It started when they banned the protest songs. The great leader’s thin skin was prickled by the words, “Hey-Hey Ho-Ho, he’s got to go!” Next, it was the music that the televangelists deemed too offensive. They were not expecting the leader to ban their music too. Soon after that, it was all music, even the leader’s campaign music. There were whispers that the leader was ill and that music, any music, enraged him. The country grew silent. No country boys whistling Dixie, no booming bass from rap music, no screeching electric guitar solos, not even the sound of happy birthday being belted out by well-wishers. If they caught you playing music it was straight to the work camp.

For a short time, it quieted the leader’s anger and we had peace, but soon he couldn’t stand the sound of other people talking. Even his council of yes-men were not immune. It was broadcasted on live TV, right in the middle of heaping praise on the leader one of his yes-men was dragged away. He pleaded with him, “I was loyal to you! Don’t do this please!” The leader ignored his pleas. That day, the great leader made a decree. Only the leader was allowed to speak, because his was the only voice that mattered. The people went mute, so as not to disturb the great leader. The people struggled, but they learned sign language. Many could write, but it was slower and less convenient.

Until one day, while the great leader was giving a speech, he stopped mid-sentence. “I am declaring a national—” Those were his last words. At first, the people didn’t believe it. “It’s a test to see who is loyal,” his supporters wrote.The council tried to hide his death. Rumor had it that his own council poisoned him. Others reasoned that the leader was old and didn’t take care of his health. The religious leaders said it was God’s fury for worshiping a false idol. When the national news finally confirmed his death, the signs and whispers grew into a great fervor of cheers. His council tried to quell the voices, but the people would not be silenced anymore. Music returned to the country. Boomboxes boomed, country singers warbled, and children sang for the first time. The people tore down all the self-aggrandizing statues the leader had put up. The people celebrated for an entire month. People from all around the world joined in the celebration. Once the celebrations were done, the people stripped the leader’s council of power. They paraded them through the streets in chains.

“We were only doing our jobs. Have mercy on us.” The council pleaded.

“You showed us no mercy. You mocked us as we were sent to work camps. You called us vermin for disagreeing with you. Where was your mercy when the leader took away our music. Where was your mercy when he took away our voice,” The people said, “We remember.”

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