In The Garden

Chapter 6

The meeting of George and Georgette would have seemed random had it not been entirely orchestrated by Georgette. One could say she willed it into being. She stood waiting by her locker. Her younger sister was not far from her looking at her longingly. She always wanted to be as pretty and as popular as her sister. How she longed to talk and flip her hair and catch the eye of every boy in school. Alas she lived in the shadow of her older sister. Georgette was with three of her friends. They always ran together. While Zelda was Georgette's best friend, she had trouble fitting in with Georgette's circle of friends. In this particular instance, Zelda had walked across the hall to get a drink from the water fountain when a group of older boys started to harass her. Georgette's friends moved to intercede but she held them back.

"Hey Zelda what kind of name is that?" asked one.

"Yeah were your parents gamers?" teased another one.

"No it's a family name," said Zelda meekly looking to her sister for help.

"Wait you guys know whose sister this is right," said a third.

"Oh are you scared," teased the first boy, "you believe those rumors about their family? Oh no she might curse us."

"Even if the rumors are not true, they're still the richest family in town. Maybe we should find someone else to pick one," said the third boy.

"Shut up and grow a pair," said the first boy who was clearly the ringleader.

"Yeah," said a new voice, "shut up and grow a pair like this asshole who has to pick on one girl younger than him and with a group. He's clearly a coward and has the smallest pair of all of you. Why don't the three of you leave her alone or deal with me."

The boys backed off and the crowd that had gathered to see the commotion cheered. George walked up to her.

"You ok?" he asked.

"Yes," she said, "I was fine you didn't have to do that even without my sister I can take care of myself."

"Is that so," he said.

"Yes," said Zelda.

"Alright then I'll retire my shining armor," he joked and Zelda smiled. It was at this moment that Georgette walked over.

"Thank you for sticking up for my sister," she said

George looked into the deep endless eyes of Georgette and was instantly smitten.

***

Victoria Baker arrived at Valentine Hospital for the Mentally Ill that Tuesday evening of October 12th at exactly the same time as Marcea Dark. The two ladies walked towards the front doors of the hospital from separate parking spaces with Victoria reaching the doors just moments before Marcea. Victoria saw Marcea entering in behind her and held the door for her.

"Thank you," said Marcea.

"You're welcome," replied Victoria.

Victoria was ready to get some answers she was eager to talk with Randall White. While Marcea Dark was there to assist with a patient who was having some disturbing dreams. Marcea reached the front desk before Victoria.