Roger was just a boy of Eighteen years when the whole catastrophe took place in the City of Zach that affected too many lives in a blink mostly the male citizens.
He seats every day panicking and wondering what life will give him henceforth as a young ambitious boy he was looking at what Zach City was drastically turning into, he wouldn't help but panic.
******************
When he drove his car towards the school that early morning, his Art and Music School after for like one week of the Shutdown everywhere, he sighted the school environment from afar and a turmoil and could hear the noises from the place. The Zach soldiers and men were everywhere and were grabbing boys around the vicinity and pushing into the trucks and cars they came around with, all these boys were students who still insist in showing up to their dream life even after all threat and commotion in the city. Roger sighted his friend Chris as he struggled to gain freedom from one of the soldiers' grip and hot tears drip down him, his heart became heavy and he couldn't approach further into the school but immediately reversed and found his way back home.
While going home his mind was not at rest. His mind ran through a lot of things which kept him overwhelmed all he could think and think over and over again was his future, the future of Zach City henceforth. He wondered what the government were planning that all these sudden decisions were been made as though there was no consideration of the people, he kept driving fast in anxiety and hope he didn't get grabbed along the way. In the next ten minutes he was home and his father welcomed him into his arms as he fall into them and wept.
"It's true dad. The news is true and all these things are real!" He exclaimed and wept more.
"Hey boy.... listen to me...."His dad tried to find words to console his little young son, the boy born to him at old age among his seven brothers but found none to tell him. He has never stood Rogers tears in his whole life. As a Seventy-year-old man who still has a young teenager like him as a child, he never joked with his affection for him. He thought of what to tell him to give him hope but he knew the 'situation' that Zach City is currently facing can't be influenced by him. Hence, he was sorry for him.
" What's happening out there?" He asked as Rogers burrowed his head into his arms crying.
"Chris is taken dad. The school is ransacked and there is no academy open for boys again! Like...Jesus...like they want us to obey them willingly or unwillingly."
"Chris is taken into the military." He heaved a sigh and knew that must have caused him more discouragement, so he decided to help him with some suggestions.
"Listen Rog, u know u are still very young and not fully an adult like ur brothers, they too all have families already but yet they have surrendered to the tribute to serve their nation despite there achievements and influence in Zach City...do u know why? It's simply because they know this thing will only hold on for a while and not forever, it's a state of emergency and definitely in no distant time all will subside and things will return to normal so rather than running around hurting ur feelings and thoughts just go in with them son and do what is required of you it won't deprive you of all ur beautiful dreams for ur life, you still have a long way to go."
"For how long do u think dad. Why do everyone keep saying these as though u all are ignorant of what really causes this so called state of emergency...it's obviously not a state of emergency but an absolute violation of rights and agreements, I don't see anything meaningful coming out from Zach in five to six years time and once this city falls to zero, I don't think it will ever rise again. And what will become of my dreams and ambition in this earth?"
The old man looked at his son in distress and wondered why Roger was just such a boy. A boy who allowed thoughts of greatness grip him at just a very tender age. During his childhood he reflected this ambition and acted towards it everyday of his life till this day, always talking about his goals and vowing to achieve them before he reaches 25..." I will rather kill myself than be the way Uncle Mark made his wealth and fame at 30" he had said this thing a certain day In his life when he was just 13 and he remembered vividly how often he do say" don't worry dad I will be that Son that became an idol at the age of 20 and u won't go places again with your name, but by my name"
Hot streams of tears roll down his cheek.
*************
Roger was listening to the current news from the little electronic chips at his wall room he was thinking drastically and lost into it that he didn't notice when her cousin Anna walked in. She called out to him three consecutive times and the fourth one had to give him a hit and he sprang, he was deeply lost in thoughts.
"Holy Lord! Seriously you haven't been hearing me all this while" She exclaimed
"Sorry dear." He apologized and sat back and tried to put himself together.
"No one knew u were at home, how long have u locked yourself in here."
Roger sighed not really in the mood to talk, just starring at everything he sees. Anna already knew what was the reason for the state of emotion, everyone already knows what is currently wrong with Roger at this point in time. Probably still thinking of the fate of Zach in regards to his 'giant' dreams as usual. She walked aimlessly round the room looking for what Roger was forced to ask.
" Your phone. Where's ur phone?"
"Any problem? "
"Want to know if u lost it"
"Really"...Roger put his hand in his pockets to search for it but didn't find it and so did he check his drawers and handbags but didn't see it but found it later on the little bag under his bed.
"It means u haven't touched ur phone all day, just look at where u found it, guess it's been since last night. Now check ur phone and see the missed calls so far, u placed it on silence "
Roger was shocked to have received 30 missed calls from Jannie his girl friend and many other calls including the parents.
"Wait. Does it mean nobody knew I have been at home since today...
"They thought you left this morning and that was what they told Jannie when she came around and others that came to look for you too"...
"Seriously, Jannie came around?"
"Where did u keep ur car, it wasn't at the garage, it's one of the reasons they thought u weren't home"
"My car is on maintenance since yesterday!Jannie will kill me.....3o missed calls.... visiting by and not seeing me.."
"A nagging girlfriend she is"Anna shrugged.."She should be worried rather and not otherwise"
Roger heaved a sigh, he knows Anna never liked Jannie right from their days in high school till now. But Roger didn't return the calls right away, the truth was that he really appreciate the fact that nobody knew he has been around thereby giving him privacy since morning and the time was probably 2pm already. Anna was surprised.
"You aren't gonna call to make up things?"
"Not now"
"Anyway am off, go show up to ur parents too, am leaving "
"Wait. Not yet. I thank God u came around, was just running my mind through something "Roger spoke calmly,Anna felt the calmness of the voice that she told herself that Roger was indeed troubled. And knowing it's related to what Zach City has been currently unfolding she prepared words to calm and encourage him. She was just twenty one but looks just younger than Roger that people hardly believe she's the older one. She is also Rogers favorite relative since he was the last child and have no younger siblings nor sister, all of his seven brothers were all married and with kids even the least of them is 32 and already have three kids so it was only his late mum and Anna and in most cases his girlfriend Jannie were the only close women he have in his life and doesn't joke with them. His family is a very great family. They are known as De Chards family because his grandfather whose name was Richard took part in the liberation and independence of Zach and also took part in it's development from the scratch when Uranium was yet to be discovered in Zach. Till today, the family still enjoy the portion of Uranium allocated to the family because of the influence of the grandfather and it really contributed to their vast wealth and growth.
Anna came back and sat down on his bed while they watch out the fields from his window. His room was a very big one and occupied alot of things like an AI built apartment and it's allocated beside the family garden and field. His father gave him that room when he became a teenager and that was his birthday gift from him, that room belonged to no one right from time but was intentionally furnished and specially designed to suit in the life of an upcoming teenage boy,when he was just eleven then.
"I have watched this field from here for like two years Roger ....but it doesn't stop appearing new and beautiful all the time. Such a great work is done here!" She said very excited and couldn't help giggling. She was trying to water the ground for their conversation and remove any tension in the way so she can be done and get going.
"You aren't sleeping over?"
Roger asked as though he knew she needed to leave as soon as they are done talking.
"Yh."
"Okay" He heaved a sigh. Anna looked at him and saw he was folding his hands and shaking his feet endlessly and guessed immediately there was more to that than their usual talks about Zach City. She suggested Roger has either something to say or confess or has a favor to ask if not related to Zach City at all. But in order to calm the tension already arising she decided to start first.
"What about Chris. Heard he joined already"
"He didn't. They did forced him."
Anna was quiet as she noticed the weakness of the voice, Roger is such an emotional boy not strong in handling anxiety and won't restrain from crying out loud if need be.
"I understand how u are already feeling now...
"Look at this!"Roger immediately flipped a newspaper on her body as he took a deep breath, Anna didn't notice Roger was going through any paper when she walked in and from the way Roger handed down the book she guessed there was something fishing he's planning to do.she immediately took up the book to look into it and it was the Daily Morning Sun Guide from Zach Board casting Station which was published yesterday, she already have them and the news is currently circulating so she didn't read further but returned her gaze back to Roger.
"What's this about?" She didn't hide the confusion from her facial expression.
"What do u see there. Are u done reading already?".
"I already received this yesterday and it's on air right now, not new to me again." She paused waiting for Roger to continue but he just looked away starring at the field.
"What does it say?" He asked again after sometimes.
"I believe u read it already Roger. Can u get to the root of our conversation. What's this about?."
"I just wanted to verify if the news is true indeed that's why I showed you. But it seems legit from the look of things....Zach is really something else....like seriously...just the female now, like what's the plan actually?" He couldn't stop lamenting.
Anna just gazed at him saying nothing.
"So every empowerment and opportunity are now been made available to just the female child while the male are been concealed into some freaking nonsense recruitment in the name of defending the nation whereas it's obvious they are trying to ruin our lives and I bet in the next decade to come this nation will be ruled by women and all these arrogant old damn men of the streets that call themselves leaders!" Roger didn't take a single breath when he said all these, just talking and talking without any relent, was bitterly hurt and won't deny any opportunity to lay curses on Zach for the past few months.
Anna heaved a sigh. She was like" not again " attitude.
"Roger can u stop killing yourself like this. This is becoming a mess u know that." She was pissed off a little but had to calm herself down immediately because Roger is the last person you will ever think of correcting in a harsh voice, he will clearly cry without delay all he needs is comfort and consolating words ever since he lost his mum at age seven.
Roger sat down and took a deep breath.
"And just today they took down youths who were trying to leave the country and because of this no male citizen of Zach Is allowed to leave the city....for how long will this really be?" He asked helplessly and shock in fear.
Anna thought for a while and then decided to engage him into a more heart felt conversation. Roger is a male by just his genitals she must say, he's such a keen kid who carries a lot of feminine qualities which emotions and cuteness were the major ones. He has a mild voice too that's very seductive and he's very fair and handsome he look just like his father, in fact all the Chards family are known for their perfect looks and identical qualities even the grandchildren that at a point people trace their lineage to that of princes and royalty. The way Anna was looking at Roger she just has the strong feeling within her that her little cousin will definitely emerge great no matter what the country turns into.
"Roger let me ask you...what do u think u can do to keep surviving if Zach remains like these few more times to come"
"I was just thinking same now. There's only one alternative that have rushed to my mind this morning when I went through these papers....I saw a very huge hope there"
Anna's face brightened when she heard that. She couldn't wait to hear it and knowing that it was a remedy to his fears and anxiety she was never gonna say no or linger to get it done.
" Go ahead Roger, what's that?"
Roger opened his mouth but shut it immediately. He tried this several times until he got Anna suspicious that what he could probably want to say may be a very bad idea. Knowing that Roger was ready to do anything that will keep his dream blooming but delaying to mention it was something to be fishy about.
"Is it something bad or impossible?" She finally asked.
"I don't know. I can't say it is but....I don't know how u people will really see it. But I think I have searched myself all over and determined to do that and know it's actually a fate stuff thing for me "
"Fate stuff thing?" Anna repeated. Such a twisted phrase. She got more confused.
Roger then decide to open up.
" I just need the Surgery, that's the only alternative " He confessed and waited for her reaction. Indeed Anna was just seating and looking she haven't been this confused her whole life."Roger what are you really saying...what surgery?" Her face was twisted awkwardly.
"From what the papers said...I was just thinking this is also an opportunity for me"
"What paper...."
"The newspaper."
"Yes, what opportunity does it state?"
"You read it though didn't you?"
" Yh I did but still yet to understand the damn opportunity you just mentioned,the paper is vividly talking about taking women out to Port City for Music Empowerment so how does that apply to what you are saying here" Anna was already on top of her voice, Roger was just getting her more and more confused.
Roger refused to talk again he just sat back casting his gaze at the fields again. He just wanted Anna to try figure it out herself and that she did. She was thinking critically why looking at him with all curiosity, very freaking anxious!. At a point her mood changed from been anxious and curious to shock and fear and Roger was quick to notice that, her countenance showed that she have figured it out.
"Oh my God! Holy Lord!" She couldn't stop exclaiming putting her hands over her mouth as though to shut it and to prevent screaming.
"Roger!" She called out.
"Roger seriously....what are u trying to say, what have you been thinking all these while that made u go this wild?" She cries out.
"I promise if you keep a little mute am gonna explain what I really want it to look like and not that extent you are thinking, not really a total surgery..."
"Gosh! Can you hear yourself Roger. You want to do a transgender just because of ...Oh goodness!" Anna was driven to nuts by what she just figured out