Mother Of Humanity - 1
#1 of Mother Of Humanity
An Idea I came up with a while back
Terry scanned down the vacancies, looking for something, anything that she might be qualified enough to do that would earn enough to keep not just her, but also Melanie and Timmy fed and clothed. Unfortunately, all the jobs that quoted pay at the levels she was after were all beyond her skill sets. All but one, and that one she nearly skipped over for other reasons. However, ten minutes later she returned to it, and read it again.
Save Humanity, Become A Mother
Are you struggling to make ends meet? Or just on the look out for a bit more money? If you are female between the ages of 15 and 33 this could be for you. For more information screen us.
Even looking again, Terry was inclined to dismiss the offer. Get paid to become a human rabbit? No thanks.
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"Aw, stew for breakfast again ," Timmy whined, "when are we going to have something different?"
"When we can afford it," Terry replied with a sigh.
"Haven't you found a proper job yet sis'," Melanie asked.
"No I haven't," Terry replied, "do you know how hard it is to find a job that pays well when you have no qualifications and no experience?"
"Well, not really," Melanie asked.
"Then shut up," Terry replied, "you know damn well we can only eat even this well because of yours and Timmy's subsidies, so you'd better find a job yourself in three months, or we might have to skip dinners."
"What," Melanie exclaimed, "why?"
"Childhood benefit stops at twelve, as you well know," Terry replied, "so it's my turn to ask, have you found yourself a job yet?" She saw her sister's expression as horrified realisation dawned. Knowing full well what was about to come she nearly leapt out of her chair, and embraced her, just as her tears started to flow, "it's okay, it's okay, everything's going to be okay, we're all going to make it."
"But I don't *sob* don't want to get a job *sob* cleaning toilets," Melanie cried, "I wan't *sob* I want to get a good job."
"I want that too," Terry said, "but it's just not an option right now."
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Terry looked over the 'Save Humanity' ad again. She still didn't like the idea of it, but then, it wasn't about her was it, it was about Melanie and Timmy, doing what she could now so that they wouldn't spend the rest of their lives cleaning toilets, or worse. Compared to that, what was a bit of inconvenience? Sighing in submission, she opened the screen.
Terry was half expecting and over-the-top cheery introduction, but instead a screen showed a calm young woman, or more probably an android who said, "good morning, I see you're interesting in our Save Humanity initiative."
"Well, sort of," Terry said, "but I want to know a bit more information first."
"Certainly," the probably android said, "would you like to have a conversation now, or would to prefer to come into the centre?"
"Where is the centre," Terry asked.
"Here," the android said, and was suddenly replaced by a 3D map, with a glowing beacon.
Hm, not too far, about thirty five minutes walk. Quicker by pod of course, that would take less than ten minutes, but she tried to avoid pods, they cost more than she was willing to spend. Of course, it was her day off, but what the hell, it would get her out of the region, which was more than what she normally did on her all-too-rare days off, "I'll come in."
"Very well," the android said, "we look forward to seeing you."
Right, well, that was that. Getting off her bed and grabbing her few travelling possessions, Terry called out, "Melanie, Timmy, I'm going out."
"Can we come with you," Melanie replied.
"'Fraid not," Terry replied, "this is a maybe job interview."
"Oh, right," Melanie sounded a bit crestfallen, but then perked up, "I hope you get it."
"We'll see," Terry replied, "see ya."
"Goodbye," Melanie responded.
======
"Good morning the android said, looking up. "and you are?" She could tell it was an android, it's face was too perfect to be really human.
"Theresa Carson," Terry replied, "I screened earlier today."
The android looked blank for a fraction of a second then said, "ah yes, I recall." there was a momentary pause, then it said, "what information would you like?"
"Well for starters, how much will I earn from this," Terry asked, "only I've got a younger sister who's going to lose her subsidy in a few months, and I want to be able to support her and myself so she can continue her education."
"And also a younger brother, Timothy," the android said.
"Well, yes, but he's going to be getting subsidies for a few years yet," Terry replied, "so I'm not so worried on that score."
"Understood," the android said, "is there anything else you would like to know?"
"Plenty," Terry said, "but most of it's of a more, personal nature, if you get my meaning."
"Of course," the android said, then in a bit of humanisation that Terry would have congratulated her designers on if she knew who they were, said, "doctor Johnson has a free period coming up in half an hour, would you like a talk with him?"
"Yes please," Terry replied.
"Excuse me a moment," the android said. Terry waited, she knew it was more efficient for the android to use another body rather than the screen, but it could be a bit, unnerving at times. Half a minute later, the android reanimated and said, "doctor Johnson will see you in twenty-seven minutes."
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"Ah, miss Carson, come in," doctor Johnson said, as Terry opened the door, "please, take a seat." When she was sitting, he asked, "so, what got you interested in our program?"
"Money," Terry replied, "my sister Melanie is just a couple of months off losing her subsidy, and, and she hasn't got the grades to do more than scut-work jobs, which I sort of want to avoid, she deserves better."
"I know," doctor Johnson replied. When Terry looked at him, surprised, he explained, "yes, I went through your files, you're so young I thought it was necessary to take an interest to ensure that you weren't making the wrong choice."
"And am I making the wrong choice," Terry asked.
Doctor Johnson wrung his hands, "I'd like to say yes, a teenager such as yourself shouldn't have to put herself through this, but unfortunately situations like yours are all too common these days." He paused a moment, then said, "and I have to say, congratulations on being such a good parent to your siblings, they're very lucky."
"Thanks, I think," Terry replied.
Doctor Johnson nodded, then sighed, "now normally it would be enough to just give you one baby, but your work at Salmin's is just not a job I'm comfortable with you doing after your second trimester."
"So what," Terry asked, "I quit that job and end up with twins?"
"I assume you want young Melanie to continue school," doctor Johnson asked, dodging the question.
"Well yes, of course," Terry asked, "why?"
"The childhood subsidy is not just a direct payout," doctor Johnson replied, "after the age of twelve, you have to pay for it, sometimes through the teeth."
"So, triplets then," Terry asked.
"At least." doctor Johnson replied, "another complication is that I'm not terribly keen on where you live either, it can get a bit, insalubrious at times."
"So you want me to move closer to the centre," Terry asked.
"Preferably, yes," doctor Johnson replied, "although again-"
"More babies," Terry asked, then when doctor Johnson nodded, sighed and asked, "how many?"
"Quintuplets to be safe." doctor Johnson replied.
"Quints," Terry asked, "is that safe, at my age?"
"Yes it is," doctor Johnson replied, "though not comfortable, especially not as you'll have to carry them to a full, forty-week term instead of the usual twenty-eight or twenty-nine weeks that is the usual duration."
Terry looked down at her flat stomach, and held her hands out in front of her trying to imagine how big she'd get, but found it difficult, "how big...?"
"Here's a simulation," doctor Johnson said, pulling out a mobile holoprojector and turning it on.
Terry gasped, with that many babies... "I'd be a fucking whale."
"Not quite," doctor Johnson said, "but it would be a significant burden."
Terry stared at the model for a few more moments, before saying, "I-I need to think about this."
"I'm glad to hear that," doctor Johnson replied.