Episode 5

It is January 2017, the 45th President has taken office…continued from Episode 4…

The bus pulled in at the temporary stop. The door swooshed open but nobody moved, unsure what the process was.

The ICE agent standing beside and a step behind Basit tapped him on the shoulder.

“This is where you introduce yourself and brief your Circle.”

“Oh. Yeah.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, by now you know what is happening…”

…The Executive Order, Protective Camps, Social Circles, and thus his role as Moderator of this Social Circle …

“Any questions?” Basit was already starting to ease into his role.

Buddy raised his hand.

“Where are we?” It was mentioned that we were going to a train station”

Even as he said it, something someone had said in Facebook not seven months ago flashed through his mind. At the time he had winced at how hokey it sounded. Right now, the irony that it was he asking about trains almost made him gag: “We won’t get into the cattle cars voluntarily!” the now-forgotten commenter had said.

“We are at SAP Center, as you can see. This is a Gathering Center. We will pull everyone together here. Once our Social Circle is together, families can gather and also decide what they want to do with minor children. As you might remember, it is up to you whether your American children stay with yo,u or you prefer and are able to make arrangements for them otherwise.”

“American?” The tone was dripping with acid. The voice was Himro’s.

“Yes. As you know, The Order covers citizens born in the specified countries.”

There were a couple of groans around the bus. If Basit or the ICE agents understood the nature of the discontent, they tried not to show it.

Himro spoke again.

“So where and when do we meet our families?

The scene was one out of a disaster movie. The floor of the arena was filled with neat rows of what a hospital would call semi-private spaces.

The first busload with the members of Basit’s Social Circle filed in behind him. Himro’s impatience was obvious. His eyes darted around searching faces, searching spaces. Looking and down the aisles. He listened closely, tuning in and out of conversations.

The rows upon rows of spaces were starting to be filled. They were a cross between an office cubicle, a dorm room, and a hospital room and fitted out mostly with materials that seemed like they came from an office supplies company. Some spaces had beds, or, more accurately, cots. These were usually the ones with families.

The diversity of those at the Gathering Point was, as expected. Mostly a variety of brown skin tones. But there were significant groups, families that were black, yellow, and even white. The hubbub of voices had an uncertain, questioning vibe to it. You didn’t need to understand the babel of languages to understand that.

…continued in Episode 6…