A lone figure sat, back against a tree clasping one knee, on a crisp fall night, in front of a cosy,

crackling fire, gazing at the millions of enchanting stars shining in the frosty, clear, dark sky. As the

gentle breeze played with her long, ink black hair, Fallon reflected on all that had happened. Her mind

wandered to the morning a week before, a morning that she would never forget, a morning that

changed her life forever...

*****

Fallon awoke early Saturday morning with an un-easy feeling in her stomach. She leaped out of

bed and, with her night clothes still on, raced pell-mell down the solid wooden stairs into the kitchen

where she expected to find her mother starting a fire in the wood burning stove with little children

dancing around her and pulling on her skirt. Only moments after her eyes swept the vacant and frigid

interior she was at her brothers bedside shaking him a bit too harshly. “Phillip, PHILLIP!” she loudly whispered. Her thoughts swirled in her head like leaves in a whirlpool, as Phillip struggled to wake up

enough to listen to his dear sister. After hearing the ominous news, half asleep Phillip leaped out of bed

to change, and ran smack into the wall. Fallon would have thought this rare, sidesplitting event

priceless under better circumstances. As it was she examined the moonless sky through the window as her

brother dressed in the closet. As Fallon stood, counting the seconds, a thought suddenly occurred to

her. “Phillip, does this have anything to do with that meeting that kept you, mother, and father so late

last night?” she demanded suddenly. “Maybe.” Phillip replayed his face etched in worry. “Look Phillip,

I am not a little girl anymore, I need to know whats going on.” Fallon said softly, her eyes locked with

his.

*****

Phillip thoughtfully gazed at his sister. It was true she was not a little girl any more. The person

who stood before him was a beautiful and mature seventeen year old young lady. She deserves to know,

he decided. “Fallon, we don't have much time because we need to leave so this has to be brief,” he said

as he began his explanation. “ mother and father have as you know, been using our house to feed,

clothe, care for, and heal the neglected and needy. Not to mention all the babies they have saved from

the hospice. And you know that our family has always been looked down upon because of it.” He

continued. “Yes and I have never understood why.” Fallon quietly commented. “It is because they see

the poor class as “the dangerous class,” and see them as lazy, immoral, and sinful people who are

usually vagabonds, beggars, criminals, or prostitutes. Which is rarely the case, also they believe that

children of the poor inherit their parents’ criminal tendencies, so they don't want to take them in when

they are abandoned.” “This is heart wrenching, but what does this have to do with everyone

disappearing this morning?” Fallon inquired, glancing nervously at her beautiful golden wrist watch

which was a gift from her mother.” “ I'm getting there if you would only stop interrupting and listen!”

Phillip joked, trying in vain to lighten the mood. “Anyway last night, and the other nights we went to

meetings, they warned mother and father to stop, they said that 'in order for evolution to progress these less fit lower classes should die out and only the fittest should carry on.' ” He paused, took a deep

breath, and seeing the horrified look on his sister's face, put an arm around her as he continued. “Last

night father could take it no longer and said that 'God created all men equal.' The leader jumped up,

pointed a finger at us, and bellowed, face lived with anger, 'THIS IS THE LAST STRAW! IF YOU

CONTINUE WITH THESE OUTRAGES ACTIONS, YOU WILL deeply REGRET IT.'” “And that

is all I know.” Phillip ended, breathless.

*****

After hearing the news Fallon, realizing she was still in her night clothes, raced to her room, and

pulled on her favorite outfit, a white blouse, checkered skirt and black shawl. Realizing the rich men

would soon be back to take her and Phillip to who knows where, she gazed about her dear room for

possibly the last time, and put on her most prized possession, a dainty golden locket, stuck a box of

matches in her pocket, and grabbed her diary and a pencil, throwing them in a small sachet with her

pocket knife. She than hasted down the stair to pack some food for the trip and found Phillip looking

out the window instead of helping her prepare for their flight. Although he tried to hide it, the look on

his face told Fallon he wanted to go after their beloved parents before it was too late. She stood for a

moment lost in thought, then holding back sobs she whispered , “You need to go. I... I... I love you

more than words can describe, and... and I'm so proud of you.

*****