Ralph remembered the past world, as he snuck down the seemingly deserted side-street. The world that was inhabited by adults. Jack did not know what happened to the adults, all he knew was that they had disappeared, leaving him stranded in the vast jungles that are the city of Sydney. The 18 year old, was one of the oldest people who were remaining in Sydney, and one of the few that could remember the past world.
Ralph suddenly and silently stopped; he had heard a muffled sound. Everyone was an enemy. The only reason why anyone was not an enemy was in order to gang up and overpower others. Ralph once again reflected on the past world, and the rules that existed to prevent such atrocities. The rules faltered and fell so quickly with the disappearance of the adults. Jack strained his eyes to search for any potential threat, but as it was night, it was immensely dark, and the huge skyscrapers and either side of him blocked out much of the moonlight. There was barely enough light for Ralph to see his hand in front of his face, but he knew it was safer that way, to remain unseen.
As nothing happened, Ralph dismissed the sound, and continued on. He soon passed an abandoned car. Ralph knew that the people he ran into would do whatever it took to survive, and as he was old, he was often captured, as gangs of younger children wished to find out information. People wanted to know how to work cars like the beaten down one in front of him, and how to how to operate machinery. Ralph however did not know, the past world was too long ago for him to understand the complexities of the adult machinery.
As Ralph walked on past the car, a figure rushed out and tackled him to the ground. Ralph panicked, and tried to escape from underneath the figure, writhing around, but the boy would not let him go. Then as quickly as it begun the boy released him and muttered “I thought you were someone else”, before turning to leave. As Ralph was released however he quickly realised that the boy was his age, a very rare thing. Exclaiming for the boy to stop, Ralph explained to him how he was the oldest person he’d seen for a while, and the other boy, who Ralph was told his name was Jack, realised that this was true. Ralph proposed that as they were both old, and very much a target of younger children, that they stick together for a few days at least, “safety in numbers” Ralph stated. Jack agreed.
As dawn was approaching Ralph and Jack decided to find somewhere safe, in order to sleep. They found a thicket that they could sleep in and remain largely unseen from passers-by. Behind them was an eerie warehouse. The windows were smashed in, and if the wind was blowing from its direction, Ralph could smell a rotten odour emanating from the building. He didn’t want to think of what it could be. Ralph, never having being able to have a conversation with another person his age for many years, was keen to start one. He remarked “This world is disgusting”, pointing to the warehouse. Jack replied, without looking Ralph in the eye “I prefer this than the past”. Ralph, extremely surprised, exclaimed to Jack that their world was purely anarchical; with no regulations and that many barbaric acts were committed. Ralph passionately ranted about the past rules that created a civil environment. Jack just looked up at him with a bemused countenance. As he was about to respond, a loud crash erupted from the warehouse causing them both to jump simultaneously.
Cautiously the two made their way towards the warehouse. As they approached, they noticed much glass covering the floor outside the building, and they were careful to avoid it, so as not to make excess noise. As Ralph peered carefully into the cracked wall of the warehouse, he discovered simultaneously the cause of the stench, and the crash. A dead body had fallen from its precarious position from the rooftops, onto the floor; obviously the young girl had been unsuccessfully hiding from an attacking group. Jack and Ralph were no strangers to these brutalities, but it was never any easier for Ralph to witness.
“This is what I mean” said Ralph, “This is why we the past was better, there were rules to prevent this.” Jack, without looking away from the girl replied “At least we are free.”
“Free?!? You call this world free? We are stranded in the city, struggling to survive, and hiding from other people! This is not freedom!” Jack once again looked up at him with that weird look on his face and remarked “I am free to do everything that is within my power to do, as are you, anything beyond my abilities I cannot do, so this world has allowed me to reach as much freedom as possible. No rules show people for what they really are”. Ralph thought to himself that this world had distorted Jack. Jack’s definition of freedom was strange and ridiculous. Unable to bear Jack’s company any longer, Ralph walked on, leaving Jack still looking at the corpse, deep in thought.
As Ralph settled, some distance away from the thicket, and the warehouse, his thoughts kept returning to freedom. He remembered once again the past world. He remembered the kindness of his parents and many other adults he used to know, and Jack’s words seared into the memory of them. If civilisation had eroded, would Ralphs parents have reacted the same way? Would the world have declined into anarchy were it left to the adults? Ralph did not know, perhaps he would never know, however as he struggled to fall asleep, Jack’s words stayed at the forefront of Ralphs mind and he knew, although he would not admit it to himself, there was a truth to them.
Ralph suddenly and silently stopped; he had heard a muffled sound. Everyone was an enemy. The only reason why anyone was not an enemy was in order to gang up and overpower others. Ralph once again reflected on the past world, and the rules that existed to prevent such atrocities. The rules faltered and fell so quickly with the disappearance of the adults. Jack strained his eyes to search for any potential threat, but as it was night, it was immensely dark, and the huge skyscrapers and either side of him blocked out much of the moonlight. There was barely enough light for Ralph to see his hand in front of his face, but he knew it was safer that way, to remain unseen.
As nothing happened, Ralph dismissed the sound, and continued on. He soon passed an abandoned car. Ralph knew that the people he ran into would do whatever it took to survive, and as he was old, he was often captured, as gangs of younger children wished to find out information. People wanted to know how to work cars like the beaten down one in front of him, and how to how to operate machinery. Ralph however did not know, the past world was too long ago for him to understand the complexities of the adult machinery.
As Ralph walked on past the car, a figure rushed out and tackled him to the ground. Ralph panicked, and tried to escape from underneath the figure, writhing around, but the boy would not let him go. Then as quickly as it begun the boy released him and muttered “I thought you were someone else”, before turning to leave. As Ralph was released however he quickly realised that the boy was his age, a very rare thing. Exclaiming for the boy to stop, Ralph explained to him how he was the oldest person he’d seen for a while, and the other boy, who Ralph was told his name was Jack, realised that this was true. Ralph proposed that as they were both old, and very much a target of younger children, that they stick together for a few days at least, “safety in numbers” Ralph stated. Jack agreed.
As dawn was approaching Ralph and Jack decided to find somewhere safe, in order to sleep. They found a thicket that they could sleep in and remain largely unseen from passers-by. Behind them was an eerie warehouse. The windows were smashed in, and if the wind was blowing from its direction, Ralph could smell a rotten odour emanating from the building. He didn’t want to think of what it could be. Ralph, never having being able to have a conversation with another person his age for many years, was keen to start one. He remarked “This world is disgusting”, pointing to the warehouse. Jack replied, without looking Ralph in the eye “I prefer this than the past”. Ralph, extremely surprised, exclaimed to Jack that their world was purely anarchical; with no regulations and that many barbaric acts were committed. Ralph passionately ranted about the past rules that created a civil environment. Jack just looked up at him with a bemused countenance. As he was about to respond, a loud crash erupted from the warehouse causing them both to jump simultaneously.
Cautiously the two made their way towards the warehouse. As they approached, they noticed much glass covering the floor outside the building, and they were careful to avoid it, so as not to make excess noise. As Ralph peered carefully into the cracked wall of the warehouse, he discovered simultaneously the cause of the stench, and the crash. A dead body had fallen from its precarious position from the rooftops, onto the floor; obviously the young girl had been unsuccessfully hiding from an attacking group. Jack and Ralph were no strangers to these brutalities, but it was never any easier for Ralph to witness.
“This is what I mean” said Ralph, “This is why we the past was better, there were rules to prevent this.” Jack, without looking away from the girl replied “At least we are free.”
“Free?!? You call this world free? We are stranded in the city, struggling to survive, and hiding from other people! This is not freedom!” Jack once again looked up at him with that weird look on his face and remarked “I am free to do everything that is within my power to do, as are you, anything beyond my abilities I cannot do, so this world has allowed me to reach as much freedom as possible. No rules show people for what they really are”. Ralph thought to himself that this world had distorted Jack. Jack’s definition of freedom was strange and ridiculous. Unable to bear Jack’s company any longer, Ralph walked on, leaving Jack still looking at the corpse, deep in thought.
As Ralph settled, some distance away from the thicket, and the warehouse, his thoughts kept returning to freedom. He remembered once again the past world. He remembered the kindness of his parents and many other adults he used to know, and Jack’s words seared into the memory of them. If civilisation had eroded, would Ralphs parents have reacted the same way? Would the world have declined into anarchy were it left to the adults? Ralph did not know, perhaps he would never know, however as he struggled to fall asleep, Jack’s words stayed at the forefront of Ralphs mind and he knew, although he would not admit it to himself, there was a truth to them.
