The Dvorak Simplified Keyboard by 0178120181524 via www.deviantart.com
“We need a secure way to communicate.” Jolene glanced around the room, eyes only, to see if anyone was listening.
“The government is listening to every form of comm’s Jo. How can we send anything over the Cloud?” Natalie’s mouth went dry. That’s how her brother, Stan, had been caught. She now had both his two kids, both boys, and her own two, Orson and Gail, to care for. If she went to prison for treason, the kids would end up in State Foster Care.
“We’ll go old school. I got this out of a book. It’s a QWERTY keyboard.” She showed her friend the sheet of paper with the hand drawn, old-fashioned keyboard.
Natalie’s eyebrow rose and her nose wrinkled. “Typing? No one types anymore, and if they do they use the Dvorak keyboard like sensible people.”
“Listen,” Jo hissed. “You tape the QWERTY letters and numbers over your keyboard. You use a letter substitute on your note. Then type the message using the QWERTY keys.”
Natalie sighed. They learned about letter substitution in grade school and used it to pass notes back and forth to each other on their electronic pads. If the teacher caught them, all they were punished for was class disruption; no one could read the note. “Did you download the QWERTY keyboard?”
Jo rolled her eyes. “I’m not stupid. I found it in an old book in the library attic.”
Natalie stared. “Are you crazy? How’d you get into the library? Our privileges were revoked when Stan was arrested.”
A coffee shop customer walked by. Jolene waited until he passed to answer. “There’s a lot of good reading in the library. Things the Government wants us to forget about. I’m surprised they haven’t razed the building.”
“You’re lucky you weren’t caught.” Natalie rubbed her temples. She knew what she’d signed up for as a college student when she caught her brother in a meeting in their parent’s basement. It was exciting. Even more so when she married a comrade, her brother’s friend, Pete. Then Pete and Stan had been arrested picketing the Government’s Conference on Economic Equality. It wasn’t fun or games anymore. It was serious.
Jo sat back in her chair and folded the sheet of paper into a small square. “We can’t let the Government keep tightening the screws, Nat. Every day it’s some new restriction. By the time your kids grow up, the Government will be telling them what jobs to do and who to marry. It has to stop.”
“I know. Everything is prescribed. How much exercise, how much vid to watch, mandatory shows, Government approved reading lists, it’s too much. I feel like my heart is being squeezed.” Natalie picked up her now cold coffee and drank it. It was too expensive to throw out. “Fine. I’ll use it. What letter do you want to start with?
“N, for Natalie,” Jo smiled. She passed the paper to her friend when they held hands across the table. “Change to the next third letter each day. Between the two methods we should be good for a month, maybe two. Then we’ll have to change the cipher again.”
“The kids were asking about you the other day. They miss their Aunt Jo.”
For the first time during the meeting, Jolene’s face sagged. “Tell them I love them but I have to work. You know it’s too dangerous for me to come by. The kids might say something at school.”
“I know. But I wanted you to be aware they still love you.” For a moment, Natalie thought her friend might cry.
Jolene shook off the sentimentality and put on a bright face. “I love them too. You know that. Keep them safe. I’ve got to go.” She stood up, stuck her hands in her jean’s jacket pockets and strode out the door, her red hair in a pony tail, swinging jauntily back and forth.
The End
652 Words
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