Architect of paradise (PART I: Out of the Ruins)

27. Good and bad news

      -"Oh. I was away for three days and you became more." I say to these lively teenagers who come to the library. I look at the new member. I think I remember her. She is one of the kids that helped with the festival committee two months ago.

-"Nice to meet you, my dear. I am Addie Mars." I introduce myself. The girl seems to be shy but answers me.

-"I am Margaret Belt." She says and I think I see something strange in her eyes when she spells her name.

-"A name like the flower. However, it is really common. What about Maggie? It gives a magical touch to it!" She is surprised but I can see a really big and bright smile on her face.

-"Do you like your nickname?" I ask her.

-"I like it." She says smiling.

-"Okay, then. Tell me, how did you spend your days when I was not here?" I address to the others.

-"Jane was so bored that she went for the mawkish dates she hates." Justin jokes and Jane throws at him her school bag.

-"It's true. Steven, tell the truth." Justin screams.

-"Well, we went for a date but it was not mawkish."

-"Hm. The evidence is at Jane's house. Maggie drew them on the spot." Simon meddles in.

-"Oh. My little Jane became so cute and mellow." I joke and I can see her blushing.

-"Stop it!!!" She yells.

-"I think that she missed you, too." Justin continues his joke and Jane throws at him Steven's bag.

-"Ah, you are violent!" He screams and Jane laughs.

-"It's lively, isn't it?" I ask Maggie and she nods.

-"What about your work?" Steven asks so he can help his girlfriend to get out of her embarrassment.

-"I did a very thorough search and I think that it will be a very troublesome project."

-"Then, why do you want to do it?" Simon asks.

-"Someone asked my help. I can't ignore him, can I?" I answer. Nobody saw Maggie's face but I did. Her surprise was so big that her eyes opened widely for a moment. I think that she is a very unfortunate child. She hides a lot of trauma inside her and the only reason I can locate it, is that I felt something familiar in her eyes.

In the evening, I chatted with Alice about my trip and the information I collected. She agreed that an elderly nursing home is a big project. However, I don't want to ignore this topic. Alice smiles at me and comforts me. After that, I told her that I delivered myself the petition in city hall of Richmond. Mr. Jackson gave me the results of the environmental tests before my trip so I organized and added them to my thesis. So I acted fast so I could have a fast answer too.

-"What do you think?" I ask her.

-"We are a new organization and even though we are part of the state, I don't know if we can have a positive answer. I don't want to disappoint you, Addie, but you must be prepared."

-"I know but I want to hope for a while."

-"You know that if this project is approved, you must take over the nursing home with the organization founds. The state will not approve two projects of the same organization." She says and I sigh. She is right.

I must find a way to increase founds. The shop and the standard charity are not enough for a big project like that. I think it is better to talk about it with the other members so we can propose different ideas and make decisions.