At the grocery store, Amber went through the normal routines of stocking shelves and cleaning. She had her palm screen with her as always, so in between tasks she could take a quick look at Darren’s data from the Line. It was actually quite fascinating to see what information about him was on the Line.
There was stuff about him from long before they were married. Restaurants frequented, grocery store purchases, liquor buys, clothes charges; it was all in summary form over various time periods. Quantity and price totals. After a while of searching, it began to get pretty boring, though.
So this is what’s on the Line, huh? Amber thought. Pretty mundane shit. I don’t get what all the hype is about.
Later on while she was on lunch break, Amber was able to bring up the data again, this time on larger air projection so she could scroll through a lot more data quicker. Then she spotted something. The name, Amy. And more, Amy, Amy, Amy. What the heck? she thought.
Amber was stunned. “Who is this Amy bi-otch?” she said. A coworker in the lunch room looked up at Amber. “Sorry, just reading a funny caption,” Amber lied. Scrolling through the data, she found some more disturbing information.
DARREN CROSS/AMY FORTIN ENGAGEMENT SEPT 18
DARREN CROSS/AMY FORTIN MARRIAGE TO FREEDOM
CLASS ADVANCE
DARREN CROSS/AMY FORTIN BABY CLASS ADVANCE
DARREN CROSS/AMY FORTIN BABY CLASS ADVANCE
AMY FORTIN RETURN TO COMMUNE
The Social Identity Number was right there. It was Darren, her husband. She was fuming mad now. He had never mentioned that he was married before. That was only about four years earlier. And he and this Amy had some babies together? What the hell? Immediately she called Darren at work.
“What the hell, Darren? You said the Line data about you was going to be boring. It was anything but that.”
“What are you talking about? What did you find?” Darren asked, sounding a little nervous.
“Amy, Amy, Amy. That’s what I found. You and some Amy Fortin. Who the fuck is that bi-otch and why didn’t you tell me you were married before. And you gave babies away?”
“Hold on, Amber. It’s not what you think.”
“How can you say that, Darren? Your SIN is right there so I know it’s you. You and this little Amy chick. And you got her from a labor commune? I’ve heard all about the Marriage to Freedom program and why guys do that. I thought I knew you better.”
It’s true that the Marriage to Freedom program, available to the A and B class, allowed a form of bidding on pretty woman posted on the Line “for sale” for a hefty sum of money. It was a very profitable and popular initiative of the labor communes. The reputation of the program, however, was that it was just a rich, ugly, loser guy’s way of buying a slave and making her his whore. It was not known as a good way to find a wife for life.
Amber was insulted on two levels. Not being told about a former marriage. And that marriage being in the form of a Marriage to Freedom woman.
“So, you don’t deny it?” Amber challenged.
“But Amber, I can explain. Please let…”
“No, Darren. I’m not sure there’s anything you could say right now that would make me feel any better.”