"Mom, can I watch cartoons for a while?"

Hearing Anne's voice, Stephanie's hand trembled and the cup almost fell to the ground. She quickly held the cup tighter. Go home. Annie stood at the door of the bedroom and looked at her in her pajamas. She said, "No, the light will go out soon. Go to sleep. "

but

"Dad hasn't come back yet." Annie is obviously a little unhappy.

Stephanie put the cup in the cupboard and said as calmly as possible, "Dad will be back soon. If you haven't gone to bed when he comes back, he will be very angry. "

Hearing that her father would be angry, Anne stopped insisting and bowed her head and said, "Yes."

Stephanie went over and picked her up and whispered, "Go to bed early, little darling."

Anne kissed Stephanie on the cheek and asked her mother to carry her to bed. When Stephanie tucked her in and went out, she suddenly whispered, "Mom, will dad give me a present tomorrow?"

"I will." Stephanie didn't look back and pulled the light and went out. When she closed the door, she felt that she had no strength and could only lean against the door frame to prevent herself from falling to the ground.

I don't think it's the aging of artificial organs. She thinks that although 62% of her body is artificial, the technology of artificial lung and artificial kidney is perfect and can be used for more than three years. Although the replacement of the left leg bone and the wrist bone of the right arm are not high-grade materials such as titanium alloy, the manufacturer also claims that the high-strength plastic bone can be used barrier-free for more than five years, and she has not engaged in any overloaded physical activities in the past year. Artificial bone has a life span of at least four years, but she still feels cold, and her strength flows away bit by bit like a broken bag. She looked at the cups in the cupboard and took two breaths before trying to turn off the TV.

"the State Council reminds citizens all over the country that according to the third instruction of General Diopiro, the final declaration period is 213265438+February 3 1. Citizens with more than 50% inorganic components should register at the nearest registration point before 2 133 1. "

The nostalgic cartoon on TV suddenly switched to a dignified and beautiful black female announcer, who broadcast the notice with a smile. This notice will be broadcast every hour, almost everywhere, supermarkets, gas stations, parking lots, as long as there are people. She has heard it hundreds of times and can recite it everywhere, but now these words are poured into her ears like molten lead water, heavy and burning. With her mouth open, she murmured that Dee was following the black female announcer: "Otherwise, it will be listed as missing persons, and your social security card number will be deleted, and you will be punished by law."

The consequence of deleting the social welfare card number is that she can't get relief bread and can only go to the black market to buy food in the future. What's even more frightening is that Anne can't get compulsory education, enjoy medical insurance or even find a decent job as an adult because of her own reasons. Stephanie couldn't help shivering and didn't dare to imagine this terrible prospect. As for being punished by law, she never thought about it. This disaster-stricken southern hemisphere country was originally a rich and peaceful place. More than a decade ago, because the then president was suspected of election fraud, the whole country was in an uproar. At first, the opposition party organized a demonstration. As a result, the emotional demonstrators quickly clashed with the military and police who came to play, which triggered more riots after the bloodshed. Within a few months, local armed forces under various flags appeared one after another, and the civil war intensified.

Such things are the same as those learned in middle school history textbooks, except that the civil war lasted for ten years. Stephanie sighed, turned off the TV and stood at the window looking at the street outside. It's power outage time, street lamps go out one by one, and there are few pedestrians on the empty long street. In less than half an hour, it will be as dead as a desert.

She sighed. Tom said that he would come back soon, but this seems to be empty talk again. It's just that she is used to it. Who can she trust in this day and age? Only little Annie can be trusted. But even Annie doesn't know how long she can trust. When Anne grows up, her breasts swell like buds, and you can't believe it. In fact, let alone someone, that is, the current government, how much credibility is left? When General Diosi Lu was a colonel, his slogan was "All rights belong to the general public", and the words "benefit the people" were louder than anyone else. But just a few years after he seized power, those words, like notices in the rain, have gradually disappeared.

Stephanie couldn't help laughing bitterly. She drew the curtains and took out a candle from the drawer to light it. The candle is beating, but the room is obviously getting cold. In more than two months, I'm afraid I will lose the title of "people".

The war that lasted for ten years left the country riddled with holes, but the invention of artificial organs kept the death rate at a relatively low level. However, even the most advanced artificial organs, which embody the highest level of modern medical care, can't be compared with real human organs, so the sale of organs is repeatedly banned on the black market, and the application of artificial organs is extremely rampant. The promulgation of Order No.3 is said to be an expert's opinion. There are too many people in China who receive benefits-because there are more than 20% artificial organs in the body, and they basically lose their ability to work. According to the old law, these people can get relief money. Since the establishment of General Diosi Lu's government, it has been plagued by this increasing expenditure. Experts lost no time in pointing out that it is this law that encourages the black market trade of organs and makes the sale of organs a profitable business. Therefore, it is necessary to thoroughly clean up the population of the whole country and put an end to this abuse. Except those who get honor chips for their work, more than 60% of other body parts will be deprived of their citizenship, so that these unruly people can no longer take advantage of the law. On the one hand, they sell organs and promote illegal black market transactions, on the other hand, they get something for nothing and enjoy relief subsidies. This proposal was immediately endorsed by General Diosi Lu, who suffered from excessive state expenditure, and was put into practice with high efficiency.

Looking at the candlelight, Stephanie climbed a bitter smile on her mouth.

Suddenly the doorbell rang and Stephanie walked to the door. A man in a coat is reflected in the visible doorbell.

It is Tom who has come back. She had been waiting, but when she really saw Tom's figure, she couldn't help but hesitate.

"Open the door quickly," Tom stomped downstairs. "It's cold outside."

She opened the door, there was a "bang" of footsteps in the corridor, and Tom appeared at the door. He didn't come in, so he took out a big paper box from his pocket, praised Stephanie and said with a smile, "Stephanie, what do you think I brought?" This is a birthday present for Anne. "

This is a big Barbie doll, beautifully packaged, but Stephanie suddenly stopped breathing. The cost of this expensive toy is almost equivalent to the cost of her family for several weeks! This idea aroused her anger again and again. Stephanie could hardly control herself. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down so as not to be rude.

"This doll is really expensive. Little Annie will definitely like it. " He closed the door, took off his coat and hung it on the back of the chair, looking at the toys in his hand over and over again. In the box, Barbie is looking at him through a layer of cellophane, with a sweet smile. After a pause, Stephanie took the cup out of the cupboard and said quietly, "Yes, she will like it."

"What's the matter? You don't seem too happy. "

She snorted: "What will you do tomorrow if you spend money like this?"

He still looked at the doll with a smile: "You and Little Annie only have a birthday once a year. Let's talk about it tomorrow. "

He remembers his birthday! Stephanie is taking out the bottle, which makes her feel dizzy. She poured half a glass of wine and said, "Yes, it will be ready tomorrow."

Tom saw the bottle in her hand, put Barbie aside and said happily, "Ha, you also prepared whiskey. That sweet potato wine is terrible. " Stephanie, don't think so much. Have a drink too. "

She seemed to have been pricked by a needle and said, "No, I don't. You drink it. "

He gulped down the whisky, stretched himself in his chair and said, "Stephanie, don't blame me." I haven't drunk for months to prepare a present for you, but you don't have to worry. There is still a lot of savings to maintain this month. What are you afraid of? "

More? She wants to smile bitterly. The savings are gone, but of course you can't tell him about it, or you will be beaten again.

Maybe he feels better after drinking good wine. Tom leaned back in his chair and hummed softly, "On the hillside of Maxwell,,,,,"

His voice is not very pleasant, a little hoarse. Stephanie, as if bitten by a poisonous snake, reached out and patted the table, and snapped, "Stop singing!" " "

Tom stopped humming and looked at her in surprise. "What's the matter?" Stephanie realized her gaffe and said, "Nothing. Come, have another drink. "

He thought about it, raised his glass and said, "Well, have another drink. This wine is too strong, and I feel a little dizzy. Hey hey. That song, "Annie. Lori, have you forgotten? "

On the hillside of Maxwell,

The morning dew is flowing.

Annie lives there. Lori.

She gave me a sincere promise.

She gave me a sincere promise,

I will never forget it.

She's all I have, Annie. Lori,

I am willing to give up everything for her.

How could I forget? This Scottish folk song is her favorite song. It was her17th birthday. In the Woods, Tom shyly took out a very beautiful music box. It was this song that came out of the music box, and it was in the singing that she gave Tom her first kiss.

Thinking of the music box, Stephanie felt her eyes moist again, and the tears that she had not seen for a long time seemed to flow out again. To cover it up, she lowered her head, filled the glass in front of Tom with wine and said, "I forgot."

Tom didn't say anything more. He put the wine to his mouth and suddenly put it down when he was about to drink it. He said, "Actually, Stephanie, I have a present for you." He paused and sighed, "I have nothing to give you,,,,"

Maybe a bottle of bar. She thought about it in disgust and interrupted him. "Give it to me tomorrow. Tomorrow is my birthday. "

"Yes, yes." He gulped down the wine again, put down his glass and burped. He said with a little confusion, "Stephanie, I thought about it. I have been really bad to you all these years. "

The rare warmth of this grumpy man seemed to touch the softest part of her heart, and Stephanie almost shed tears. She took a long breath and said, "What are you talking about? It has only been a few years. "

"Yes," he could hardly open his eyes. "Actually,,,,,"

Before he could say anything "actually", he threw himself on the table and the cup jumped with a bang.