n

n

nThe busy streets of Baymard, had soon turned Topsy-turvy from all the frenzied people moving around hastily.

n.

n4 P.M

nEvans quickly got off work and hurriedly ran alongside his coworkers to the gate.

n'Din! Din! Din! Din! Din!'

nThe sounds of overly loud footsteps, echoed sharply throughout the area.

n.

nEvans looked at his time and but his lips anxiously.

nDamn!... Where was a cab when you needed one?

nStanding under the cab waiting point, Evans felt like crying.

nWhat should he do now?

nShould he go to another waiting point and check it out first?

n.

nActually, since the people had no phones or means to call for cabs..... several cab stops had been placed within every block in Baymard.

nEach day, a particular number of cabs would be assigned to a block.... depending on the usual usage volume from the people there.

n.

nTypically, Evans usually used the bus or train when leaving work.

nBut how could he use those now?

nHe had to get to the Upper Region fast God-Dammit!!

n.

n

"Ahhh!!!!

nBro.... Bro... should we just go to another waiting spot?

nIt's just a 5 minute walk from here.

" Asked one of his friends.

n

"Why do I feel like when we leave, that's when a cab will show up?

"

n

"_

"

n.

nEvans and his buddies walked back and forth the waiting point, as they were trying to spot any Taxi from a mile away.

nThey would jump high up, while stretching their necks like giraffes... as they looked at bothe ends of the road.

nAnd 4 minutes later, they immediately spotted 8 cabs heading their way.

nIt was a miracle!!

n.

nInstantly, everyone felt their mood quickly improve.

nThey jumped merely like 5 year old children, as they held their bags tightly in their hands.

n

"Hahahhahaha!!!!

nScully, what did I tell you?

nSee?

nIf we had left, wouldn't we miss these ones now?

"

n

"Thank Heavens that I listened to you.

"

n.

nThey smiled stupidly, while waving their hands up in the air..... but soon, they saw other hands up as well.

nShit!!!

nLooking at the crowd around them, they knew that only a chosen few would get the chance to sit in these incoming cabs.

nEvans readied himself for the marathon, as he watched all the contestants around him prep themselves as well.

n.

nAs the cabs approached..... Evans could feel a blanket of eagerness, leisurely wrapping itself around him unhurriedly.

nUnconsciously, he began moving forward alongside the crowd.

nAnd soon.... his fast walking pace had quickly turned into running.

n.

n'Driouuuuuuuuu!'

n'Din! Din! Din! Din!'

nAs the Cabs came in close vicinity with the massive crowd, several people could be seen running at full speed toward them.

nThe crowd was like a river of people, as it moved in one direction.

n'Cluckh! Cluckh! Cluckh!'

nAll the car doors were opened, and several people forced their way in hastily.

n.

nThe cab drivers looked at them helplessly..... as they noticed that some people trying to sit on other people's laps.

n

"Sorry..... but I can only take a maximum of 4 people.

" The drivers all explained.

nAnd while others were fighting, several other cans pulled up again.

nIt was indeed a busy day.

n.

n'Driouuuuuuuu!'

nThe Cabs were off, and Evans was finally at peace.

nBut of course, how could this so called peace of mind last for long?

nThey were on their way to District C... and somewhere around District D, they had been held up by Traffic.

n.

nThe traffic had snaked up the hill, as each lane had been utterly filled with no room for sudden lane switches.

n'Peep!! Peep!! Peep!!'

nThe sounds of honking could be heard from a mile away, as the people's impatience began to slowly thin out.

n.

nEvans looked at the black velvet road that was placed with white and yellow ribbon stripes.... and couldn't help but wonder if running would be faster at this point.

n

n

nOf course, he wasn't the only one who had such thoughts... as the traffic procession was filled with more distressed people, who all felt like they would die any moment from anxiety.

n

"Come on!!

nMove!!!

"

n

"What the hell is causing this traffic?

"

n

"Oh my heavens!!

nWhy today of all days?

"

n

"_

"

n.

nThis scene continued on for a while, as the cars kept diving forward in a snail-like manner.

nAnd soon, they had finally exited the Jam.

n'Driiiuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!'

nThey drove for a while more, until they finally drove into District C.

nMore specifically, they had been heading towards 'Baymard's Revenue Agency'.

nFor sure, all this hustle and bustle was for 'Tax Refunds'.

n.

nSeveral months ago, they had filled some sort of tax slip, and submitted it to the agency.

nThese slips were Tax return slips..... and after submissions, within the next 2 weeks, they had received an envelope from the Agency.

nAnd within the envelope, which would reveal whether they were owing the government or not.

nIn Baymard, almost none of those that applied had owed.... so they were getting their Tax refunds instead.

n.

nNow, within the envelope.... the applicants would find several documents within it.

nAll these spoke about how much they would receive from 1025's tax refunds..... as well how the calculations were made, expected payment date and so on.

n.

nAnd since there were no bank cards yet, Landon didn't want to start making Cheques as well.

nSo that left the people with just one option.... and that was to personally go to the revenue agency and collect their money themselves.

n.

nAs for how the agency organized the entire thing, it was still done on a 'first come, first serve' basis.

nSo again, enclosed within those sent out envelopes... they would be able to find a letter which confirmed the day in which they completed their forms.

nIn this way, they knew who was first and who was dead last.

n.

nFor Evans, his ticket showed that he had submitted his form on January 8th of this year.

nSo in the newspapers and on the radio... it was announced that those who submitted between the 5th of January up to January 15th, needed to come to the office within this week and take their tax refunds.

nLikewise, those that owed... needed to move their asses there and make payment plans if necessary.

n.

nAnd if one had lost their date slip..... not to worry, they could go to the Revenue agency and look it up.

nThe agency also had a massive Notice board, where they posted scheduled services as well.

nFor example, on the board... one could see:

n•Submission Period: January 5th - January 12th

nExpected Period: Monday March 14th to Friday March 18th.

n•Submission Period: January 13th - January 21st.

nExpected Period: Monday March 21st to Friday March 25th.

n•....

n.

nOf course, even though Tax refunds were currently being sent out.....the date line for submitting one's application, was still April 25th.

nAnd with hundreds of applications coming in weekly, the agency workers had their hands full during this period.

n.

nToday was March 14th, 1026!

nIt was the official start day for the citizens to receive their tax refunds.

n

n