America & Me..

Chapter 3

These budget meetings are the absolute worst. I walked out, my head still spinning from the never ending ledgers that the accountants seem to have an unlimited stock of. Still overwhelmed from the meeting, I found myself standing in the corridor of the Selected rooms.

The first thing that catches my eye is the open door to America's room. I peek inside. The moment I do so, I can't hold back a chuckle. America sitting on the floor, cross legged, was playing cards with her maids. Warm breeze came through the open balcony ruffling her wild hair. I watched with a smile tugging at my lips as they laughed and cheered as each one won. No wonder she cared so much for her maids.

I was so distracted by the innocence and happiness that exuded from the quartet on the floor, that I didn't notice when the youngest one had realized I was standing there. She elbowed the maid next to her, who looked like the head of the trio.

"Your Majesty," she said with a curtsy. "Such an honor, sir."

"For me as well," I answered, acknowledging her with a smile.

The maids exchanged excited glances with one another. For a brief second, we were all oddly silent, unsure what to do.

Another maid suddenly said, "We were just leaving."

"Yes! That's right," another added. "We were—uh—just..." She trailed off...

"Going to finish Lady America's dress for Friday," The maid who swept all the cards into her basket, concluded.

"That's right," said another, "Only two days left." Wow, America has quite the entertaining group here.

They slowly circled us to get out of the room.

"Wouldn't want to keep you from your work," I replied. I made a face once they left the room, rushing in the corridor, giggling.

"Quite a group you have," I said. My eyes were briefly on America. But then I started looking all around the room. The room was made up, but very simple.

"They keep me on my toes," She replies.

"It's clear they have affection for you. That's hard to find." I said, still not maintaining eye contact. Once I was done surveying the room, I looked at America and said, "This isn't what I imagined your room would look like."

She raised an arm and let it fall. "It's not really my room, is it? It belongs to you, and I just happen to be borrowing it."

I frowned. "Surely they told you that changes could be made? A new bed, different paint."

She shrugged. "A coat of paint wouldn't make this mine. Girls like me don't live in houses with marble floors,"

I smiled. "What does your room at home look like?" I was stalling now. I still hadn't decided what I was supposed to talk to her about.

"Um, what did you come for exactly?" She asked. What on earth was I supposed to say?!

"Oh! I had an idea." I said. Trying to stall. Again.

"About?" She asked, after waiting a moment for me to elaborate.

"Well," I started, continuing to pace around the room racking my mind for some excuse. Then I remembered that in the movie I saw with Marlee, the two lovers used a secret signal to converse between them. "I thought that since you and I don't have the typical relationship that I have with the other girls, maybe we should have..." I paused, searching for words. "An alternative means of communication." I finished.

I pause before America's mirror, looking at the images of her family members. "Your little sister looks just like you." I say.

"We get that a lot. What was that about alternative communication?"