Outside the Oasis: Part 1
A Childhood Dream Squashed

Mason’s phone chirped in harmony with his front door. The familiar hiss of the door as it opened, as well as the pleasant aromas inside, welcomed him home. Mason and Taylor stepped into the house and the door closed them in.

“Pleasure doing business with you,” Taylor said as she walked towards the kitchen, following the distant sound of women’s voices.

Mason turned the corner and entered the living room where his father still conversed with Taylor’s father. The two men sat on the couches in the living room with their feet on the coffee table and sat comfortably on their respective couches.

On the coffee table stood a crystal decanter half full of a caramel-colored liquid. Mason knew how proud his father was of the crystal decanter. On more than one occasion, his father would invite people over just so he could show it off. As the two men drank from whiskey glasses that matched the ornamental patterns on the decanter, Mason seemed to have interrupted a conversation about various aspects of the city.

John Forthright took a drink before speaking, “If there are so many machines doing people’s jobs, then how does anybody make money around here?”

Mason’s father smiled at the question. Many people had asked him the same thing, and it was his favorite to answer. “Think of it this way,” Mason’s father began, “A burger joint has three machines: A machine to cook the burger, a machine to assemble the burger, and a machine to package the burger. I have the option to purchase one of those machines and I get a fraction of the sales price every time my machine participates in making the hamburger.”

“Yes and no,” Mason’s father continued, “I’m not in the restaurant flipping burgers, but it’s up to me to make sure my machine is working properly. I either provide my own maintenance or hire a mechanic to maintain my machine for me. Just like any investment, there is risk involved”

John nodded as he swallowed the last of his drink. He pointed to the decanter and Mason’s father nodded in approval as he continued to speak.

“Now, if my machine breaks down, or it fails a routine inspection, it gets switched out with a ‘stand-by’ machine. These stand-by machines are a lot cheaper to invest in than the main machines because it’s not a guarantee that they will actually be used, and when they are used it’s usually for a short amount of time. I have thirty days to fix my machine, or else my machine becomes the standby machine. Does that make sense?”

“In fact,” Mason interrupted, “That’s what happened to me at the pizza shop. Now that Taylor fixed my machine, it will return to its spot in the assembly line and I’ll make money again.”

John chuckled as he sat back with his refilled drink, “This city is bat shit crazy.”

“It’s weird, yes,” Mason’s father agreed, “But our mayor hopes that this becomes the future.”

“Good luck peddling your pipe dream to the rest of the world,” John sighed, “Everyone outside of these walls despises this place.”

“Clearly not everyone despises this city. You chose to move here,” Mason’s father rebutted.

“I moved here because I ran out of options. I can’t work out there anymore, and it’s becoming hostile,” John said before taking a long sip of his drink.

The conversation quieted and Mason’s father took that as an opportunity to look at his son with a wide smile, “Mason, my boy, what do you need?”

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Mason smiled back. With his dad’s decanter already half empty, maybe this would be an excellent time to bring up the car, “I want to speak to Mom and you tonight.”

“That can certainly be arranged,” Mason’s father responded and he took another gulp of his alcohol, “I’m sure your mother is finishing up her house tour.”

John looked outside and set his drink down, “It is becoming dark. We should probably get going. You’ve been an excellent host.”

“And you’ve been excellent guests,” Mason’s father groaned as he stood up, doing little to conceal signs of his age, “Feel free to come by anytime. I know our wives will always have something to talk about.”

Both men laughed at that comment and John left to find his wife. The Forthright family gathered their things and left, leaving Mason and his parents alone in the house. Mason’s father straightened the living room, pouring himself another drink before stashing the decanter away. Eventually, both of Mason’s parents sat in the living room once again and Mason pushed past his nerves. Not only did he need permission to travel across the country to purchase a car, but he also needed to ask for the keys to the family solar car as well, which felt just as impossible.

“Can I talk to you guys?” Mason cleared his throat and began to prepare the conversation in his head.

“Sure thing sweetie,” Mason’s mother responded and sat up to give her son all of her attention, “I hope this has to do with your I.C.E. permit that we didn’t give permission for.”

Mason smiled nervously. This was already off to a bad start, “As my parents, you have known that I wanted a car. Not just any car, but a gas-powered car.”

“We are aware of that,” Mason’s mom replied like a lioness stalking her prey. Mason’s father nodded his head vigorously.

“After I had become sixteen,” Mason didn’t feel like saying an actual date would help his cause, “I applied for an I.C.E. permit. Just today I was accepted. Long before my sixteenth birthday, I was saving up my money to buy a car,” Mason felt like he was stepping through a minefield, and any one of his words could cause his mom to shut his sales pitch down.

“And we are very proud of you,” Mason’s dad chimed in, his loyalty split between his son and his wife.

“I have the cash, I have the permit, and we have the space. I think it’s time I buy a car,” Every muscle in Mason’s face wanted to wince as he spoke, but he tried his best to keep his face neutral.

“Honey, this city isn’t built for cars,” Mason’s mother argued politely, “That car will sit in the garage and rust. It’s a waste of time.”

“Well, there are still roadways,” Mason’s father began, but a harsh glance from his wife caught him off guard, “He could always use the car to drive around for recreational purposes.”

“It’s something I’ve wanted for a really long time,” Mason persisted. Standing in front of his parents, he felt like he was an inmate pleading innocence, “If it’s a bad decision, at least it’s with my own money.”

His father nodded as he saw the wisdom in Mason’s statement, but Mason’s mother wasn’t easily swayed.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. What car would you even purchase?”

Mason grinned. This was the opening he had been waiting for. Mason was sure that he could get one of his parents on his side and turn this conversation in his favor. “A 1967 Chevy Camaro,” Mason replied. As the words came out of Mason’s mouth, his father’s eyes sparkled. The man who was leaning back and enjoying his last drink now leaned forward and showed more attentiveness than his wife.

“That’s a mighty fine car, Mason,” His father cheered and smiled.

Mason’s mother was too clever, “I see what this is. You know your father has a soft spot for Camaros, and you are using that to get your way. Those cars aren’t easy to come by, and even if you found it would probably be a rust bucket with wheels. Where are you going to find one?”

“I’ve already found a seller, and I’ve given him a little of the asking price so that he can hold it for me,” Mason was desperately trying to keep them on the hook.

“And where is the car?” His mother asked in a snide manner.

It was as if he could feel the fishing line break. He had lost them. The goal was to have both of them onboard with the plan so that the location would be a minor setback. Now it was a condition of approval. Mason took a deep breath and spoke, “The car is in North Dakota.”

Even Mason’s father slumped with disappointment. A childish fantasy had been given to him, and then violently taken away. Mason had known that getting a car from North Dakota was an uphill battle, but he felt equally defeated.

“No way in hell,” Mason’s mom began, “would I let you travel by yourself to North Dakota just for some car.”

The words “some car” hurt both Mason and his dad. His father shook his head in solemn defeat and finished his drink.

Mason’s mother continued to pour salt in the wound, “I can’t believe you would go behind my back and apply for this permit, taking the opportunity from someone else who actually has the means to use a gas-powered car.”

Feelings of disappointment festered and boiled into anger. Mason began to feel his skin get hot, “I do have the means, Mom. I have saved up more than enough money. The only thing that is stopping me is you!”

“I’m not stopping you because it’s fun, I’m saving you from yourself and your half-baked idea,” His mom continued, her voice beginning to rise.

“I’m an adult mom, I’m eighteen years old. I can handle a trip outside of the walls,” Mason whirled and began to walk to his room, hoping it would end the conversation. He was hurt, and at this point he just wanted the conversation to end.

Mason closed his bedroom door behind him and the lights around his bedroom glowed softly. The dim yellow lights illuminated his organized bedroom and Mason threw himself onto his bed with a disappointed sigh.

“Why don’t you use the money you saved up to get your own apartment, because for as long as you are under our roof you will listen to your parents!” Mason’s mother called after him, but she didn’t pursue him any further.

Mason slid his bedroom door closed behind him and the lights around his bedroom glowed softly. The dim yellow lights illuminated his organized bedroom and Mason threw himself onto his bed with a disappointed sigh.

It seemed as though he had everything in line, but the rug was pulled out from underneath him at the last moment. Now he was back to square one: Look for another Camaro that was closer to the city. He doubted that he would find as good a deal as before.

A soft knock on his bedroom door got Mason’s attention and, reluctantly, Mason tapped his phone to allow other users to open the door. A soft chirp emanated from the other side, and the door slid open to reveal Mason’s father. Sauntering in slowly, Mason’s father sat next to Mason on his bed. They sat in silence for a while before his father ran his fingers across his stubble and began to speak.

“Hell of a sales pitch, huh?” He chuckled, “Did you really find a Camaro?”

Mason silently grabbed his phone, navigated through a couple of screens, and pulled up the listing for the Camaro he thought would be his. Mason paused for a second to look at the vehicle once more. The blue paint glimmered and sparkled underneath the garage lighting and its black tires contrasted beautifully against chrome hubcaps. Unlike other Camaros for sale, there wasn’t a grain of rust anywhere to be seen on the body. Ruby red tail lights, a gorgeous black interior, and a working and clean engine. This car had it all and Mason thought that he would be rattling the keys in his hand, but that dream felt distant now.

He pushed the device towards his father so that both of them could get a glimpse of what could have been. His father took the phone and began to swipe through the photos and a childish grin peeked out from the corners of his mouth.

“Wow,” he whispered, “That’s a beauty. A couple of rust spots on the frame but that’s to be expected from a car that’s almost one hundred years old. Whoever owns that car now must love it to death.”

“The guy owned a car museum, but his family is hitting hard financial times. He says it’s one of his favorite cars, but he needs the money,” Mason sighed with defeat, “I’ve been scouring every site I could and that is the cleanest Camaro I could find. Some of the other cars for sale are complete rust buckets.”

“It’s a beauty, that’s for sure,” his father sighed, “It’s also a shame that it isn’t closer.” Mason’s father set his son’s phone on a desk nearby, pressed a couple of buttons on his own device, then set his phone on top of his son’s. “If only the car was within the city limits. It’s a lot harder to take a car away from someone than it is to tell someone they can’t have it.”

“What do you mean by that?” Mason asked. The look his father was giving him felt unusual.

“Well, if a car that you wanted was already within the city walls, your mom couldn’t tell you no as easily,” his father slowed his words down, “She couldn’t take it away from you if you already had it.”

Mason began to nod slowly and his father joined him. It seemed like his father was hinting at another conversation that they weren’t having.

“I mean, if you showed up with the car one day, it would be a lot harder for her to get rid of it,” Mason’s father continued. “But don’t be too discouraged about the car in North Dakota. If you want the car as badly as you say you do, I know you will find a way to get your hands on it.”

“I understand,” Mason said, still nodding. At least he thought he understood.

“Perfect,” his father stood up and smiled, “I just don’t want you to view this as a dead end. Keep your eyes open and look at all of your opportunities. There is more than one way to remedy this situation. But you need to promise me that I can take it for a spin when you get your hands on a Camaro.”

And with that, Mason’s father winked before picking up his phone and leaving the room. Mason sat on his bed, dumbfounded. He picked apart the conversation in his mind. It seemed as though his father had given him permission to go get the car, but there wasn’t enough evidence for him to believe that was his father’s true intention.

Mason reached for his phone and glanced at the screen in surprise. His phone displayed an animation of a box being check marked, and after the animation disappeared, it displayed the dashboard of the solar car. His phone showed the current charge, estimated range, and the status of various temperatures and buttons. A banner across the top of the screen read, “You have been granted access. Welcome to your new car!”. His father had given him the keys to the car. If that wasn’t evidence, Mason didn’t know what was.

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