RIOT

We look ridiculous, platoon of us strung across the Legislature entrance, packing single-shot .410 calibre shotguns on slings.  Across from us, 40,000 demonstators unhappy about the Electricity Rationing Bill.  It's blazing hot, going to 43 degrees Celsius today.  My feet feel awful not used to being enclosed in hot weather.  Sling chafes, as does my underwear, new and stiff, as does my uniform, yet to be softened by many washings.
Still count your blessings, crowd isn't hostile.  The stunning Nordic goddess next to me is hitting on a cute guy in the crowd.  After considerable persuasion, he hands over his cell phone number.  Other side is a girl hitting on the news cameraman.  Not a chance, he ain't buying, but she ain't giving up.
It's so hot the Lieutenant in charge has a  third of us sitting in the shade.  As the others come back, I feel the tap on my shoulder.  With seven other girls I head for the shade, gratefully peel off my combat boots and crack open an icewater.
The Nordic goddess, Heidi asks, "so Nooria, first riot detail?"
"Yes."
"Just out of basic?"
"Oh yes."
Hughette sneers, "niggers.  Get alla the breaks.  We the whites, 100% draft.  Lotta them poor Mickey Mouse countries, 1 in 100 draft."
Heidi smiles uneasily, "stay out of politics, ain't Nooria's fault, now pologize."
"Sor-ry."
Heidi smiles affably, "so you's an Afghan, right?"
"No, Guyanese."
"Gotta lot to learn.  See every country is only just a province of the UN.  So, if you are Afghan and living in Guyana, makes you Afghan by our reckoning."
"Oh."
"So whaddid you do back home, afore the draft?"
"Letter writer, market in New Amsterdam."
Hughette snorts, "What? No computers?"
"There are computers.  Only rich people them afford.  Ordinary folk, they still do letters to all the friends and relatives overseas."
Heidi smiles, "ain't you bit short for the draft?  You's what 4'10"."
"I am not", I reply flatly, "4'11"."
"Still if you was a German, like me, they wouldn't even take you."
"Lottery draft there."
"So why your family move to Guyana?  Surely coulda done better."
I shrug, "was all before I was born.  Politics.  Lucky to get out alive.  Any old port in a storm."
Meena raises an eyebrow, "rumor floating about the Guyanese.  See whenever a girl's name is drawn, usually turns out she's exempt, just married day or two ago.  So why not you?"
"Maybe the cure is worse than the disease."   Everyone roars with laughter.
Meena snorts, "well, don't plan on picking up no one.  Look like jail bait.  Guys be fraid of you, run for their lives."
"Tell me", I ask Heidi, "Why draft women?  Why not men? Surely they're more suitable for this."
"Started with Women's Lib, two centuries ago.  Once the women showed up in the forces, soon discovered they make the best peacekeepers, men the best warriors.  Do the math.  Today there are 8,000 warriors and 28,000,000 peacekeepers.  No need to draft men, 50 applications for each vacancy."
Hughette spits, "totally unfair.  They get hi tech toys.  Us, we  look like we're reenacting Waterloo or Plains of Abraham."
Everyone laughs but with a bitter edge.
I ask no one in particular, "they really expect we can stop 40,000 with 24 muskets?"
"Course not",  Heidi asserts, "real riots are only in the poor countries.  Here, pure theatrics, get enough crowd and enough news coverage and it pressures the Legislature."
"So who's right or wrong?"
"Both.  Legislature, in that we must reduce electricity consumption.  People,  in that it was the government telling them to buy all those gadgets in the first place."
Lt returns, "break over.  Back to it."
Loud chorus of groans.
As I arrive back on line, I'm standing next to a nice-looking girl in the crowd. She smiles, "you ah recognize me?"
"Not with those sunglasses."  She removes them.  "Oh, you're the soccer player."
Winning smile, "plans for later?  Nice coffee house maybe?  Air-conditioned?"
"Sure, love to."
She writes her phone number.  I very carefully tuck it in my wallet.
She smiles, "just love a  girl in uniform.  You look soooo cute, like an actress in an old movie.  A musketeer.  How romantic."