THE MOMENT
Jeremy found it difficult to stay calm as he walked into the bright store. There was a stocky, surly-looking Municipal Enforcer browsing the snacks, and turning around would've attracted more attention. Jeremy swallowed the panic and reminded himself he hadn't done anything wrong, not that he needed to. The MEhs, as the community called them, didn't seem to need much of an excuse to haul people away, and Jeremy could remember a time when walking to the corner store didn't fill him with anxiety. The revolution was already growing, but it hadn't quite reached a tipping point yet. Any day now, people will have had enough.
Jeremy was extra uneasy as he walked past the MEh. He was already a card-carrying revolutionary, and he was sure that he'd amass several dozen new problems if he was picked up and identified. Fortunately, the Enforcement officer didn't seem to be in work mode, and ignored Jeremy.
He tried to hurry, but that only synced up his timing with the already done MEh, and Jeremy stood in line directly behind him. He only had a single drink while the Enforcer delivered a basket full of snacks. Beep after beep seemed to go on forever as the clerk scanned each treat, and bagged them all.
"$27.50," she said.
"I'm Municipal, don't I get a discount?" the MEh chuckled, but the clerk remained stone-faced and shook her head.
"I'm afraid Sharp Convenience offers no discounts, except for anything that might be on sale," she said.
"Yeah, fine," the MEh nodded and tapped his card to the terminal. It beeped, printed out a receipt, and he was on his way out of the store in seconds. Jeremy stepped forward, feeling relieved.
"$3.24," the clerk informed him after a beep.
"Oh, right, one second." Jeremy had been so distracted that he wasn't prepared. He fished for his wallet and dug out a laminated white card with a red scissor logo on it that read: 'Sharp Revolutionary'. "I'm a member of the resistance," he said. She scanned the barcode on the card and nodded after another beep. This time, she smiled.
"$1.50."