Perfect World Somewhere

Chapter 1

"Lily Fairpoole, where have you been?" Mama crossed her arms.

"I went to see Daddy."

"How many times have I told you not to bother him at work?"

Lily bent a toe, and tried to look innocent. "Lots of times."

Mama's smile beamed through mock anger, and she hugged her five-year-old daughter. "You sweet, silly girl," she said. "What am I going to do with you?"

Nana chuckled, the creak of her rocking chair and click of her knitting needles forming a cheerful tempo. "Now you know what I put up with when you were a child, Mayla."

Women's laughter warmed the room, along with the cozy snap of flame on the open hearth. They were the familiar sounds of home, and happiness.

Lily was fascinated by her father's shop, and loved sneaking there to visit.

The big sign out front made everyone want to stop and look.

Daddy told her what it said, as he lifted her onto his broad shoulders. "Isaac Fairpoole, robotic maintenance. My father taught me, and I'll teach you, Sunshine."

He always called her that nickname, and it made her happy. When he insisted that Lily become his apprentice, Mama agreed with a sigh.

Most little girls played with dolls, but Lily played with mechanical wonders. She was thrilled by the smells of oil, welded metal, and the sweat of a hard day's work. The many rows of parts and tools along the walls stirred endless curiosity.

Daddy often guided her hands, with the flare of the welding torch reflected in their goggles.

"That's it," he said. "Keep it up, and you'll be building robots in no time."

The Fairpoole family owned a tidy house, with a secluded yard. Trees grew in a neat row along the fence. She played with her sisters, Aimee, and Grace, and their little brother, Clarence. A fragrant plum orchard bordered one side, nestled against the rise of the nearby hills. Birdsong filled the air, and clouds billowed across the sky.

After supper, they sat around the fire.

Mama taught them reading, writing, and arithmetic. She was a private tutor in their small town.

Lily learned quickly, and helped her sisters catch up.

Clarence was only three, but he was smart, and could read a few words by himself.

By the time she was six years old, she noticed the hidden rhythms around her. She hummed along, as the others read. Her siblings laughed when she sang the words in their books, but she heard the melodies in her mind.

It was Nana who first noticed, and encouraged Lily's love of music.

Nana's weathered brown skin bore distinct lines, the pathways worn from a lifetime of smiles. She held Lily on her lap, and they made up their own lyrics, or sang old-time favorites.

"I was a singer when I was young," Nana said. "It was a happy time, before the War. Bands played in the parks, people dancing. I miss those carefree days."

Lily wished she knew what peace was like. Nowadays, people didn't have time for dancing on summer afternoons. The War troubled everyone.

Daddy read his newspapers every night, thoughtful as he pored over the concerns of the world.

"What's the word from the front?" Mama asked one evening.

"The Kaezer just leveled most of Askogan City," he said. "Pruessian robotics has always been superior, but this is madness. They've built an entire army, and they're striking closer to home." He tossed the paper aside, and rubbed his brow.

Mama's expression dimmed, and Daddy brooded for a long while.

Lily didn't know what it meant to level a city. To her, the Kaezer was just the name of a mean, distant person. They lived in a remote inland town called Plumgrove, sheltered within Harmony Valley. Their lives weren't affected by many outside events, but the War crept closer, as Daddy predicted.

When she was seven, she witnessed the Kaezer's cruelty for the first time.

There were more bombings, in cities not far away.

Refugees swarmed in, their homes destroyed by the enemy. Plumgrove's population tripled within months. The Unfortunates, as the locals called them, settled into a sprawling zone of tents and shanties, on the outskirts of town.

Lily met them often, with their empty stares, and grubby, reaching hands. They asked for the most basic things. Her parents always gave, and helped whenever they could.

Many of the Unfortunates brought their robots with them. Since Daddy was the only technician in town, his schedule was soon overwhelmed.

She worked hard to meet the demands, and her skills improved from the experience. Soon, she could perform basic jobs on her own.

Every day, Daddy told her how proud he was, and how much he loved her.