1984

           Heknewthathewasstarvingtheothertwo,buthecouldnothelpit; heevenfeltthathehadarighttodoit. Theclamoroushungerinhisbellyseemedtojustifyhim. Betweenmeals,ifhismotherdidnotstandguard,hewasconstantlypilferingatthewretchedstoreoffoodontheshelf. 

           Onedayachocolaterationwasissued.Therehadbeennosuchissueforweeksormonthspast. Herememberedquiteclearlythatpreciouslittlemorselofchocolate. Itwasatwo-ounceslab(theystilltalkedaboutouncesinthosedays)betweenthethreeofthem. Itwasobviousthatitoughttobedividedintothreeequalparts. Suddenly,asthoughhewerelisteningtosomebodyelse,Winstonheardhimselfdemandinginaloudboomingvoicethatheshouldbegiventhewholepiece. Hismothertoldhimnottobegreedy. Therewasalong,naggingargumentthatwentroundandround,withshouts,whines,tears,remonstrances,bargainings. Histinysister,clingingtohermotherwithbothhands,exactlylikeababymonkey,satlookingoverhershoulderathimwithlarge,mournfuleyes. Intheendhismotherbrokeoffthree-quartersofthechocolateandgaveittoWinston,givingtheotherquartertohissister. Thelittlegirltookholdofitandlookedatitdully,perhapsnotknowingwhatitwas. Winstonstoodwatchingherforamoment. Thenwithasuddenswiftspringhehadsnatchedthepieceofchocolateoutofhissister’shandandwasfleeingforthedoor. 

           ‘Winston,Winston!’hismothercalledafterhim. ‘Comeback!Giveyoursisterbackherchocolate!’ 

           Hestopped,butdidnotcomeback. Hismother’sanxiouseyeswerefixedonhisface. Evennowhewasthinkingaboutthething,hedidnotknowwhatitwasthatwasonthepointofhappening. Hissister,consciousofhavingbeenrobbedofsomething,hadsetupafeeblewail.