I stared at the bank foreclosure. “I’m sorry, Dad.” Four generations had successfully farmed my land. Not only did I run the largest farms in the Midwest, but I also owned a legacy. Of course, I didn’t have to lose it. The government made that clear with its deceitful proposition. But could I ruin our nation to save my farm?
I picked up a handful of miniature microchips about the size of a strawberry seed.
My daughter Grace entered the kitchen, and I quickly stuffed the microchips into my pocket. She had prominent bags under her eyes, dark and sorrowful like a middle-aged man would have, not a young girl in her prime.
“Is this my last day at school?” she asked behind sniffles.
I couldn’t look at her. Tomorrow, the police would escort us off our property. If I didn’t team up with the corrupt government with their plan, that was. I put my hand in my pocket and fingered the little microchips.
“Please, Dad, tell me you found a way to save our home.” She bent forward into my face. Her long hair draped over my shoulders.
“Grace, let’s go,” my wife Samantha said as she walked into the kitchen. She looked more emotionally wrecked than Grace.
“Please, Dad, tell me you found a way to save our home.”
“He could save it if he just went into business with the government.” Samantha opened the cupboard, pulled out two glasses, then slammed the cupboard shut. I jumped. “But he has too much pride. He would rather lose his great-great-great-granddad’s land than go into business with anyone.” She banged the glasses on the cupboard.
She didn’t know what the government intended to do. She believed it was just a partnership, an expansion.
“Such pride.”
It tore me apart to see my family so unhappy.
“Fine, I’ll do it.”
Grace threw her arms around my neck. “Really, Dad, really?”
I couldn’t look at her or Samantha. They didn’t realize what they were asking of me. Selfishly, I would save our home, but I would screw the nation.
“Oh, thank you, thank you,” Samantha said as she filled the cups with orange juice. She didn’t hug me. We had way too much tension between us for that. She handed a cup to Grace and with her free hand, grabbed her keys.
“Let’s go,” she said with a much happier tone.
“Thanks again, Dad,” Grace said as she left the kitchen, blowing me a kiss.
I ripped up the foreclosure letter. I thought it would bring satisfaction, but it didn’t. I called Josh from the Government office. “Fine, I’ll sign,”
“I knew you would come to your senses.”
I hung up on him.
I pulled the microchips out of my pocket. Within the year, these would be enlaced in all my produce. I would keep a section of my farm untainted, only for Samantha, Grace, and me to eat from. And within the year, the rest of the nation would succumb to ultimate government control.
But at least I saved the farm.
___________________________________________________
Selling Out the Nation
by Stephanie Daich
