This morning was the day we began harvesting for the season, and the weather was disgusting; it was so bad, I didn’t wear my wig that day (which is a rarity). The sticky rain fell from day until night. The sun had risen but was hidden by the clouds.The humid air embraced me as I went out of our facility not too long after waking up. Tightening my overalls, I marched across the muddy fields and into our main barn.

“Good morning, Mr. Calvin,” one of my Assets’ students greeted as I walked in. She was always up before dawn and out in the fields. She was a real trooper; the best student I ever had. Not that I was allowed to pick favorites…

Rubbing my bald, black head, I replied, “It is morning; I wouldn’t say good, Marlene.” I walked over and snatched a hoe from her tool pile. “I am surprised you woke up this early with the awful weather.”

She shrugged and lopped a shovel over her shoulder. “You’ve taught me well, Mr. Calvin.” Smiling, she added, “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me; taking me under your wing.”

If only you knew what else I’ve done for you, I thought, looking at the teenage girl kindly. “You are very welcome, child,” I replied with a wink. “I wish I could’ve taught you more.”

“Well, I’m sure maybe someday you can tell us all how you saved thousands of famine in Nigeria back before the accident,” Marlene said, hopefully.  Thinking for a moment, she added, “Do you ever miss your homeland?”

With a sigh, I replied, “Sometimes. But, there is nothing we can do now that it is overrun by the Invaders. There probably isn’t much home left to go back to.”

“Such a shame,” she said, shaking her head. “I wish I could’ve seen it.” Shrugging her shoulders, she gripped her coarse fingers around the shovel and bid me farewell.

As she left, other young Assets came filing in. One by one, they greeted me, took their tool, and went out into the rain to work. Gripping my hoe, I went out to help them.

The day was long, hard, and the usual. We worked, ate, worked, and the day was over. From the front doors of our massive facility, I looked out and admired the work my hundreds of students and staff had done. They had worked so hard. It was such a shame what we had to do…

“Mr. Calvin,” a familiar voice said behind me. Turning, I saw Marlene with two young children at either side. “Is everything okay?”

I smiled and said, “Yes, children. You know, you really aren’t allowed to coome to me without permission,” I joked.

“You never stop us,” the little girl, Ava, reminded, crossing her arms.

I walked over and rubbed the girls bushy brown hair. “That is true, little one. Now, if you’ll excuse me I have my day end duties to do.” With that I slung my small pack over my shoulder and left them to do the worst part of my job.

Trudging through the muddy path, I made my way to the warehouse filled with the food from the harvest. Quietly, I made my way to the back where the biggest crates were. They were packed  to the rims with the bountiful crop. With a sigh, I pulled my electronic Keeper clipboard out of my bag and pressed the dreaded commands.

“I’m sorry, children. I know you all worked so hard today,” I mumbled aloud as I watched the crates be carried away by conveyer belts to their unknown location. Even I was unsure. My hope was that the Headmaster kept them for himself and didn’t discard them into the sea. At least they wouldn’t be wasted. Once the fifteenth crate disappeared, I put my clipboard back into its case. I let out a deep breath as if I’d been holding it for hours. “This sin…” I began, “is unforgivable.” Not wanting to think of the hundreds of starving faces of our survivors, I grabbed my bag and went back to my facility, acting as if everything was all right.