Reviewer: VividImagination Signed
Date: May 03 2014
Title: Chapter 1: Chapter 1
I felt compelled to add this:
I am aware that in your universe, most people shrink at the age of 16 or so. I just meant that it would make more sense if the parents were obligated to take care of their children until they are 18 or possibly 21(in some areas). Even though some parents may not care to do this, many others would not just want to lose their child to a strange person at the school or out in public and just not be able to do anything about it.
Then again, people in this new time may not care what happens to their children, and as sad as that may be, it would explain things. I know that it's a part of the law. So Caitlyn's parents can't force Marissa to return their daughter if they do infact want her back.
Anywho...sorry to be so critical about this. It's just hard to believe that people can choose to let things happen this way. Especially to someone as young and innocent as Caitlyn.
Author's Response: Sorry, I guess I should have expanded on that idea a bit more. I'll probably explain the concept more fully in a future story, but what I'm thinking is this:
Shrunken people are considered less than human in this world. More like animals than people, so keeping one you find isnt strange in this culture.
Most people have the mentality that It'll always happen to someone else. The friend of a friend, or your uncle's cousin's kid. It never really occurs to most people that it might happen to them or someone they love.
By making it legal to keep a mini you find, but also requiring you to register it, the government can keep track of minis quickly and easily. In order to purchase mini merchandise you must have your license on you. Failing to provide one willl result in a black mark, and this gives the local law enforcement the right to search your home and seize any minis you own. If you fail to bring your mini in for its annual check-up, law enforcement can be called. If your mini has any signs of physical abuse, law enforcement can be called. There are intiatives to protect minis, but they're mostly formalities.
Parent's can make a formal request to reclaim any children that have fallen into the possession of a stranger, but the process is long, and relationships between parents and their shrunken children are infamous for their instability. Both parties tend to resent the other eventually, leading to hate-filled relationships. Thus, parents will often give their children the option to be raised by someone else. These adoptions are usually made via a Miniature Adoption Center. The final choice is made by the mini, but these tend to be the lucky ones.
There is also a mentality that minis can't really be harmed, so keeping them safe is often considered a waste of time and money. Some companies that sell minis lobby to get rid of what few rights minis have.
In general, it's the culture and public mentality that allows for these seemingly tragic occurences to happen. Though in this case Caitlyn may or may not even want to return to her parents. You'll just have to keep reading.
