1

The sun crept over the Kirin Mountains, and Jahra could feel its warmth beaming on her mahogany-toned cheek. After a lengthy, unforgettable winter, Jahra had almost forgotten what the rays felt like against her skin. She was pleased. Almost more than the pleasantness she felt during family hour, which was surprising considering the fact that not many pleasant moments passed her by. It was just two years since the Village Court implemented Family-hour every evening after Supper-hour. It took place of the village’s first Sleeping-hour, which now lasted only eight hours long.

  A time change was very rear. For some of the younger villagers it was a first, but for Jahra, it was the second time in all her life that time has been altered. In her early adolescence years, she witnessed an extra hour being added to the village clock and for months it caused nothing but chaos in the living quarters. But this time it was different, Family-hour created stillness amongst the villagers. It was a necessity. For the first time in a long time, change was good.

  So on the last day of winter, as promised by the Village Court, the sun shined at its highest peak in the sky. Peering through her tiny, oval-shaped bedroom window, Jahra spotted a cluster of patrol officers circulating the grounds one last time in preparation for summer. Besides law enforcement, there was no one else in sight.

EARLY RISING COMMUNITY. PLEASE WAIT FOR THE MORNING BELL THEN PROCEED TO MORNING DUTIES. AND REMEMBER, TIME WAITS FOR NO MAN.

 Look at those leg prisons, Jahra thought staring at the patrol officers. Pants were not permitted amongst women in the living quarters, and Jahra was okay with that. She couldn’t understand why a man, or anyone for that matter, would want to wear something so tight and constraint.

  The hour horn blared through the village speakers and right on cue, the sound of footsteps sprinting across the hallway straight through the doorless arch of Jahra’s bedroom belonged to her tiny, five–year-old sibling Nuru.

  “No running Nu, you know the rules!” Jahra said, pointing a very stern finger at her very excited little sister.

  “Jahra! Summer is here!” Nuru squealed, climbing onto her sister’s bed.

  “Don’t you dare jump on the bed Nuru, you will hurt yourself. Contain your emotions,” Jahra said helping the little one onto the gray rug planted on the floor near the foot of the bed.