Weapons

Chapter 5

It's been 6 days since we've seen Dr. Morbien and 5 days since Dr. Isaac has been in the room. Don and I have been contemplating the reasons they haven't come to visit us. We haven't received letters from our mother and father. I look over at Don sitting on his bed. His hair looks darker than usual because he got out of the bath.

We haven't seen sunlight sense we've moved here. Don and I have both concluded that when the room lights turn off, it means it's evening. When the lights come on, it means it's dawn. I hear a knock on the door. “Breakfast is here,” I say to Don as I braid my hair.

Miss. Katherine pushes a cart through the doorway. She's the only person we've seen bring food to us. “Good morning Miss. Katherine” Don says. “Great morning, Mr. Don,” she replies as she parks the wagon in front of the dinner table. I finish braiding my haircut and tie the end.

Don strides over to the supper table to greet Miss. Katherine. She lifts a metal cover from a platter to reveal scrambled eggs, toast, a small bowl of jelly, and bacon. I walk over to the table as she moves our plates and food from the cart to the dinner table. “When are they going to let you retire” Don asks her. Miss. Katherine is a kind older lady that has brought all 3 of our meals since the day we've arrived.

“I'm not ready to depart yet, sweetie. I love seeing how happy you and the other children get when I bring you food,” Miss. Katherine replies. “Although I only play a small part in this program, it's worth the smile I see on your face every morning,” Miss. Katherine continues as I sit down at the table. She finishes putting our silverware next to our plates. “You're our favorite person here,” I say to her as I look into her beautiful green eyes.

“I appreciate that, sweetheart,” she responds as she moves her cart toward the door. “You children eat plenty now. I've overheard you both have a big day today,” she adds as she opens our bedroom door. “What do you mean” Don asks with a mouth full? He's already started eating a slice of toast. “I've heard you're going to get to leave the chamber” she replies with a smile.

“That's great news,” Don responds. His face lights the chamber up. She smiles as she walks out of the room, catching her long gray gown in the exit. The door closes and Don serves himself eggs and pork on his plate. I use the wooden fork to put 2 slices of toast on my plate.

I eat a few portions of bacon and place some eggs on my plate. Don drinks half his glass of milk and continues shoveling bacon into his mouth. “Where do you think they're going to have us” I ask Don? He swallows his food. “I wish they take us outside” he replies.

We finish eating our breakfast and clean up the table. I hope they take us outside, it's been 8 days since we've seen the sun. I miss walking to school and playing outside with Rose. Furthermore, I used to enjoy watering the garden and helping mother set the table. I wonder when we're going to go home.

Likewise, I hear a knock on the bedroom door; Dr. Isaac and Dr. Morbien walk in. “Have you eaten enough” Dr. Isaac suggests as he glances at the table. “Yes sir,” Don replies. “I understand you both are bathed and dressed. How do you feel about going to the M chamber” Dr. Morbien asks? “What's the M room” I reply.

“It's our most admired place of our investors, it gives our shareholders an excellent opportunity to observe what we do here,” Dr. Isaac says. “What does it look like?” Don responds? “You'll understand when we get there,” Dr. Morbien replies. Dr. Isaac motions me and Don through the door. Dr. Morbien follows behind us.

We watch Dr. Isaac as he accompanies us through the opening and closes the door. “Is the M chamber outside” Don asks Dr. Isaac as he leads us down the corridor. “No, we're not too far,” Dr. Isaac acknowledges. This is our first time leaving the room since we've arrived. I'm not sure what to expect or why we're leaving the room now.

Don and I have contemplated together what the purpose is for us being here. We still haven't been told why we're here. Everything we've asked, it's always been replied to with a riddle. We're supposed to know why we're here. If we don't know why we're here, we're supposed to figure it out with no help from anyone who knows why we've come here.

Don and I both have wondered if doctors Isaac and Morbien know why we're here. We want to go home; every time we've asked when we might go home, we've always been told, “You're not ready yet”. Dr. Isaac stops in front of the gray colored door and holds his card up to the small black box next to it. All the doors have that small box next to it. Dr. Isaac opens the door and motions us into the room.

“Both of you wait in here, Dr. Lancaster will be with you shortly,” Dr. Morbien. They shut the door and it locks behind them. I look around the room and see our reflection on every wall. The entirety of the room is made of mirrors except the floor, ceiling, and door. There's a small wooden play table in the middle of the room.

There's a wooden rocking horse in one corner of the room. In the other corner is a pile of stuffed toys. The floor is made of tile, just like the hall and all the other rooms. I look up at the bright light in the middle of the ceiling. The mirrors make the room light up more than any other.

Don walks over to the mirror and holds one hand up to it. He touches the birthmark on his left cheek with the other hand. He's always been self-conscious about it. I've never understood why. How could I understand, I'm not the one the bears it? “What do you suppose this room is for” Don asks while still looking at himself?

“It appears it's supposed to be a play room,” I reply. “I don't think so,” Don responds as I walk to the table. “Why do you suppose we're here, then?” I ask as I sit at the table? “Don't touch the toys, don't show any interest in this room” Don says. Don walks over to the other chair at the small table.

“Why” I ask. “I think this is a test,” Don replies. “What do you mean.” “I think there are people watching us behind those walls” Don whispers as he sits down? It gets quiet and Don appears to be in deep thought.

What if there are people behind these mirrors? What if they're the investors Dr. Isaac was talking about? Are we supposed to act a certain way? What are we supposed to do in here? I try not to worry, I don't want to worry, Don.

It's been an hour since we've arrived at the “M room”. I can see Don contemplating and worrying all at once. I'm trying to be patient and calm, although I can't help but wonder if he's right. Don looks around the room as if he's heard a noise, although it's quiet. The silence has a sound of its own.

I haven't said anything, and neither has Don. We both wait for Dr. Lancaster. Don's anxiety takes hold of his face and posture. The longer we wait, the more anxious he gets. Finally, we both hear a knock on the door just before it opens.