded just as confused as I was.
“Who’s going to lead us??” yelled a guy from the back.
“I am!” I yelled incredulously.
“I mean actually lead us into battle! Take charge of all of us.”
I looked around at the crowd. Did I really have none of their support?
“I AM!” I screamed again.
People started shuffling and looking to one another waiting for the joke to be revealed. I saw some look to leave through the back door.
“Wait! Where are you going?” I called.
“I’m not falling for another patriarchy like the Protectors have set up!” answered someone.
“I’ve been following men for far too long. I think it would be nice to find a women of color to file behind!” yelled someone else.
Everyone started making their way outside.
“But what about the Protectors? What about a new humane government?? Do you really want to continue living under our conditions!” I called desperately.
“It just doesn’t sound right coming out of your mouth.” a girl in the front, shrugged.
“Give it time and a teenage girl will soon say the same. Be patient, your revolution will happen!” someone said, sounding genuinely sympathetic.
I waited as every person who we’d taken years in gathering made their way out of the barn and back in the arms of an oppressive regime, not even taking a second to consider my points. I was at a loss. John climbed up the scaffolding to join me.
“Where did I go wrong?” I breathed.
“People have come to expect an image of their leaders and you just didn’t match,” John reasoned.
“But what are we gonna do about the Protectors? How much longer can we last?”
John shrugged, “Guess we’ll just ask around ’til we find a girl to puppeteer this thing, Alex.”
I looked out to the field as people began to leave my line of sight. Then it hit me.
Alex can be a girl’s name, too.