Page 33 of Raw

“You promised not to bring this back up,” he muttered.

I did promise him that, but I didn’t really mention anything about them not getting along.

So I kept quiet and continued to enjoy the pancakes.

“Are you still coming to find a tree or two to cut down?” Papa asked.

“Yes, I’m coming. What about you?” I asked Fennec.

He shrugged. “Probably.”

I didn’t like him being like this, but I didn’t wanna bother him any longer.

I continued to eat my breakfast, and when I was finished, I grabbed my plate and bowl to wash them in our bin filled with water.

“We need to go get some more water. It’s almost empty,” I told them.

“If you don’t wanna come with us, Fennec, you can take care of that,” Papa suggested.

I turned my head to look at Fen who was still working on his bow, but instead of looking annoyed because of Papa like I imagined he would, he nodded and got up from the table, placing the bow and his knife down.

“Yeah, let me take care of that.”

Spending the afternoon away from each other might help get whatever they were dealing with out of the way.

*

“I brought a book I found weeks ago in our living room. Mama said it was yours, so I took it with me. It’s in my bag,” I told Papa.

We weren’t too far from camp yet, but he had told me that he found bigger trees almost three miles away.

I didn’t mind walking.

I loved it, and having the fresh air surrounding me was calming.

“What’s the title of the book?” he asked.

“Raw Society. I started reading it a few days before coming here, and I saw notes you made in it.”

“Ah,” he chuckled, turning his head to look at me. “That’s the book I got for my thirteenth birthday, and it was what made me realize that society is nothing but a complex slavery system.”

“Slavery?”

“Yes. Psychopaths are in power, taking away our freedom even though they tell the working people over and over again that we’re free to do whatever we want. You’re limited living in a society like the one you were born in. You’re obligated to follow the government’s rules, and although there are some rules I agree with, most of them limit you to be your own person. You go to school for them to then work and earn money which you only have to pay back. As if they don’t have enough money already. We’re slaves, but most people don’t see it. They hate to acknowledge it.”

His words made sense in a way, and reading that book made me realize a few things I never thought of before.

I knew and understood why Papa wanted to live out here without anyone telling him what to do or how to live, and I didn’t judge him for it.

“I’m happy I’m here with you and Fen. I love it here. I just wish Mama would see what you see.”

“Mama thinks differently.”

She always had, but no matter what, I’d love her forever.

“Do you think we could spend Christmas together? I promised to visit her.”

“I’m not sure if I can do that, Vespyr.”

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