Julia

by Sandra Newman

they’d had a cow that gave more milk than any other, but liked to kick the bucket over just as it was full. Smith was like that frustrating cow.

all there was to do there was to watch the telescreen. Indeed, it was impossible not to, as the volume was stuck on high. In the first days, Julia was mesmerized by the simple stories and triumphant music without taking much of it in, but as her health recovered, imperceptibly she came to feel real outrage at the child molesters, gangs, and terrorists featured in the crime news and to fret about the fortunes of the ongoing war.

Rhythmic Jerks.

Obviously a great band name

“That’s the horrid thing. One has no choice, and yet one must live through it exactly as if one had.”