The Charity Chip (10 page)

“Deep breaths,” she ordered.

Julio began inhaling and exhaling in long deep breaths, trying not to let his nervousness get the best of him. He could feel his heart beating a little faster and his palms beginning to sweat as the cold-hearted doctor invaded deeper into his personal space. He focused on his goal of a better life. He thought about the promise to Mamá. He remembered what happened to Emilio.

“Open mouth,” she said as she shoved a dry slab of wood halfway down his throat. Next she grabbed his ear, shoved some torture device into the opening, and drew close to take a look. She moved in front of his face and without warning, blinded him with a tiny light. As he blinked and struggled to recover his vision, she thumped his joints and feet with a small rubber mallet. Without a word, she shoved him back and made him lie on the examination table. Even through the latex gloves, he felt her icy fingers as she pushed on his stomach and chest. He was certain she was going to search every inch of his body for any sign of a problem, and the more she searched, the more Julio wished it would end.

“Stand up,” barked Doctor Kozyar as she pulled over a stool on wheels. Just as he felt his toes touch the cold tile floor, Doctor Kozyar lifted the front of his gown and grabbed him in a cold grip. “Turn head and cough,” she demanded.

Any humiliation he thought he had felt up to now paled in comparison to this moment. Julio hesitated and drew in a quick breath. Trying not to make any sudden movements, he turned his head and forced a dry cough. After what seemed like an eternity, the doctor relaxed her death grip and released him from bondage. She wheeled herself over to the counter to grab some other device of torture. Julio felt stripped of his dignity and shuddered.

“Okay, back on table. I must check blood pressure and take blood sample,” she commanded.

Certain that the worst had to be over, Julio complied and climbed back onto the table again. She slapped a large black band around his arm and secured it. With a push of a button, the band around his arm tightened, and the blood pressure machine let out a few errant beeps.

After the band on his arm went slack, Doctor Kozyar removed it and replaced it with a large rubber strap over the upper arm that cut off the circulation to the lower arm. She wiped his arm with an alcohol wipe. Julio had helped Doctor Barilla with this and knew she was getting ready to take blood. She removed a wrapped syringe from one of the jars on the counter and ripped it open. She removed the orange cap and exposed the needle before grabbing his arm with her left hand and deftly jabbed the needle into the vein showing through his skin. Julio felt the sting of the needle as it entered the blood vessel. Having been numbed by the entire experience thus far, he reacted with only a slight grimace and watched as his blood pumped into a small glass vial.

“Hold this on arm for few moments,” said Doctor Kozyar as she removed the needle and placed a cotton ball on the puncture wound.

Julio complied with the doctor’s orders and sat there on the table pressing the cotton ball against his arm. He had once heard Doctor Barilla explain that scientists and doctors sometimes tested cures and diseases on small animals. Right now, he thought he understood how the animals felt, and he hoped it would all be worth it. He vowed that if he ever became a doctor, he would remember how he felt today and treat his patients differently.

Doctor Kozyar removed her gloves and began typing something into the computer. “When bleeding stops, put back on clothes and go to waiting room,” she said, without even looking up.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Julio threw the cotton ball on the table and stood up. Not caring anymore if the redheaded witch saw him naked, he defiantly stripped off the gown and began dressing. He noticed how dingy his clothes appeared against the antiseptic and lifeless environment. He tossed the flimsy green gown in a pile onto the examination table, grabbed his backpack, and hurried out into the waiting room. He collapsed onto the small couch and closed his eyes.
What have I gotten myself into? I’d rather be juggling in the streets than go through that again.
He glanced down at the drop of blood on his arm and remembered what he told the young girl he helped stitch up.
The wound that heals doesn’t hurt.
He let out a sigh and sat up.

The waiting room area only had pamphlets on health and hygiene and didn’t hold his attention for very long. He stood up and stretched, still feeling sluggish from the big lunch. He slipped his backpack over one shoulder and strolled into the study area, trying to forget about the examination. Only a handful of kids were still around, but he saw Graciela still sitting at the same computer.

He slid over to an empty computer with a blank screen and tapped the keyboard. Nothing happened. He jiggled the mouse. Nothing happened. He thought that maybe it had been turned off and tried another one, but once again, it didn’t come to life.

“They won’t work until you get chipped,” said Graciela.

Julio nodded and kept moving around the room trying to act casual as he looked for something to occupy his time while he waited. He surveyed the bookshelf and discovered a book Mamá used to read to him,
Huevos Verdes Con Jamón
by Dr. Seuss. He made himself comfortable in one of the chairs and began reading about green eggs and ham.
Why couldn’t Doctor Kozyar be more like Dr. Seuss?

“There you are,” said Isak, just as Julio was finishing the book. “Doctor Kozyar has compiled the results of your physical examination. If you will come with me, we can discuss the results.” He turned without waiting to see if Julio was following and headed for the back door.

Julio’s stomach did a flip. He slipped the book back into the bookshelf, grabbed his backpack, and hurried after Isak.

Isak swiped his hand and unlocked the door to the hallway and motioned for Julio precede him. “Just follow the hallway around the corner to my office.”

Julio’s heart jumped as Isak pulled the door shut behind him. The sounds of Isak’s shoes echoed in the small hallway behind him and gave him the sensation of being driven or corralled. He stopped at the end of the hallway and waited for Isak.

“The door is unlocked. Go on in and have a seat in the leather chair in front of my desk,” instructed Isak.

Julio’s palms were sweating as he gripped the doorknob and opened the door to Isak’s office.

C
HAPTER
E
IGHT

La Inyección

(The Injection)

^J
ulio sat in a comfortable leather chair facing Isak’s enormous wooden desk, which was clean except for a brass clock suspended in glass and a set of ornamental flags—one blue with a gold cross and the other a white globe splashed across a background of light blue. Isak had his chair turned and looked at the largest computer screen Julio had ever seen. On the wall behind the desk hung a large shadow box with various medals and ribbons and a picture of Isak in a military uniform. In the corner by the window sat a giant ornate globe suspended in a brass frame next to a matching leather sofa backed up to the window. The sunlight from outside highlighted a white sculpture of a naked man and woman kissing perched on the coffee table. The weight of the office pushed Julio deeper into the leather chair.

After a few moments of silence, Isak turned to face Julio. “Well, Julio, I have reviewed the results of your examination, and you seem to be in good health, although a bit undernourished. You have no known genetic defects or contagious diseases. Overall, you are in good health.” He smiled. “It appears you are a viable candidate for Caritas.”

Julio smiled back.

Isak folded his hands on top of his desk. “In years past, a great deal of money was spent trying to help children like you. Technology today enables us to deliver the money directly to the user while still controlling its use. It puts the power to succeed in the hands of those we are trying to help, literally.” He pulled a small glass square from his desk drawer and held it up for Julio to see. Embedded in the square was a small cylindrical device slightly larger than a grain of rice.

“This tiny device is a money chip. I’m sure you have heard of them. This particular device has been specifically designed for use in our program. In fact, I helped design the protocols and capabilities myself.”

Julio pulled his hands into his lap and rubbed the space between his left thumb and forefinger with his right thumb.

“In addition to providing you with monetary resources, this chip also incorporates several new technologies. It monitors your vital signs. It can detect drugs or alcohol in the bloodstream. It can even help us find you if you are in danger.”

“But I can still live wherever I want?” asked Julio.

“That is the beauty of our program compared to the programs of your government. Through this chip, we provide you with resources, but still allow you to keep your personal freedoms.”

“How much money can I spend each day?”

Isak put the demo chip back into his desk drawer. “That will all be covered during your orientation.” He folded his hands together on top of his desk and leaned forward. “Julio, did you enjoy your lunch today?”

Julio fidgeted in his seat. “Yes, sir.”

“Would you like to eat like that every day?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Would you like to have money for clothing and other basic necessities?”

“Yes, sir.”

Isak reached into his desk drawer again and pulled out a tablet. He tapped it a couple of times and slid it across the desk to Julio. “In order for us to proceed, you must sign this electronic agreement.”

Julio picked up the tablet and scrolled through the document on the screen.

“The agreement is a lot of legal jargon required by international and national law, but it basically says that you allow us to implant the chip and will abide by the policies of Caritas. Just scroll to the end of the document and sign your name with your finger.” Isak leaned back in his leather chair. “Of course it includes a provision for leaving Caritas at any time, provided the chip is removed by our medical staff.”

Julio continued to scroll through the document, but the language was complex and he understood almost nothing. When he got to the end, there was a square for his signature. He stared at the blank square. Then, before he could change his mind, he took a deep breath, and signed his complete name with his index finger.

As soon as Julio finished signing, Isak stood and walked around his desk with his hand extended. “Welcome to Caritas, Julio.”

Julio placed the tablet on the desk and stood to shake Isak’s hand. A wave of excitement and anticipation swept over him as he grabbed Isak’s outreached hand with both of his hands and gave it a vigorous shake. He felt a strange sense of relief, and at first he couldn’t put his finger on it, but then he smiled.
I won’t have to go hungry again.

“The next thing we need to do,” said Isak as he turned and opened the back door to his office, “is get the chip inserted. Let’s go see Doctor Kozyar and complete the procedure. Then you will have access to the money you need right away.”

Julio’s excitement waned a bit as he thought about seeing Doctor Kozyar, especially to implant a chip, but he tried not to show it. He reminded himself that it was just part of the process.
Millions of other people had been chipped. Why not join the modern world?

Doctor Kozyar had everything she needed for the procedure laid out on a surgical tray next to the examination table when they walked in. “Please sit on table,” she ordered without looking at Julio.

Julio hopped up onto the end of the table and looked over at the tray—a small syringe with a needle attached, a large syringe without a needle, alcohol wipes, some sort of plastic device, and a sterile package that looked like it had a large needle in it.

“Are you left-handed or right-handed?” asked Isak as he sat down at the computer.

“Right-handed.”

Doctor Kozyar swung the tray over in front of Julio. Without asking, she grabbed his left hand, placed it on the tray, and began wiping the space between his thumb and forefinger. The alcohol smell drifted through the room. Isak typed at the computer.

Julio looked at the syringes. The small one was clear liquid, probably a local anesthesia. The needle in the package was so large it looked like a drinking straw with a sharp end. The thought of Doctor Kozyar jabbing him with the big needle made his stomach do a flip.
The wound that heals doesn’t hurt
.

After wiping down the skin, Doctor Kozyar injected Julio’s hand with the local anesthesia. It burned, but he could feel it working almost right away. While the anesthesia took effect, Doctor Kozyar slipped the plastic device over his index finger and his thumb. It prevented him from moving them and formed a perfect V shape. She handed Isak the sterile package and stood there with her arms folded while Isak typed away at the computer. When he handed her back the package, she opened it and snapped the needle onto the large syringe.

“Where’s the chip?” asked Julio.

Isak answered instead of the doctor. “The needle she attached is the delivery system. The chip is in the needle. With one smooth injection, it will be implanted into your hand. Nothing to worry about.”