Rough hands yanked Monica out of the Guillotine by her hair. The worker grasped her arm and pulled her stunned form to her feet. It was all so overwhelming for her. Her feelings were going haywire, she didn’t know what to think about all this sudden change of fate.

“Congratulations Meatgirl. Welcome back to being a regular woman again.” He said as he shook her hand congenially.

“Um, thanks.” she stuttered, not really knowing how to process all the conflicting stimuli going on around her.

“Right this way - there’s a news crew waiting to interview you for tonight’s program. They want to get the tale of grace fresh from the source.

“Um, Ok, I guess” Monica was dazed by it all. Her mind couldn’t cope with this straight after a near-death experience.

Caroline was grabbed by the female employee and shoved to her knees.
“Stop dawdling sow, just cause that one escaped the executioner's blade doesn’t mean you get a delay in your snuffing.” she sneered.

“Oh, shit” was all Caroline could muster. She’d secretly been holding out for her own number to get the pardon. The stocks clamped around her neck, and she knew deep down that she was done for. Why had they given her hope at all? It was worse than having none in the first place.

The staff member led Monica over to a cameraman and a blonde reporter in a clean white powersuit.

“Hi, I’m Meredith Viera, and I’m reporting from Riraito’s Fine Meats in Dolcett county, where today's Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon has just occurred. I’m here with lucky Meatgirl 8008298763, whose number was just picked out of a thousand other girls. Tell me, how do you feel about receiving your presidential pardon today? It must have been a very exciting day for you.

“Um, Yes, I don’t know what to say… It’s been very exciting… too exciting in fact… I’m just so relieved that my head didn’t get chopped off. I wasn’t looking forward to that at all. God, I think I pissed myself.” Monica blurted out, unable to slow herself down because of the adrenaline running through her veins.