Youth's Dew

Chapter 1

Pann (present day)

It's done, I'm a married woman, Mrs. Pannikin Charity-Ainsworth. Standing alone for the first time in a few hours, I'm awestruck by my surroundings. The cavern, which seems to be the downtown area, is as big as a baseball stadium and as high as a three-story building. Earlier there had been natural lighting everywhere, but now that the sun has set, the town is lit with all sorts of alternate lighting. There doesn't seem to be dark place anywhere. Standing in the middle, on an antique wooden bridge, I look straight at a building that says, "Central Control Room." I'm assuming that's for their CIA department or maybe police? Will they want a background check done on me? Please don't let them question Mrs. Knobsview, I'd be arrested by whatever tall tale she would say, and have to settle for conjugal visits from Joven. As I start slowing turning my body to my right, I realize, as you go around the circular cavern that businesses are located all along the outer edge. This sizable area seems to be split in two by the bubbling creek below me where I'm standing. Every few buildings there is an entrance to what looks like tunnels. Even the passageways are will lit and people are flowing in and out of them. By the time my eyes make it a half turn, I see other bigger buildings labeled "Gymnasium," then "City Hall", "Dewstone Downtown Business District" and next to it, offset by a slight concave section of the room is the "Reflection room."

Seeing the Reflection Room makes me wonder where Michael is? Should I tell Joven about him? Maybe talking about another guy on your wedding night is a bad idea. I lost my mother before getting around to wanting to know about such things. I mean, I know how babies are made, I just don't think I should author a book about it. The contents would be about three pages long and be mostly illustrated with just hand drawn pictures from movies I've watched.

I continue perusing the area, till my eyes are back on the Central Control Center. It seems all the buildings are similar in design and color. The artist in me wants a paint brush, gallons of paint and to be set free on a mostly blank canvas of white and off-white structures. The only exception is City Hall, and the office building next to it, they both seem to be constructed only of light grey stone. The Gymnasium and Reflection Room seem to be a combination of plaster and stone, but still white in color. Counting as I turned in circles, I found seven tunnels, but three of the openings were dark. Between the outer businesses and the creek below me, is a lot of open space. Picnic areas, playground, and lots of benches are scattered amongst the multiple stone pathways everywhere. In front of every business there are seating areas and assorted flowers in grayish colored pots. With the backdrop of the whitish buildings, the flowers really pop and you can almost feel like you're in a whole new country.

"Hi!" Startled, I jump from my visual tour. Standing before me is a strikingly beautiful, tall woman. I'm betting she's never had to pull her jeans up using a pair of pliers. "I didn't mean to scare you, but wanted to come and introduce myself. I'm Karmony". Smiling, it seems she thinks I should already know her name, but it doesn't sound familiar. Wanting to adjust quickly and make a good impression of Joven's friends, I reach out and shake her hand.

"Hi, my name is Pann. You didn't scare me, just taking in all the splendor. Your town is beautiful and your fellow Dewbies are all so nice. Thank you for letting me into your hidden world." Smiling, and wanting to make a good impression.

"I'm sure Joven would've gotten around to introducing one of his best friends to his new wife, but I see he's kind of busy, and on his wedding day, tsk, tsk. Men can be thoughtless at times." I follow her lead and turn my head as she looks over to Joven surrounded by a small, impressive looking group of distinguished people. They seem to have on ceremonial robs of some sort, but I'm too far away to see in detail.

"I noticed he was talking to his friends, but I don't mind since I was taking the opportunity to view your beautiful town", I say as we turn back to facing each other.