CELESTINA

Chapter 12: Everything Will be Alright

The end of the week had a slightly different meaning than it did when we were in Grooming Tech. When I was there, we had five days of instruction and organized activities. After Grooming Tech and the rest of the evening would be spent in our rooms.

The Career Education Centre, on the other hand, actually closes down on Friday… and not at eight in the evening, as it did on the other days for after hours tutoring. On Friday, the CEC closed its doors at six o’clock.

But it was only four o’clock right now and it seemed like six o’clock would take an eternity to come. Time was going way too slow. It is true what they say, 'Time slips away when you are pressed against a deadline and it seems to crawl by when you have nothing but time to enjoy'.

A big group of us decided to meet up at Vivian’s to watch the new romantic comedy movie that had been approved for release. Viv's parents have an entertainment room that had a noticeably big room with a wall screen that was perfect for a large gathering. Everyone was told to bring a snack and arrive no later than six o’clock.

I was tapping my pen restlessly on the table and continued to stare at Chiron and occasionally glancing at the time on my tablet, all the while trying desperately to remember what she just said.

Her voice finally registered in my brain “Isn’t that good news?” Chiron asked.

I shook my head not sure of what she was saying “I am sorry. What did you say?”

She looked at me questioningly “I said I just got word that you have been approved for a family of four children, without the bother of Grooming Tech fees subtracted from your income. That is unheard of. Isn’t that good news?”

Confused by her statement “Four children?” I asked. I had been too distracted. She was not making any sense.

“Celestina, stop wandering off and pay attention to what I am saying. I was saying that The Chapter has graciously allowed for you and your future husband to have four children and be exempt from all Grooming Tech fees. Being Aurora comes with great benefits. That news will be of great interest to anyone seeking a Marriage Contract with you,” Chiron smiled and nodded her head at me, expecting me to agree with her.

'Can the Chapter decide on what we need in our lives?' “Yes. What wonderful news. Four children,” I smiled in return because it felt like the right thing to do.

Chiron put her tablet down and looked over at me “Of course you can have more than four. The fees would not begin until your fifth child turns five and is enrolled at Grooming Tech. Six would be an amazing number, do not you think? There has not been a family with six children for well over one hundred years. Half a dozen new Citizens for Committee… Committee Reigns! How exciting!” She clapped her hands together in one loud boom.

I jerked my head up in surprise '6 children huh?' and found the most joyful expression on her face “Yes... Very!!” I said.

I am not sure if I want to have six children. Although it did occur to me that if I spaced them out correctly, I could be sending the last one off to Grooming Tech just as the first one was coming home.

I always thought it would be hard to have a child, send it away for twelve years, and then suddenly have a grown child at home again. The visits that we were allowed never seemed like it was enough of a real contact to make any deep connections. Sometimes it felt like my friends from school knew more about me, were closer to me and cared more for me than my own parents did.

But on the other hand, living with a child through its developmental years did seem like an even stranger concept. I was not a trainer and definitely not equipped to deal with the physical and emotional changes all girls and boys went through. And what would I do with a boy? I do not know the first thing about boys. I had never laid eyes on a boy from the ages of six to sixteen. I was quite sure I would mess things up, no doubt about it.

Six is a little unreal though. For many years I had pictured myself giving birth to the one mandatory child that was required of all fertile females. I considered the possibility of two, knowing that twins do happen and that sometimes a married couple decides to have more than one. But I had never entertained the idea of more than two, let alone four or six.

All this information made it seem like I was finally getting the answers to all the questions that had plagued me since Dr. Zena cut off the white bandage to reveal my Citizen Brand.

'What does it mean to be an Aurora? Does it only entail to me being an ambassador to Committee or learning how to be a public figure and resolving myself to the future travel and public appearances that were expected of me? Does it mean finding the best possible candidate to enter into a Marriage Contract with. It also meant having four children for the glory of the Committee. Not six, I told myself. Four.

Chiron tapped on her tablet and swiped at the screen “What’s next?” I asked, eager to leave the subject of marriage and children behind.

“We need to take you through some of the speeches The Chapter has decided to have you in a film. It is just a preliminary thing. They want you to get used to speaking on a camera. So, we will practice here, pretending there is a camera and then we will eventually move on to a real one. On Monday we will make a visit to the video department of the CEC so you, young lady, need to practice these speeches tomorrow and Sunday. I have just sent them to your tablet. Make sure you look them over. No full day of rest for the Aurora girl,” she teased.

Chiron is not particularly good at teasing. It somehow seems half hearted and awkward for her to speak in any way other than a straightforward manner “Let us read through the first one together,” she suggested gesturing for me to stand in front of her “Come. Stand by me. Having a good posture is step number one when in front of a camera.”

I got up from my chair and walked over to stand in front of her and began to read the text together.

*****

At six twenty, I walked up the steps to Vivian’s house. There was a note on the door that simply read Please Come In. When I opened the door, a chiming sound echoed through the house, my house did the same thing to let everyone inside know that someone was entering the residence. I wondered if all the houses were equipped with such chimes. It seemed logical that they were.

I walked further in “Heeeelloooooo?” I called out in a sing song voice.

“In the kitchen!” Vivian yelled back.

I entered the kitchen only to find Vivian and Alanzo standing in front of the sink with their soapy hands intertwined under the running water. Vivian giggled and flicked water and bubbles at Alanzo’s face.

“Hey, Viv... Alonzo,” I smiled “What are you both up to?”

“We are in the process of making the biggest mess. We were trying to make my mother’s sweet lemon glaze,” Vivian laughed gesturing towards the countertop which made me feel like a hurricane rummaged through the kitchen “It did not turn out so well.”

“The attempt was a total failure,” Alanzo admitted with a mischievous smile.

"Yeah, no kidding! God! It looks as though a hurricane passed through your kitchen!" I laughed swiping my fingertip along the countertop.

“Where is your mom? Why did she not make this for you?” I asked with a chuckle.

Viv rolled her eyes flicking water at Alonzo “My parents are with yours, remember, at that dinner party,” she answered shrugging her shoulders.

I threw my head back as I remembered the message from my father that I had received earlier in the day "Your mother and I will not be home this evening. Duty calls. Have a nice time at Vivian’s". It seems that “not be home” actually meant “at a dinner party with Denny and Chase.” Vivian was right. I needed to ask more questions.

Leaning my a*s on one of the cupboards “Sooooo... you two have been here... all alone,” I winked.

A pink hue dusted my best friend's cheeks as she blushed profusely while Alanzo simply looked away.

Deciding not to embarrass them further “Who all are coming?” I asked.

Alonzo looked at me briefly “Steven is on his way. Nash and Lily should be here too,” he said.

“Pet 1, Pet 2, and Meg, because they do not do anything without Lily,” Vivian added.

“Cameron decided to stay home as he mentioned something about going through his notes from the week. No surprise there. But I think Nile is coming and he might bring one of his other friends” Alanzo summed up the other attendees.

Vivian gestured with a nod of her chin to the box I was holding “What did you bring?”

I hopped on the countertop placing the box on the counter “Chocolate, walnut, and brown sugar muffins. Damian, Gloriana’s chef, left them for me. He said they are divine. I am actually dying to try one.”

Lifting the lid up I pulled out one of the muffins and I ripped off the top since I love it the most as it tastes better and then took a big bite of it. The slight crunch of the nuts, the hearty walnuts, and the sweet brown sugar, mixed together with chocolate, Damian’s secret blend of spices (that he refuses to divulge) all those flavors seemed to bring my tastebuds to life, I loved it “Mmmmmm,” I moaned in delight while I chewed.

Vivian gawked at the look on my face and giggled “That good huh?”

“Ohhhh… it is THAT good! Here... go on try it,” I said and brought the piece of muffin to her mouth.

She took the bite I held out “Oh. My. God. That is seriously Aaaaamaaaazing,” she as well moaned in delight.

She grabbed the rest out of my hand and held it out to Alanzo “You have to try this,” she said.

Alanzo opened his mouth for Vivian to place the piece of muffin up to his lips. As he took the bite into his mouth, he seemed to kiss the tips of her fingers, his lips lingering a little longer than required. The smile that graced her lips is one that I have never seen before. It was a very intimate moment. I turned my attention to anywhere but them as it felt like I was intruding.

Unable to stand it any longer I hoped off the countertop “I think I heard something. I will go check the door,” I said softly, not wanting to break their moment.

Neither of them said a word, seemingly lost in their own world, as I walked out of the room directing myself toward the front door. Coincidentally, the door opened just as I neared, and Steven came walking in.

He pulled me into a hug “Tina!” he exclaimed.

“Steven!” I greeted wrapping my arms around him.

He pulled away and studied the expression on my face “Why do you look so strange?” he asked and then puffed up his cheeks with air.

I felt heat creep up my neck and my cheeks “Oh... No reason. Come on, they are in the kitchen. I am sure the door chime has… nothing. Follow me,” I fumbled my words stumbling all over myself.

Steven released his air bubble with a knowing look “Ooh, and you’re acting strange too”

“Damn Lovebirds,” I whispered.

Steven chuckled under his breath “Aaaah. Now I understand why you are acting so... weird. Sickening, isn’t it?”

I shook my head with a smile “And not to mention awkward”.

Steven followed after me into the kitchen and placed a small white box on the counter.

“Steven!” Alanzo smiled, stepping away from Vivian while rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly “Did you bring it?”

I looked between the both of them in confusion “Bring what?” I asked.

Steven opened the box to reveal small bite sized pieces of something light brown. The smell that emanated from the box was mouth watering. It smelled a bit like the hard candies we were permitted to have on certain Committee holidays, but the scent was richer.

Vivian licked her lips and peered over Alonzo's shoulder to look “What is that?”

“This is called toffee,” Steven said as he picked out four pieces and distributed one to each of us “And It is the most amazing candy. I think It is just made from sugar and butter, I do not know. Anyway, it is cooked in some special way. Apparently, it is only made once a year and you can only buy one box. My mother said she gets an extra box from her neighbor because the crazy woman does not really like it. I begged her to let me bring this little bit so you guys can taste it. It will be months before it comes out again, but we are getting some of our own, right now. Anyway, pop it in your mouth. You can suck it or chew it. I suck on it, because it lasts longer that way, and if you chew it, it gets stuck in your teeth”.

I popped the piece of toffee in my mouth and let my tongue move across the surface of it. The sweet flavor coated the inside of my mouth “Oh wow, Steven, this is amazing!”

Vivian’s eye widened as she placed a piece of toffee in her mouth “This is better than a hot chocolate drink”.

Alanzo slapped Steven on the back “I told you they would love it”.

“My mom has a weakness for sweet tasting things,” Steven said.

The chime echoed through the house again, announcing the next arrivals. Steven hid the box of toffee, stating that it was too valuable to be devoured by the herd, and then we went to welcome our friends. Within a few minutes, the rest of the group had arrived, carrying various bags and boxes filled with treats. Nile was the last to arrive, he had Thomas with him.

I had not gotten an opportunity to interact much with Thomas during Coalesce. He was quiet and kept to himself, so it was a nice surprise to see him at something social. Even though he did not say much, his eyes were always moving about as if he was absorbing every detail of the world around him. I liked that about him.

Vivian announced that she was going to start the movie on the wall screen, so we gathered in the other room and sat down to watch the movie. As usual, I could predict the ending pretty much right after the beginning.

Vivian shushed me only to tell me to be quiet, once… after I said, out loud, the name of the secret admirer a few minutes before he was revealed on screen. I kept my mouth closed during the last half of the movie. I had such a bad habit of spoiling the ending, and I wanted to make sure I did not do it again for everyone.

After the film was over, Vivian brought out all of the food that everyone brought with them. She placed it in the centre of the room, and we all sat around it on the floor and just talked.

“Are there any other movies that you have seen recently?” Meg asked the group.

“I liked the historical drama one that told of the Origins of Committee’s Council,” Alanzo said plating a piece of chicken in his mouth “The people at the time were not doing well at all. It is no wonder The Chapter was formed”.

It was Petra who piped up next “There was that one about the love story involving a Marriage Contract that almost did not happen because of a selfish woman. I loved how she saw the error in her ways and made things right in the end,” she sighed.

“Ohhhh... yes,” Petricia chimed in gleefully “I liked that one too.”

“What about books?” I asked “Has anyone read that new one… the cover image has a girl on it… she was wearing a blue shimmering dress… argh... What is it called?” I snapped my fingers trying to recall the name.

“I have not heard of that one,” Meg pulled at her bottom lip in confusion.

“Neither have I,” Lily shrugged.

I clapped my hands together just when I remembered the title “I remember now Lost on the way to the Beach. There is this girl like I said, and she is on a trip to the beach with her friend. They are walking through a wooded area, and I think they get lost. That is as far as I got.”

Meg shook her head “I scan the new selections every day and I did not see that one”.

I jumped to my feet from the floor where we sat "Let me get my tablet and show it to you.”

My bag was still in the kitchen. I grabbed it, brought it back into the other room, and took out my personal tablet. As I started scanning through the Library, Meg looked over my shoulder “All the same selections I have,” Meg noted.

“It was right here,” I thumbed through the titles "I had read almost half of it already, and I was planning to finish the rest of it the next day. I cannot believe that it is just gone, vanished from my tablet".

“Whatever it was, it must have been removed which is why it is not there now,” Nile commented shrugging his shoulders “That is not exactly uncommon. If the media department receives several complaints about the same book, they will pull it from all devices. My father is a media distributor. He works with Thomas’s father,” he explained.

My attention was diverted to Steven as he shook his head “They sit in front of those damn wall tablets all day, do not they?” Steven asked.

“They Probably do,” Nile shrugged.

“Ugh... No desk job for me,” Steven sighed.

“Well that is disappointing and frustrating,” I sighed “I really liked the story so far.”

“So, what, make up a new ending,” Steven suggested with a wink “Come on, you know you want to”.

I pushed his shoulder hard, almost knocking him off balance “Maybe I should or hell... maybe I will!”

Thomas’s turned his attention to me and his eye glinted with curiosity “You do that too?” he asked me.

I knit my brows at his question not understanding what he meant by it “Do what?”

His eyes were locked on mine “Make up new endings to stories.”

I looked over at Viv as I answered a little sheepishly “Sometimes,” I said “Especially when I think it would be more interesting if the story took a different path. Sometimes I think it would be nice if the characters did something unexpected.”

“Me too,” Thomas smiled at me and it was the most that I have seen him speak or interact with anyone “Did you know I was assigned to the Writing Department? I am leaning more towards Creative Storytelling rather than News and General Information.”

“I did not. But if you like to make up stories then it sounds like the perfect placement for you. Vivian, Alanzo, and Steven once thought that I might end up being in the writing department creating stories. I think it would have been a nice career" I shrug my shoulders "but I guess it simply was not meant to be.”

Thomas shook his head looking intently at me “I suppose not. Destiny has other plans for you.”

I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear unknowingly “We can’t argue with destiny, can we? It is all for the best, right?” I asked, slightly uncertain of my own words.

“Is it though?” Petricia sighed looking dejectedly down at the 'I' branded into her flesh.

Petra was quick to grab her sister’s hand “It is,” she said softly before looking over at the group “Did we tell you all our plan?” she asked the entire group. “I guess we could not have. It was approved by The Chapter just this morning. Since we are identical twins, so alike in every way, we have decided to stay together always. You see, any child I have will also look like it came from her, and since Petricia is infertile but I am not, I can have one for me and then have one for her.”

“We will need to marry brothers though,” Petricia continued shrugging her shoulders “That way there will be similar genetic material from the fathers as well as from us. The Chapter has approved for a Marriage Broker to look in all four Committees to find two brothers, close in age, for us to marry. I think it would be nice if we all lived in the same house.”

“Of course, it will be wonderful!” Petra agreed “Our mother was the one who came up with the idea and our Father approached The Chapter with our plan. Committee will not even charge our family for the Marriage Broker’s services. They just want us to appear at a few public functions and make a Marriage video to show the Citizens how gracious The Chapter is being to us. Being an identical twin is quite special.”

I positioned myself between the two of them and pulled them into a group hug “I think both of you are beyond special. I am happy for the both of you.”

Petricia wrung her hands together, a nervous tick of hers “I hope they find a good match for us” she said with downcast eyes.

Petra hugged a little longer "I am sure they will. We will be together. That is all that matters" she pulled away from the hug and cupped her sister's face "Everything will be alright!"