Beyond the Pale« an older post
a newer one »Morning Walk 23-01-20

Soul Paths, a Story

Huh

"Ah! Soolies! Back from your easy go?"

"Yep! That one was a walk in the park, kinda boring, too."

"Boring? How so?"

"Male. White. Born in the United States late twentieth century. You can't get a ride much easier than that in this game."

"Ah, no, no you can't," Amenzie chuckled. "If you find those boring, though, maybe you could talk with the Assigners? Those rides are supposed to be regenerative, playing the game on the easy setting. If you find them boring, that'll give you some agitation for the next round."

"Nah, it's fine, Amenzie. It was refreshing enough that I'm up for a serious challenge this go. Whacha got for me?"

Amenzie pushed a paper across the desk to Soolie, who picked it up and started reading it.

"Female, that's good, that's a challenge. White? Uh, okay, less of a challenge. The United States again? The challenge shrinks. Smart? Okay, that's harder, the smart ones have expectations of being heard in society. Do I get a Cassandra curse on this one?" Soolie asked, looking up hopefully.

Amenzie, looking down at other papers, gestured absently. "No. Keep reading."

"Skinny, big boobs, infectious laugh, lovely smile. Come on, this one isn't hard at all," Soolie scoffed, tossing the paper back down on the desk.

Amenzie looked up, placed one finger on the paper, and pushed it back across the desk.

"Keep. Reading."

Soolie picked up the assignment again, and read.

"Where's the kid?"

Amenzie watched, said nothing.

"Come on, a woman looking like this, in this society and no kids? Am I not supposed to want kids? I mean, that's what this society, hell all the societies in this era, presses in upon the women, have kids or you're worthless, incomplete."

"Yeah, that is the society, those are the pressures, and yes, you'll want kids. You'll want them desperately."

"Ah, so that's the challenge, eh? I can't have them? Do I have some awful disease?"

"Nope, no disease, and, you'll be smart, you'll be able to find your way around the biological roadblocks we set up. The roadblocks, however, are there to give you pause, make having kids an effort. And that's where you'll need to make your own choice on which path you sign up for. Your options are on this page." Amenzie pushed a second paper over, that Soolie picked up and started reading.

"Wait, this option says I don't have kids, and spend my life with that longing, or I do have kids and what?"

Amenzie said nothing, waited.

"Are these the only options for this soul going through this life?"

"You said you wanted a challenge."

"Yes, but are these the only choices for this soul?"

"Yes."

The two riders, one old, one young, sat in silence as the younger one contemplated the options.

"Okay, let me get this straight: female, white, United States, intelligent, reasonable athleticism, skinny, big boobs, clear skin, exactly zero health issues until her forties, desperately wants kids, yes?"

Amenzie nodded.

"And I can choose not to have kids, and live with that longing until I die of old age, never quite experiencing the overwhelming joy and heart-crushing disappointment that comes with being a parent, never have that moment of completely unconditional love.

"Or I can choose to have the kids, experience that joy, that disappointment, that love, and in the depths of postpartum depression after the second child is born, unintentionally kill them both."

"Those are the paths for this soul, yes." Amenzie paused. "You said you wanted a challenge. Do you want a different one?"

Soolie sat, saying nothing.

Amenzie waited.

"No, I'll take this one."

Amenzie nodded. "Okay."

"This is going to be a hard one, isn't it, Amenzie?"

"Your hardest yet."

Soolie nodded. "Yeah."