Little Brother

Ireland. It's dangerous to set foot in a Forbidden Planet — rarely do I escape with my wallet intact. Forbidden Planet really leads the pack in bringing the gigantic audience for TV and movie science fiction into contact with science fiction books — something that's absolutely critical to the future of the field.
    Forbidden Planet, UK, Dublin and New York City
    Ms Galvez's smile was wide.
    "Does anyone know what that comes from?"
    A bunch of people chorused, "The Declaration of Independence."
    I nodded.
    "Why did you read that to us, Marcus?"
    "Because it seems to me that the founders of this country said that governments should only last for so long as we believe that they're working for us, and if we stop believing in them, we should overthrow them. That's what it says, right?"
    Charles shook his head. "That was hundreds of years ago!" he said. "Things are different now!"
    "What's different?"
    "Well, for one thing, we don't have a king anymore. They were talking about a government that existed because some old jerk's great-great-great-grandfather believed that God put him in charge and killed everyone who disagreed with him. We have a democratically elected government —"
    "I didn't vote for them," I said.
    "So that gives you the right to blow up a building?"
    "What? Who said anything about blowing up a building? The Yippies and hippies and all those people believed that the government no longer listened to them — look at the way people who tried to sign up voters in the South were treated! They were beaten up, arrested —"
    "Some of them were killed," Ms Galvez said. She held up her hands and waited for Charles and me to sit down. "We're almost out of time for today, but I want to commend you all on one of the most interesting classes I've ever taught. This has been an excellent discussion and I've learned much from you all. I hope you've learned from each other, too. Thank you all for your contributions.
    "I have an extra-credit assignment for those of you who want a little challenge. I'd like you to write up a paper comparing the political response to the anti-war and civil rights movements in the Bay Area to the present day civil rights responses to the War on Terror. Three pages minimum, but take as long as you'd like. I'm interested to see what you come up with."
    The bell rang a moment later and everyone filed out of the class. I hung back and waited for Ms Galvez to notice me.
    "Yes, Marcus?"
    "That was amazing," I said. "I never knew all that stuff about the sixties."
    "The seventies, too. This place has always been an exciting place to live in politically charged times. I really liked your reference to the Declaration — that was very clever."
    "Thanks," I said. "It just came to me. I never really appreciated what those words all meant before today."
    "Well, those are the words every teacher loves to hear, Marcus," she said, and shook my hand. "I can't wait to read your paper."

    I bought the Emma Goldman poster on the way home and stuck it up over my desk, tacked over a vintage black-light poster. I also bought a NEVER TRUST t-shirt that had a photoshop of Grover and Elmo kicking the grownups Gordon and Susan off Sesame Street. It made me laugh. I later found out that there had already been about six photoshop contests for the slogan online in places like Fark and Worth1000 and B3ta and there were hundreds of ready-made pics floating around to go on whatever merch someone churned out.
    Mom raised an eyebrow at the shirt, and Dad shook his head and lectured me about not looking for trouble. I felt a little vindicated by his reaction.
    Ange found me online again and we IM-flirted until late at night again. The white van with the antennas came back and I switched off my Xbox until it had passed. We'd all gotten used to doing that.
    Ange was really excited by this party. It looked like it was going to be monster. There were so many bands signed up they were talking about setting up a B-stage for the secondary acts.
    > How'd they get a permit to blast sound all night in that park? There's houses all around there
    > Per-mit? What is "per-mit"? Tell me more of your hu-man per-mit.
    > Woah, it's illegal?
    > Um, hello? You're worried about breaking the law?
    > Fair point
    > LOL
    I felt a little premonition of nervousness though. I mean, I was taking this perfectly awesome girl out on a date that weekend — well, she was taking me, technically — to an illegal rave being held in the middle of a busy