Since Stryke 9 complained that the last post was too long, I have decided to shorten future posts by posting only one chapter per thread.
And here is Chapter 2:
CHAPTER II
Everything had started to change with the march of the invading soldiers into Meridian. A cultural revolution was upon us; a revolution that would affect me permanently. On the seventh day after the first regiment of the invading army marched through the streets of Meridian, our new authorities held a “denouncement party” at the City Square. Every family in Meridian was forced to attend. An MP arrived at our house at 30:30 standard time and politely asked my father and I to join the rest of Meridian at the City Square. I can remember holding my father’s hand tightly as he petted me slowly on the head. Another MP quickly flanked us.
We knew we were near when we heard a woman over loudcomms, once used only for emergency purposes, propagating NTF slogans. A banner reading “Out With the Old, In With the New” was hung over the platform. I saw Mayor Johanné Amos Meek on the platform tied to a tall plaque with the words written downward “Renegade and Usurper”. With him are several of his immediate subordinates who were also tied to their individual plaques. Two MP held him by the shoulders and forced him to kneel down with his head bowed. The female speaker over the loudcomms stated his many “crimes” against the Superior NTF Code, which I had no knowledge of it until many years later. One of the crimes he was charged with was being a devout Christian.
The crowd stood silent as the woman over loudcomms stated the crimes of the other criminals on the distant platform. About twenty minutes later the loudcomms were silent. A man dressed up in a military uniform came up to the platform and began to speak. The loudcomms broadcasted his message: “…of their crimes, the only reasonable punishment for the fellow criminals here with me is…” He opened a small envelope and pulled out a card. He continued: “…death by firing squad.”
Some soldiers forced the criminals onto their feet and pushed them towards the back of the platform. They then signaled the soldiers below, who took aim with their automatic rifles. I remember standing next to my father trembling. I buried by head into my father’s side, but an MP noticed my cowardice. He ran over to me and forced me to watch the execution take place. I wanted to cry, but my feelings were multifaceted that my tears did not embarrass me any further. The woman over the loudcomms gave the signal to open fire. The noise from the crowd was drowned out by the rat-tat-tat of the automatics. I saw the mayor’s head jerk back as his body fell stone cold onto the platform. The soldiers cheered and applauded. The whole crowd cheered blankly. My hands applauded, but my heard was wrenching to cry.
The “denouncement party” was soon over. The crowd walked home quietly. The silence was occasionally broken only by the laughter of several soldiers. When we reached home, I ran into my quarters weeping. My father seemed to care less. Through my tears, I saw my father taking swigs of his drink. His face showed no expression of emotion.
PLEASE! CRITICISM!!!
