The Selection Committee
"Next!" The head of the committee yelled. A parade of elderly citizens entered the room, heads bowed.
"Number 453071678! Step up!" He yelled again.
"Okay, tell me why you should stay alive another year." The Chairman sat back with his hands crossed over his rotund belly. He smirked at the tiny man.
"I shouldn't. I am ready to die." The little man whispered.
"Excellent! Your family will receive a check for $5000 at the time of your demise. Do you have a day in mind?"
"Today is fine." They led him away.
"Next!" This went on as one hundred people gave in or fought for their lives. There was strict criteria for keeping someone alive and no one knew it.
"Okay, done for the day and it cost us less than half a million, so a good day. Go home and have a nice long weekend." He stood, then suddenly leaned forward, grabbing his chest.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
***
The new Chairperson was female, much to the dismay of the completely male committee. Women had emotions and might save someone due to feeling sorry for them.
They were wrong. She was tougher than any two of them combined.
She also had different tactics.
"All those who want to relieve the burden of their useless bodies from their families and gift them $5000, stand to the right. Those who don't care about their families, stand to the left."
All but one moved to the right. They were narrowed down again to date of death and it was done. Now they could all focus on the one who remained.
"Step forward, Ma'am." A spry little woman walked forward and looked each of them in the eyes.
None could hold eye contact, except the Chairperson. She stared unblinkingly at the old woman.
"So, you hate your family?"
"I have no family."
"Oh! Well, you are a burden on society!"
"No, I am not."
"Bailiff! Give me her medical records!" He handed her one sheet of paper. There were yearly statements of good health from a well known physician.
"We pay for you to live and eat!"
"No, you don't."
"Of course we do! You can't work!"
"I work five days a week and pay all my own bills."
"Uh, well, you are old and we will have to pay to bury you."
"No, you won't. I have my own plot bought and paid for."
"Well... " She looked at the men and they shrugged or looked away.
"Fine! You are dismissed and you are to return next year, if you survive. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Ma'am." The old woman turned away and left the court room.
The Chairwoman went to chambers after the session and trembled until she could shake no more. She hoped she could hold up under the pressure until this new law was found illegal.
Her mother had just walked out of the courtroom saying she had no family.
She had forgotten her own mother was even alive.
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