Smartystan

Dr. Frampton peered down at her watch. She timed the opening of Smartystan precisely. The gleam from the pearly gates and streets of gold; the mansions all seemed to mean so much more because architects and engineers had to use exact measurements to craft such a majestic world. Belinda walked in with Dr. Frampton, Dr. Strong, and Go trailed them at the main gate. As an entrance, it didn’t feel too imposing, and definitely not intimidating.

With each step, the four of them reached closer to a promise kept. The country within a country looked absolutely delicious upon entry. Trees swayed in breezes and meticulously sculpted lawns remained powerful reminders of how far the four of them had come to get to this point.

“I still don’t like it,” Go pronounced. “It’s not part of the original plan. It’s too…’heavenly,’” he said.

“That was the idea. Have four atheists subvert the idea of a fantastic land such as is mentioned in ancient texts, and bring it to life,” Dr. Strong replied.

“I still think the original idea of a country that had a virtual feel to it with illuminated streets and buzzing schools would’ve been better,” Go lamented.

“Vestin, we can build other towns elsewhere. We’re just unveiling what New Castle County used to be. The two other locales we can explore. For now, though, we’re going to focus on getting as many people inside of here,” Dr. Strong continued.

“It’s only the fact I know of Kent and Sussex Counties. I get it. I didn’t forget.”

“For a moment there, it seemed like you did,” Belinda remarked. Go’s corner of his mouth lifted.

“Okay, okay, I submitted my designs for the beaches. I’m okay, he said.”

“C’mon. We should be training our attention on the folks who will be part of this revolution,” Dr. Frampton reminded. Her mouth turned into a pearly gate itself.

“Yes, I feel like when I held my profession…just to see the bright minds of tomorrow walk through here. Just imagine the experiments and mistakes and triumphs after months and years of toil.”

Go looked at the chemist and a bit of a glow appeared on his face. Belinda noticed this.

“Yes, we’re putting our donors and trillions of dollars to enlighten and excite based on voluntary exchange instead of forced taxation.”

Dr. Strong nodded. “If we can keep this country intact, we should have no problem with sieges or illegal aliens. Why? Because they would be welcome to the party. They’ll come in innertubes and dinghies from the sea and by land, all-terrain vehicles. In the air, they might use small planes. Who knows? It’s enticing just thinking of it. All of it would be in the name of supping up the knowledge expressed by the most intelligent people on Earth.” Dr. Strong always kept a hat on his head and this was no exception. He walked with the three of them to the tune of a graduation march. At once light and airy, the notes soared, stirring and crisp. It recalled in the Drs’ minds as well as Go's own graduations while Belinda couldn’t relate. She considered the idea of how the former Delawareans had been paid billions of dollars to live elsewhere. Some of them didn’t want the money so they took the corporation that the four of them founded, Delaseer, to court. The judge found the country to be admirable and delivered a win for the Drs, the associates degree holder, and the dropout. She ran her business still in conjunction with their firm.

With Dr. Strong leading them all, a rush of power surged through his veins. He tread on the gold and watched the sprinklers pop up like toaster pastries and water the lawns.

“Yes, if we can keep this country we’ll have a nation dedicated to intelligence,” he informed them.

The words touched the three of them in their souls. What seemed like a difference in how to contend with the influx of people made it possible for them to understand that the doctor’s wisdom shone through without ceasing. So of course they had to find a way to fight the idea of the traffic jam of people backed up for miles, yearning to get into Smartystan.

A crash at one of the pearly gates gave the four a chill and a pause. Country Sentries (CS) all showed their preparedness for such an event and drove back the clashing individuals. The vehicle consisted of a mother and father and their young child. They had escaped the horrors of Iran. The information relayed to the four founders.

“We can’t let them in,” Belinda yelped.

“That’s going to be something tough,” Dr. Frampton replied.

“Yeah, I can’t see them being accustomed to our way of life,” Go said.

“Did you not hear what I just said?” Dr. Strong became incensed. “We’re allowing everyone who has an iota of thinking power in their skulls. That’s who we’re letting in here.” He received further information about the wreck that somehow did not damage the pearly gates.

“They’re physicians. They only crashed because someone was heckling and acting aggressively towards them. That person will be rejected. This pair of thinkers and their child are exactly the kind of material that should be in this country. We should be thankful that they emigrated from a basket case of a nation and wanted to venture to our country.”

Dr. Strong went straight to the scene of the collision. The three of them looked at each other, shrugged, and followed him. A CS stopped the doctor.

“Sir, you don’t want to be here. This situation is completely neutralized.”

Dr. Strong looked past him and motioned for the young physician couple, the mother cradling their child. He spoke in Farsi. He said, “You are welcome here. You may enter now.”

The CS knew what he said but acted bewildered. The couple with the infant walked away from the crash site and met up with the four founders. Dr. Strong waved a hand and asked to hold the child. Dr. Strong greeted them with an embrace. He pointed to the three other brainparents to this country with so much potential. They all smiled.