“If you die young, you never lived.” The chorus of the village chanted over-and-over. The monotone voices engulfing the acoustics of the room.

Eyes always shift around during this part. Luanne’s daughter for instance, never made it past 10. Gossip of her depressing fate is never forgotten.

Carl felt the pressure and expectations from the town. Vote this, vote that, sign this, sign that. Each year the Elders believe there is a “one.” One what? Why one?

The Elders consist of those who were once “The One.” But it had to of started somewhere, right?

“Always with the questions.” Bryan, an Elder, nodded. “This is why you where chosen. Why you must lead now.”

“I never wanted this!” Carl cried.

“Ah, but again another reason,” Bryan stated.

Every year the Elders choose a leader, they make a grand thing of it. A ceremony and honor of some new 12-year-old. All the parents pray it will be their child. Their child to rule the land and make the decisions for the harvest, and more importantly the selection.

The selection consist of a continual court proceeding. All the heavy crimes committed throughout the year are processed on the same day. Murder, adultery, rape and large thefts. One right after the other. Guilty or not guilty? This continues until all the cases have come to a verdict.

The Elders start every town meeting with a history lesson. They discuss how before, crime was overflowing the village. They report how since the dawn of the selection, crime continues to decrease.

It was of the belief that a child’s innocence and initial response to situations was more pure than that of a grown adult. “Adults can rationalize their way out of anything. A child’s innocence leads the way towards a righteous path.” Some sort of excuse like that. Carl couldn’t remember all the words. He just knew that once he reached the age of 13, he would no longer be viewed as a child and his opinions would no longer matter.

Carl’s selection date had finally arrived. He felt sick to his stomach as he approached his stand. Little do the citizens understand how influenced his decisions are by the Elders. He continuously told himself that when he turns 60 and joins the Elders, he will make sure to never be as pushy.

The first hearing went by fast. A man and a woman were caught shortly after the start of the new year in an affair. Both spouses had proof and eye witnesses.

Carl didn’t really understand the uproar from the crowd. As he looked to his Elders for council though and saw the multiple heads nodding, Carl just went along with it. “Guilty.” He managed to force out.

The woman screamed as she was escorted away but the man remained silent. Where do they go now? Carl didn’t know, but before he could ask, another man was brought in.

Evidently, the town went 3 more months without any crime. 3 months of harmony, with only the couple in jail, until this man standing before him. Murder. Carl grew nervous as the man stepped forward. Murder is serious. Someone had to of died then right? Carl had never known anyone that died before.

He heard the story of what happened. The victim died after hitting the bottom of a well. The man claimed it was an accident while at work. Some how another man died in the end though.

Death, okay that’s bad. “Guilty.” He stated and the bystanders cheered in response.

Next came a small woman. The crowd screamed, “Thief!”

This time was different though. They talked and talked about how she stole food multiple times. The women insisted it was for her children though and cried the entire time she stood there.

Carl sat back to think this one through. Hungry children? And she admits to it.

The council and the crowd grew impatient. Screaming for his decision and still calling her names. Bryan huffed out, “kill her already boy!”

Kill? Carl didn’t understand. She was to die?

And the crowd cheered for it. But that didn’t seem right either.

None of it made sense anymore: The joy they all seemed to have to kill the starving woman. The hate in the councils eyes as they grew tired of his delay.

And as he looked to the left and he looked to the right, he could no longer tell who was wrong and who was right.