How They are Made in the Valley (fiction/story) #tellastorytome

Mike stood under the old sycamore tree and studied the alerts scrolling by on his smartphone. His wife Taylor stood on the steps of the small townhome along with the others jammed in a neat line on the freshly poured sidewalk. A large “OPEN HOUSE” sign was staked on the square patch of perfect grass between the street and the stoop. He had no desire to go inside and press against the bodies of hopeful homeowners.

He sighed and swiped at the alert and texted his engineering supervisor “Be back in 20.” He knew it was pushing it and not going to happen. There was no way they could make it back to headquarters across town in lunch traffic. The whole situation was hopeless anyway but Taylor insisted on the futile activity every week of putting in bids on a place.

“Look this one is 750… we can manage that, between both of our salaries,” she would shove her phone at him highlighting the housing listing.

“Babe we don’t have a chance on that you know how they bid it up. Every time.” He hated the look of disappointment on her face. The bitter truth of housing in Silicon Valley did not mesh with what they had been sold when they moved from Minnesota. After he finished his software engineering degree he had promised Taylor they would make for the “promised land” – the second, or third gold rush. California. West! Recruiters called him non-stop and threw out six figure salaries like candy.

Taylor was not hard to convince. She craved distance from her huge family and their expectations of settling in for good in Wheatville. It didn’t matter where they went as long as it was out of that podunk town.

He watched the shadowed doorway and stood straighter when he saw her emerge. Her face was grim and she looked like she was about to burst into tears.

“The bids were already over 800… Can you believe that? I mean it’s only a one bedroom and bath. A freaking closet!” she exclaimed. He couldn’t even say “I told you so” as it would have been too cruel. He took her hand and led her to the UberTram curb and they waited for a car. His phone bleeped again.

“We will maybe make it back on time,” he said while she just stood their numbly staring off into the distance.

“I hate this place,” she said simply. “I fucking hate it.”

A warm buzzing sound surrounded them and a drone appeared and hovered above their heads, “Greetings citizen. Are you in distress? Respond Yes or No.”

“No… no,” Taylor said quickly and forced a smile. “I’m fine.”

They watched the drone fly off down the sidewalk. “Jesus, what timing!” Mike glared at her. “I know you’re not happy but you know you gotta watch your mouth sometimes.”

“Sorry,” she said. The UberTram pulled up and it’s automated wing doors swung up to reveal a mostly full cabin.

“Are you getting in or what? I’m late for a meeting,” a man said gruffly.
“I’ll sit next to him,” Mike murmured to her and they ducked into the air-conditioned cabin. The limo length car whisked them efficiently away back to Global’s headquarters and they both stared out of the window while everyone else’s heads were down looking at their laptops and phones.

The car drove by the protected watershed wetlands and Mike marveled at the mustard colored dipped sea grasses and white cranes flocking under the power lines with their long necks popping up and down in sequence.

Supposedly more housing would be built right here in this spot. He took a snapshot with his phone to preserve the memory of it. There had been an article written about this site, how a complete virtual reality experience would be recorded of the wetlands in order to preserve its beauty and history. That way, the article said, it would be accessible to everyone around the world.

⬧❖⬧

Taylor waved the crisp paper in the air at Mike when he walked into the door of their tiny apartment. The paper was unbent as if it had been shipped in a FedEx flat meaning it was a little more important than the standard memo.

“We got in! We got in!” she squealed, her face flush with excitement and elation.

Mike took the thick vellum paper embossed with Global’s seal and read the words:

“Congratulations,
You and your partner have been selected for the future of Global’s citizen program. As you may have heard, Global is the leader in CRISPR technology. Our DNA research lab has perfected the ultimate in human science – The Standard Human Project -- One of many Global’s initiatives in our quest to end world hunger, increase education, and evolve mankind to the next level of achievement. Global's top scientists have designed the human life sequence to relieve mankind of the dangers and inefficiency of childbirth by providing 100% safe and secure womb services for you and your family.
In addition to this womb service you may also design your children by applying for certain traits that you currently possess to be passed down to your child – guaranteeing your immortality for future generations…”

The letter went on with further details but Taylor excitedly pointed her finger at the last paragraph,

“… in order to participate in this program, members will be relocated to the new Waterview housing complex which was recently finished this Spring featuring state of the art amenities to meet all new family’s needs.”

“It says we would get a 2 bedroom with a full kitchen and a built in laundry!” she danced around.

“But… Taylor… a baby? Really? Like that?” he emphasized ‘that’ and stared at her.

“Well… I know it’s a bit weird, but it would be our baby, they say so here,” she highlighted the print with her finger.

“Oh come on! That’s not natural,” Mike said a bit disgusted. “Seriously Taylor how can you even think that? Look I didn’t even know you wanted a kid,” and he tried to smile and lighten up the conversation. It had been a while since they had a good time in bed maybe she just needed some fun. “We could go try to do it naturally right now even,” he stepped toward her and put his hand on the wall behind her and leaned in.

“You didn’t know, Mike? Why else would I want our own place? You are so dense sometimes it’s hard to believe you were president of your engineering class,” she huffed. His arm dropped.

His phone alert bleeped and he took it out of his pocket. One of the central networks had gone down and he needed to go back in to the office. Some things had to be done in person and this was one of them. “We’ll talk about it later, ok?” he promised.

Taylor nodded and looked off to the side, “See you later.”

⬧❖⬧

“You wanted to see me, Jeff?” Mike entered his boss's office.

“Sure yeah Mike close the door will ya?” Jeff replied. “Hey look have a seat, how ya doin?”

“Um, pretty decent. The south cluster went… south, this morning, but we got it back up and running,” he replied and sat down. This was the second time this month the cluster had failed and so Mike settled in thinking of answers to Jeff’s anticipated questions.

“Yeah well that’s cool man, you guys got it down. I’ll get Scott to requisition any hardware just go see him…but that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about,” Jeff leaned forward.

“I heard you and your wife were invited to the Global citizen program…” he asked expectantly.

“Oh yeah that, well. Yep. Got a letter,” Mike said.

“And? You gonna do it?” Jeff looked like he was about to come out of his chair.

“Well I don’t know. Taylor wants to because there’s, well they offered a big apartment, and she wants a kid…” Mike trailed off.

“You should do it, Mike. You really should,” Jeff couldn’t contain himself and stood up, opening his arms wide and began to pace behind his desk. “Just think of this opportunity Mike! It’s more than getting your own child – just as perfect as can be. Think of that Mike! Here in the Valley, it’s hard. Real hard. Getting your kid into kindergarten is pretty much impossible. My wife had to well, I don’t need to tell you what she did but Mike it was like applying to Stanford or something. This way your child is guaranteed all the resources Global has to offer. ALL of them,” Jeff put his palms down on the desk and his face was a bit red from the effort.

Mike nodded and leaned back in the chair as if to get out of Jeff’s gaze, “Well sure it’s a great offer and all, it’s just well… it’s not really natural you know?”

Jeff stood up and put his hands on his hips, “Listen Mike, you work for Global. It’s the number one corporation in the western hemisphere. Do you realize…” and he kind of puffed his chest, “how backward you sound? I mean I know you’re from Michigan and all, but that’s not how we think here in the Valley.”

“Minnesota…” Mike said and shifted in his seat.

“Right. Minnesota. So, anyway,” Jeff reached down on his desk and picked up a piece of paper and pushed it forward to Mike slowly.

“What’s that?” Mike asked.

“It’s a raise. A big one. If you join the program…” Jeff said casually and smiled, crossing his arms.

Mike picked up the paper and read the terms. The print was so tiny his hands shook a little with the anxiety that he could barely contain. It was a lot more money and perks.

“My hours and responsibilities are the same?” he asked.

“Yep, everything’s the same. Just gotta agree to have the kiddo and do the program. Think about it Mike. Free childcare… Global takes care of everything, the best teachers, medical… you and your wife will never go without or have to worry. And even if Global has lay offs, you’re protected. That’s the big one,” Jeff pointed to the paragraph. “You’re in for life, buddy. Hell I think there’s even something in there about guaranteed retirement housing and support. I don’t even have that!”

“I’ll talk it over with Taylor,” Mike said and stood up. “Thanks Jeff.”

“Let us know soon,” Jeff walked him to the door. “You know how they are at corporate. They want everything tidy and official. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m late for my MDMA micro dosing session,” Jeff’s smile was so big Mike thought he might bite him as the door shut behind him.

⬧❖⬧

Taylor studied the form and glanced over at Mike, “The first question. Boy or girl?”

“Didn’t know we would have a choice,” Mike said quietly.

“How about a boy, to carry on the family name,” she smiled at him.

“But girls are nice. Sweet,” he said quickly then his face turned red at having said his inner most feelings so openly.

“Aww that’s sweet,” Taylor looked happy. “Well let’s put boy and if they let us have another one we will choose a girl,” she checked off the box.

“Let us?” Mike said.

“Mmm mmm,” she murmured while filling out the form.

“Let’s see what color hair? Like ours, I suppose, and your eye color…” she continued filling out the form. She seemed to forget Mike was there and stopped asking him questions.

“Make sure he has a big penis, if there’s a check box for that,” Mike said crassly. Taylor scoffed, “Shhh that’s embarrassing. They probably are recording this room.”

“This is embarrassing. Ordering your kid from a menu,” he said.

“Do you wanna go take a walk while I finish?” she said coldly.

Mike stood up and angrily pushed the chair back, “Yeah. Not like he is gonna need a big dick anyway the way things are going.”

⬧❖⬧

Even though the marsh had been drained for the new housing complex, the scent still lingered. The salty air pulled at Mike’s hair and buffeted his Northface vest. Concrete and glass and manicured walkways scissored his vision punctuated by shadows of crying gulls diving at floatsam. To the south where East Palo Alto and Menlo Park met the water was the ruins of Facebook’s multicolored faux San Francisco office buildings. A mirage danced upon the salt flats – the last remaining wild area on the Bay’s shoreline monetized and found on the shelves of Trader Joe’s.

“Ok, all done,” Taylor emerged at his side. “I’m… sorry, about in there. I’m just nervous. And I want you to be happy, too.”

He looked at her, “Sure, I’m happy you’re happy.” She took his hand.

“There wasn’t a check box for, you know. What you asked for. So I wrote it in at the end.”

Source: The Guardian

This is my entry for @calluna 's "Tell a Story to Me" contest. The theme and link to contest:
The Children They Made
Thank you Calluna for this opportunity to participate.

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Thank you so much for reading.