Part 2 is well underway. I'm probably taking a hiatus after this story, but I hope you enjoy <3


Set 7 years after Just a Job. Crop failures and disease have forced humanity closer than ever to the brink of extinction. In a bid to fend off the specter of dying out as a race, harsh measures have been taken. Most important among these, mandatory breeding ages have been dropped by a year, all residents of the new order must have become pregnant or impregnated another by their 14th birthday to be allowed to remain. All children were raised by adopted parents who had passed mandatory breeding ages and finished school, very rarely their biological parents. Experiments shortly after the Final War meant that the population reached sexual maturity around 11 years old in most cases, so the majority were able to meet this requirement…. but not all.



Just a Job 2; Chapter 1- Happy Birthday



Dinner at the Anderson home was a very quiet affair that night. Mr and Mrs Anderson and their two children sat, three of them eating quietly, and the son Ryan poking disinterestedly at his food. He had eaten very little, and although his parents loved and cared for him very much, they didn’t pressure him to eat. A cupcake was in front of him with a number in icing, 14.



His family sat around him, sporadically squeezing his hand or shoulder, giving his leg a reassuring rub. They played a quiet game, they shared fond memories, happy stories. They watched an episode of Firefly, his favorite show. Ryan tried to put on a brave face, but as the clock struck midnight, he paled and started to tremble. It was now his birthday, and his fate was sealed. His family came in around him for a group hug, but there was nothing they could do to help him. His 11yo sister Andi was already pregnant, and she had suggested claiming that it was his baby, but that wouldn’t do, they tested, and if she was caught lying, she would be allowed to give birth, and she would die as well.



Another round of hugs and Ryan went into the bedroom he shared with his sister, feeling hollow. He lay in bed, facing the wall and trembling, silent tears running down his cheeks. Ryan was a pretty boy. He was not cute or handsome or adorable (okay, maybe adorable), he was PRETTY. Fully dressed, he’d been mistaken for a little girl many times, once by a girl he’d later fucked, trying to save them both. He was skinny, with very soft, delicate features. He had big eyes and hair dyed bright pink, with a dye that smelled distinctly like cherries, and looked even younger than he actually was. He liked painting his nails, he liked a bit of makeup, he liked coloring his hair, and to the surprise of nobody who thought about him for more than a moment, he liked boys.



He’d never been in a relationship for more than a few weeks, but a number of guys, and even a few girls with strap-ons had had their fun with him. He didn’t mind. He’d never been raped or abused, and most had given him little tokens of appreciation. Snacks, small items needed around the house, or just a kiss on the forehead. Ryan was so young, and a late bloomer, sex had never meant much to him. It felt kinda nice, although none of his partners had been skilled, the forehead kisses meant a lot more, they were a weakness. He’d had sex with plenty of girls in an attempt to avoid the position he now found himself in, but he really had wanted just once to have a kindly grown man, with strong, safe arms. Unfortunately the only person he really had left to see at this point was Alana, the executrix. She was very kind the couple times they had met, but she certainly wasn’t the Thor type man Ryan deeply regretted had never really noticed him.



Ryan lay there and shivered and cried and tried to control his fear. He knew it had to happen, he wasn’t mad at anyone, and his feelings were more regret than fear, but he was still terrified, he was too young for this. It would hurt, and then he would just be over, and there was so much he still wanted to do. As he sniffled in his quiet misery, he almost missed the sound of his sister entering the room. He tried to stop crying, to feign sleep so that she might just go to bed, but even at 11, Andi wasn’t a fool, she knew the odds of her beloved older brother sleeping tonight.



She came up behind him and sat on the edge of his bed, touching his shoulder. Ryan sighed and rolled over, he hadn’t wanted her to see him with red eyes and tears on his cheeks, but there was no avoiding it. Andi sat there in the soft light of a lamp, her eyes full of sad love. She was so cute to Ryan, she was his precious little sister. Even with her baby bump already visible under her shirt, and her breasts coming in early and staining the fabric with leaking milk, she was a pure and innocent being in his eyes, with soft curls and blue eyes and rosy little cheeks. She had hit puberty and probably had sex with more boys and more people overall than Ryan had, but she was a child, in her eyes, in her face, in her thoughts, and in her sweet soul.



She hugged him gently “Talk to me” she said quietly. Ryan had hardly spoken all night, a few words here and there. He had so many bubbling under the surface, but he didn’t know how to express all of it. So many thoughts, so many emotions. Then his mind supplied an image of the noose that would squeeze his tender throat in the morning, would turn his face a more interesting color than his hair, and would turn him from the cute little twink who just wanted to know romantic love, into another lifeless piece of meat and he had one thought, one emotion above the rest “ I’m scared” he confessed in a fragile whisper. Andi held his hand “ It’s gonna be okay. Alana is nice, she will be gentle. Mommy said that there used to be stories about Heaven, a good place after we die. You’ll be there, you’ll see”. Then she stood on the bed and kissed his forehead. She didn’t quite get why Ryan liked it so much, but he did, and that was good enough for her. Ryan felt some of the tension leave him, he didn’t know what he believed, but Andi sounded so sure about Heaven, maybe she was right, there was a chance. He hugged her, and they fell asleep. No sex, fully clothed, just a doomed boy and the sister who made it easier.







`Part 2- The big day


Mr. and Mrs. Anderson woke up early the next morning and peeked in to check on the children. Andi was not in her bed, she was with Ryan, embraced like a teddy bear, both of them fast asleep. Their parents just stood around and watched the cuteness. The kids were both so innocent, Ryan had never had a real relationship, but he’d had many friends, many parties, he was so enthusiastic, always ready to explore or swim or watch a movie. He made friends wherever he went. This whole situation broke his parents hearts. It was fair, there was no corruption in the new society, everything was perfectly mathematically fair, but that didn’t make it right that in a few hours, all of that enthusiasm, that eagerness to try new things, that warm spark that made people like their son so much would all be gone. They didn’t wake the kids, Ryan didn’t have to report to Alana for a few more hours, he would be stressed and upset this morning, and there was no reason he couldn’t sleep and avoid that until it was time to go.



Ryan and Andi slept late, waking fresh and rested. Andi was first, snuggling closer to her brother, with Ryan not long after. Ryan rubbed his sister’s belly, feeling the baby bump, and the love in his heart overwhelmed even his fear. Andi rolled over and smiled at him, placing his hand back on “Mommy says he will start kicking in a couple months” Ryan smiled sadly “I wish I was going to meet him” Andi couldn’t help a little giggle “Silly goose, even I won’t really meet him, at least that I know. He’ll go to his new family, and we will both get to meet him in Heaven!” Ryan thought for a moment that this was a very sad thought, but Andi was giggling and seemed to find it really funny for whatever reason. Her enthusiasm was infectious and Ryan found himself giggling right there with her. Soon they were laughing and tickling each other and just having a good time and neither of them knew or cared why. Their parents on the other side of the door were happy to hear it. They didn’t know if the kids were playing doctor or telling dirty jokes or even having sex, anything that helped put off sadness for Ryan as long as possible was good in their book.



Eventually, after a tickle fight and laughing until they cried, Ryan and Andi ventured out of their room. Disheveled and happy. Their parents didn’t ask, just hugged them both and set out breakfast. Ryan got through three pancakes with strawberries before he happened to see the clock and his appetite was gone, with the fear returning, less than an hour until he had to report to Alana. His parents noticed the change and were immediately at his side. “Let’s go to the market” his mom suggested. Ryan always liked it there, all the vendors with colorful wares were fun to see. More trade and less essential work had popped up since the food situation had been largely solved through technology. Food still wasn’t wasted and the population crisis had actually gotten worse, but as long as everyone allowed to live was able to procreate, humanity would endure and the next generation would have it better.



The family grabbed their stuff and headed to the market, Andi and Ryan still in their pajamas. They wandered the stalls, greeted friends. Ryan tried to distract himself, looking at all the pretty stuff here. He stopped at a clothing stall when something caught his eye. It was just a pair of socks, nothing fancy, but he loved them immediately. They were silly fluffy, and the same pink as his hair. Ryan touched them, wishing he had seen them a week ago, he could have cherished them for a week, now it was too late. His mother walked up with a smile “See anything you like?” she asked, looking at the socks in his hands. Ryan set them down, shaking his head “There’s no point” Mrs. Anderson tousled his hair “Nonsense, they’re socks, it’s not a big thing. Even right now you’ll get more use out of them than Andi got out of the candy she just wanted.” and five minutes later, Ryan was wearing the socks. They were so cute, and so comfortable, he felt bad that Mom had spent money on clothes he would wear for less than an hour, but they DID make him happy, even if they were now walking to Alana and he had lost his smile at the edge of the market.



Ryan was feeling weak as the office Alana used came into view. She met them at the door, cupped his cheek “Hey cutie” she looked down and smiled “Nice socks”. She stepped back to let Ryan say his final goodbyes. He hugged each of his family members, leaving Andi for last. The siblings hugged, not needing words, then Andi stood on her toes and pulled her brother down a bit to give him a little kiss on the forehead. One last squeeze and Ryan was on his way, Alana leading him on one last walk.



I hope people enjoyed this, it’s been one of my favorite bits to write in a long time <3