The Neighbor
Constantinople - March 14
Manfred didn’t mind Cheryl like Adrian and Arnold did. She had shown up a couple weeks ago to help with the neighborhood. It was nice of the city to send someone. They never cared to do anything before. Cheryl was a cheerful old woman who always wore a modest black dress and old-fashioned bonnet, which made her look like a nun. Officially, her job was to be a community organizer, which was great, because the home owners' association was terrible (good thing he hadn't seen them since she showed up). When he went out to work, he always saw Cheryl helping out neighbors in some way. In the morning he would see her mowing lawns and fixing broken sprinklers with more gusto than any of the kids usually paid to do that. On afternoons, she could be seen picking up garbage and cleaning the street. Sometimes, Manfred saw her installing solar panels on rooftops and setting up compost piles on lawns. She was really helpful, and even better, she always smiled through rain or shine. One time she even arrested a would-be robber all by himself, personally beating the man's face in before the Home Guardians arrived.
"You know, something feels off about Cheryl," Adrian said one day at their usual lunch meetup at Adrian's house.
"What do you mean?" Manfred said.
"Don't you feel a little suspicious?" Adrian said.
"No?" Manfred said. "Why would I? She's been a great help so far."
"It's a little weird how she's always around," Adrian said.
"What do you mean?" Manfred said. "I think it's great she's so dedicated to her job. If only we had someone like her sooner."
"That's what I'm saying, she's
too dedicated to her job," Adrian said, "I've been hearing rumors about her."
"You know rumors are just that, rumors," Manfred said.
"Have you heard from Arnold lately?" Adrian said.
"No?" Manfred said. "Haven't seen him since last week."
"I heard he was listening to Normaal, like he usually does," Adrian said, "Cheryl showed up and said Normaal was blasphemous. They had a huge row. That was the last I heard from him."
"Surely he's just spending some private time with his family," Manfred said.
Adrian lowered his voice. "What if he isn't? What if Cheryl..."
"Really, Adrian?" Manfred said. "You seriously believe those conspiracy theories? You're so jealous of Cheryl's success that you think she disappeared him?"
"Hey, it's a possibility," Adrian said.
"No, no, no, they could never do that to Arnold," Manfred said, "He's always obeyed the law, like the rest of us. They can't just lock him up for listening to Normaal. We'll see him again when this is all over. We'll have a beer over steak and laugh over how foolish and crazy we were, just like old times."
"Are you sure about that?" Adrian said.
"Positive," Manfred said.
But Manfred never saw Adrian again after that conversation. Come to think of it, he ran into Cheryl an hour later, installing a device to catch and purify rainwater.
April 3
"The first book of Corinthians declares a woman's hair to be a glory upon her," Bysandros said on the TV, "To grow out her hair and to cover it shows a reverence for the Lord. As such, His Imperial Majesty has decreed that all women are to grow out their hair to respectable lengths and wear coverings to show their respect for the Heavenly Father."
An Orthodox hymn played, and the broadcast ended.
"What the frak?" Joan said.
"Eh, not the craziest thing the Kaiser has said," Manfred said.
"Is he for real?" Joan said. "What kind of decree is that?"
"Well, it's a decree," Manfred said.
"You're not seriously saying I should go along with it?" Joan said.
"No, you don't have to," Manfred said, "It's not a big deal. How can they possibly enforce the law? It's just hair, for crying out loud."
"Yeah," Joan said, "We follow the law. We should be fine."
May 16
Manfred and Joan walked into the police station.
"Yes?" the receptionist said.
"Ma'am, we were asked to meet here at this time," Manfred said, "Something about needing our testimony regarding that attempted robbery two months ago?"
"Oh, yes," the receptionist said, "This way."
She led Manfred and Joan into a meeting room.
"Please make yourselves seated," she said, "We'll be right with you."
She left the room. A couple minutes later, two Home Guardians—what they had replaced the cops with—a judge, and Cheryl walked in and took their seats.
"This trial is now in session," the judge said, "We'll have order, please."
He banged his gavel.
"Wait, what?" Manfred said. "Trial? What is this?"
"Auntie Cheryl for the state?" the judge said.
"Yes, Your Honor," Cheryl said, "The accused stand charged with blasphemy and heresy, in violation of First Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verses 2 to 6. By His Word."
Cheryl handed a tape recorder to the judge, who played it back.
"No, you don't have to," Manfred's voice said, "It's not a big deal. How can they possibly enforce the law? It's just hair, for crying out loud."
"And do you swear by His name that the report you have submitted is the truth entirely?" the judge said.
"Yes, I do so swear," Cheryl said.
"In the name of God and His servants on Earth, the accused are hereby found guilty of heresy." The judge banged his gavel. “You are hereby sentenced to the Common Mercy of the State. Sentences will be carried out immediately."
“Heresy?!" Joan said.
One of the Home Guardians punched Joan in the face. He then fist-bumped his colleague.
"There has to be a mistake," Manfred said, "I'm innocent! I've always followed the law, I've never committed crimes, I've paid my taxes, everything's in order, so I’ve done nothing wrong!”
"Take them away," the judge said.
The Home Guardians grabbed Manfred and Joan and dragged them away.
---
They were stuffed in the back of a van and driven back to the neighborhood, where they stopped at a nearby park. A bunch of local families had gathered, some with children. Manfred recognized most of them as his neighbors. What were they doing here?
The Home Guardians pulled Manfred and Joan out of the car and led them to where a crane had been set up. Joan hurled profanities at them and struggled, only to be punched in the face again. One Home Guardian put a muzzle on Joan.
"Should've muzzled this b*tch before we put it down," he joked.
The others laughed. They reached the crane, and Manfred saw a noose had been attached to the hook. The Home Guardians put the noose around Joan's neck. One casually signaled a circle with his hand, and the crane operator in a matter of fact way duly raised the hook, hanging her. Her feet dangled in the air for several seconds before going completely limp.
"No!" Manfred said. "Joan!"
Cheryl appeared before the crowd, to much applause.
"Good morning," she said.
"Good morning, Shepherd Cheryl!" the children sang.
"I am sure we are all aware of the unfortunate circumstances that bring us together on this beautiful morning, when I am certain we would all rather be doing something else," Cheryl said, "But duty is a hard taskmistress, and it is in the name of duty that we are here today. This man has been convicted of rape."
Everyone gasped.
"Wait what?!" Manfred said. "No! That's not true!"
The Home Guardians punched him in the face, and he coughed up blood.
"The guilty don't deserve the luxury of defending themselves!" one said.
"As you know, the penalty for rape is death," Cheryl said, "This disgusting creature has given us no choice. Am I correct, kids?"
"Yes, Shepherd Cheryl!" the children said.
"But that is not the worst of it," Cheryl said, "Now, you know that I do my very best to protect you. The world can be quite an ugly place. But we cannot wish that ugliness away. We cannot hide from that ugliness. This man raped a child. And the little boy died."
"No, that's not true!" Manfred said. "I did no such thing! This is a lie!"
But everyone gasped loudly.
"Quiet, please," Cheryl said, "Now, children, you may come forward and form a circle. You all know the rules from Sunday school. When I blow the whistle, what you do is up to you, for the next five minutes. Josh will lead the way."
"Wait, Josh?" Manfred said.
He barely had time to recognize Josh among the crowd before Cheryl, still smiling, blew the whistle, and the children charged forward. Josh led the mob to surround Manfred, and they set upon him, kicking and punching and biting and smashing with rocks from a wheelbarrow Cheryl had brought. The last thing Manfred saw was Josh's usual smug look...and Cheryl's constant glass smile. He realized exactly why Arnold and Adrian so feared her. But it was too late.
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the French, and I did not speak out, because I was not French.
Then they came for the Muslims, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Muslim.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
June 1
Cheryl led the young couple through the house formerly belonging to Manfred and Joan. Their possessions and furniture were still placed where they left them, but all pictures and portraits of them had been removed. All references to their names had been scrubbed as well.
“Properly furnished, everything comes with the house, no questions asked,” Cheryl said, “It’s just waiting for the right owners.”
“It’s perfect,” the wife said, “The lighting is beautiful.”
“Although I think we’ll just sell everything anyways,” the husband said, “The decor isn’t really our taste, and we could use the money. The state would pay a good rate for this furniture.”
“I completely understand,” Cheryl said.
“If I may ask, who used to live here?” the wife said.
Cheryl turned to them and smiled as she usually did. “May I remind you, I said this offer comes with
no questions asked?”
“Right, right,” the husband said, “Well, we do like the place. We’ll take it.”
“Great!” Cheryl said, smiling wider. “I’ll email you the paperwork later today.”
---
If I don’t point out any historical/modern day example, then it probably came from The Handmaid’s Tale (and thus from a real life example I no longer have the time to fully research). Cheryl is a one-off character—based on both Aunt Lydia, the aunts in general, and the Eyes as well—I have no plans on bringing back at the moment.
