Conversion

"Hey, mom?" Mona Victoria stepped into the kitchen, the richness of spices perfuming the air while her mother prepared dinner. "Stacy just called. She's having a slumber party at her place. Can I go?"

"Who called?" Her mother half turned to peer over one shoulder, hands continuing to kneed dough for biscuits.

"Stacy. She's having a slumber party."

Mona's mother stopped her work to fix a glass of water. "Mona, honey, you know how much I fret when you go with people I don't know."

Mona lowered her eyebrows. "What are you talking about? You've known Stacy for years! And quit calling me that. It's Victoria now. Remember? I switched over when Dad was converted."

"Your father is a good man."

Mona rolled her eyes. "Was, Mom. Was."

"That's nice, dear." Her mother went back to making biscuits while her daughter stood studying her movements.

"Do I need to readjust your circuit again?" The girl walked up and unbuttoned her mother's blouse. She opened a small  metal door to reveal wires running along her mother's back. Reaching in, she switched off a lever. Her mother instantly slumped.

With a sigh, Mona dialed her friend and waited until the rings were finally answered.

"It happened again," Mona said. "Just like last time."

"There must be an error in the memory block. I'll check into it."

"No, I'll do it this time, Stace. I'd like to add in a bit more past memories as well. It's hard to converse with so little data. Maybe an emotion chip would help."

"What!"

Mona held the cell phone away from her ear.

"You might as well have an adult living with you," Stacie said. "Do you really want that? You know how controlling they can be."

"I don't know, Stace. It gets rather lonely not having someone to share feelings with. And this new program, Purity is Reality - it's just not cuttin' it anymore. I liked my parents before they were converted. Even Josh. Remember him? We were thinking of marrying sometime down the road."

"But marriage is illegal now! Don't tell me you're maturing. You know what happens if you’re caught that way."

"I know, but I can't help it. I just wish - "

At that moment, the back door burst open. Men in black rushed in.

Stacie listened in silence. The struggle did not last long. She sighed when the phone was taken over by a new voice.

"We have her, Miss."

"Good. The last thing we need is another adult in our lives. We need to be kids, to be pure." She paused. "See if a chip will erase those nasty memories. Not too much. I'd still liked her to remember me."