Free The Girl They Sold to the Moon by Chris Stevenson

holding up well and enjoying yourself. I can’t tell you not to work hard, that would go against my principles. But I know that you’ll put a wax and shine on everything you do. I’m so proud of you!
    I finalized my first business ventures with the lone-out advance and signed a few contracts, since the total was not near enough to take care of my tax situation. But I believe I’ve found a lucrative venture that will start showing profit. I won’t tell you what it is yet because I don’t want the censor’s eyes discovering this windfall opportunity. Can’t be too careful with confidentiality and matters like this. This is a ground floor shaker and moneymaker, guaranteed.
    Well, it’s back to matters at hand. Keep well, keep fit and keep working. We’ll have you back home at the agreed upon time, I’m sure. Unless I can pick up your contract early. And that just might happen. Write soon.
    Love and kisses,
    Dad”
    â€œWhat a wonderful letter,” said Dorothy. “He’s cares a lot about you. You’re going to get picked up.”
    Tilly didn’t share Dorothy’s optimism. As upbeat and positive as it was, her father often wrote such letters filled with bloated promises. Even when things were falling to pieces. Tilly believed Dorothy didn’t have very high expectations, and that any and all news was good news. She hadn’t seen Dorothy receive any mail, either in-house or from Earth-side, since she’d bunked with her.
    â€œDorothy,” began Tilly, “I never asked you, or you didn’t tell me what your ‘special circumstances’ meant. It’s none of my business, but the only other way you could get in this program is if you committed a felony. We’re you really loaned out?”
    Dorothy moaned. “I got a little too close to the safe at the last restaurant I worked. I lifted about 5,000 Imperial notes and stuffed them in my uniform bag. They discovered the theft the next morning. I forgot about the surveillance cameras. My public defender cut a deal with the judge. Four years servitude with FTALC in place of the state prison sentence. Some deal, eh? I had a few days before sentence was imposed. I took the time to ask around about FTALC. I almost changed my mind. But you know what? I finally got away from my parents—a long ways. I have two older brothers, but they’ve got businesses and lives of their own. I suppose they know I’m serving out time at FTALC.”
    â€œThat blows major time. Look at it this way, you can always save up enough through the tip pool and have something to look forward to when they cut you loose. You don’t have to be picked up. They can’t impound you for a default on the loan if you have the savings to pay it. Your freedom is guaranteed after serving your sentence.”
    â€œI didn’t think of it that way. Yeah…I am out of here in four years, no matter what. I hope it goes fast. I’ve never worked so hard in my life. I have to pick out plates on a running conveyor, and then rack them for a wash. One load takes 16 seconds. Goof once, you stop the line. It never ends. At least you get long breaks during
your
shift.”
    â€œYeah, but I have to be ready to fill in if there’s a no-show or an illness. I spend most of that time prepping and rehearsing the next act.”
    Tilly checked the rest of her messages on her Omnicomp. She read most of them. Nearly all were date invites. Several men wanted to meet with her. She counted ten that wanted her autograph. She found one from a sender named BGB. Curious, she clicked on it and found a message from Buddy.
    Sunshine,
    By the time you read this, I’ll be outside the entrance to Block 41. I’m parked in the silver cart. I have a surprise for you.
    Buddy.
    Tilly shook her head, wondering what he had up his sleeve this time. She drafted some letters—one to Sue Lin, one to Fia, who was two bunks