My father found his ballot card and situated himself in his favorite reclining chair. With his cold dessert and the remote close at hand, he was ready for action well before voting began. There was the usual precast debate on the government station and the equally annoying post-cast coverage on every other station.
Beryl helped me heat and blast the dishes clean. Personally, I don't think the effort to cook at home is worth the mess. Almost anything you want for dinner can be delivered by a street vendor, and you skip the preparation mess altogether.
“Beryl, do you think they will, you know, remove all the people from the Pacific Canyon? Where would they put them?” I tried to follow recent events even though I won't be allowed to vote until my birthday.
“Don't ask questions you don't want answers to Booger,” Beryl boomed in a louder than necessary voice.
“Don't call me that Red Beryl, you have red in your name you should be more sympathetic to your people,” I retorted with an unfortunate whine.
“It's a precious gem you moron,” Beryl growled defensively.
“It's a precious gem. It's a precious gem,” I mocked. “Whatever you say, Red.” Beryl sneered at me, dropped her gloves on the floor, and walked out of the kitchen.
Jason stood close behind me. “I'm often saddened when I dwell on my situation as an only child and last heir of my family's name. Then I visit with you and Beryl, and I'm not sad anymore.” His breath moved my hair as he leaned in closer. “Not at all, not even a teeny, tiny bit.” Jason leaned over me, grabbed a piece of re-hydrated cheddar cheese, and popped it in his mouth.
“Some days, it is difficult not to do terrible things to that smug...” I stopped myself, not wanting to receive another lecture from my father. “Yes, my sister is stubborn.”
Jason picked up a stone dish and placed it in the sanitizer. “You know how to use the sanitizer?” I laughed, snorting a bit as I tended to when I find myself exceptionally amusing. “I assumed your house crew did all the cleaning?”
“Your smart mouth is chasing away all your kitchen help, Missy.” Jason stood close and stared deeply into my eyes. I could feel a small tingle of heat in the pit of my stomach.
His eyes are a captivating mix of deep brown and subtle green patchwork stitched together with golden threads of light. I try not to stare at them, but they grab my full attention.
“I suppose I'm being bitchy, but I can't believe they docked five points for butter and salt.” My eyes start to burn. I had more on my mind than the lost points, but I didn't want to think about anything else.
Jason put his arm around my back and kissed the top of my head. “It is all going to be fine. You have nothing to worry about. Besides, if you fail your test, I'll hack into the video testing office and give you a better grade. Booger.”
“You and Beryl can both kiss my butt.” I tossed the bag of blasting media back under the sink causing the pipes to rattle.
“I don't know. How much salt do you think is on that little butt? I would guess not much, but you may get docked another whole point.” Jason flicked a plastic rag at my hip. The material snapped with a crisp pop when it hit my pants pocket.
“Ow! Damn it,” I complained. “There is something mentally wrong with you.” Jason snickered at me and rubbed my shoulders roughly.
“Jason,” my father bellowed. “take your hands off my baby daughter and come help me with this damn ballot software.” My father sat at the edge of his recliner whacking the card reader on his palm. “I can't get this blasted machine to read my card.”
“Yes, Sir, let me see what I can do to fix it for you.” Jason slipped his hands off my shoulders and popped another cheese cube in his mouth. “before you break it completely,” he muttered, before rushing over to help my father.
I was almost done with the kitchen. After starting the sanitizer and wiping down the counters, I went looking for my dessert and noticed my mother's yogurt was still in the fridge next to mine. I took a few quiet steps into the hallway, trying to listen for any sounds of life.
“Yes, I understand the cakes were ordered over a year ago. Still, I would like to change two of the cakes to chocolate cream. Well, can I add them as additional cakes? It is my father's favorite flavor. The extra cost is fine, yes.” My mother's voice grew louder and cracked. She was usually so calm and friendly with everybody.
“Thank you for your help, Tom. I'm sure you have other orders for tomorrow, but I want my father to have a piece of his favorite chocolate cake before he dies.” She turned off her phone, grabbed a thick pillow from the bed, covered her face with it, and started screaming.
I stood frozen, staring at her through the small sliver of space between the door and the wall. The muffled sounds of agony in her voice cemented me to the stone floor. The quick tap of Beryl's heeled boots came up behind me. I turned to look at her expecting to be ridiculed for eavesdropping. She put a finger to her mouth and coaxed me backward out of the hallway.
“Don't let her know you saw her like this, Doodle. She isn't herself.” There were no words available for a snarky retort. I nodded in agreement and wiped the new tears from my face.
“Go get ready for the lunar gathering. It will
