For as long as I could remember it had been that way. It was hard to keep track of time – of the memories before the dissidence brought our freedom into alliance with the wisdom of the government. Had we known the tests were all a ruse we wouldn’t have done them, but the promises of a better life drew us in – all of us until it was too late.
‘Institute of Psychometric Coaching’, the posters flashed from billboards all over the city.
Prepare and Improve your Aptitude
Personality and Psychometric Test Results.
Even just one day with our professional preparation will align you with the perfect job!
Excel! Impress! Prosper!
Your dream job awaits!
No more hard choices, just direction. That’s what we were promised and we listened. Just like naive children, we listened.
Before the test, I worked under the crisp blue …show more content…
It would begin with a mournful cry rising from the pit to swirl weakly in the smoke. We gathered around and listened raising our faces to the ceiling and adding our voices to the growing wave. As the tide swelled the melody changed, becoming a roar of anguish, until everyone was in voice and our booming song pounded at the filthy walls, beating them until they shattered into crumbling blocks. Then we would grow quieter, and sing of days long gone, awakening memories of lost dreams and loved ones. I thought of my son, who had been just six years of age when I had last seen him, and must now be a young man. Where was he now? Was he in one of the factories? I clung desperately to the hope that he had escaped before they came for him, and closed my eyes, letting the sweet sound of our music carry me into the visions of happier days.
But all the while the flames from the oven made wicked shapes against the stone, and the baker’s shovel continued to grate against the bricks. Inevitably the heavy ceiling would descend to crush our song into wisps drifting aimlessly to the floor, and we would return to rolling our