Comrades

Wishes

  Her dress, covered in mud, and arm in arm with her friend, she entered her house. Disheveled hair, and a smile that only got put out by her parents. The moment she stepped through the door, her mother said sternly, "Alexandria Anne Thomas, what do you think you are doing and at this hour...And those clothes... change out of them."

  "But mother," she began. The look her mother gave her, swallowed down the protests, itching at her brain. Not wanting to disobey her mother or give her a heart attack, she went upstairs and took a bath.

Laid out on the bed were dresses, the very ones that made her grandmother look beautiful, although it was out of fashion now.

Intricate white lace trim around the neck of the dress. The gold simmering pattern. She struggled to tug it on, but eventually managed to do.

"Alexandria? That dress looks stunning on you, I think I should get your hair up, don't you?"

She didn't say a world as her mother helped her tie her hair into a bun, a very sophisticated one at that. The light bounced off of her brown eyes, and silky smooth black hair. "Come, there are some people that I... your father and I would like you to meet. Please make sure you behave, and I don't want another scene,"

"Of course mother, it will be like we discussed. No fuss, and... no problem," Alexandria replied, her eyes dimming from the usual amusement.

As Alexa and her mother descended the stairs, a young man in the doorway, stood there straightening his uniform. "You must be the young man my husband mentioned to me this morning,"

Poker faced, and not fazed by whatever her mother threw her way she walked downstairs with her mother. Letting out a deep breath, she swallows every protest she wanted blast out at her mother. "Vincent... no John?"

  The young chuckles softly before saying, "Ma'am, my name is Richard Smith." He bows at them.

"Where is Mr. Thomas, I have not seen him.."

"I believe he is in the game room as usual. But I should be off to the ball hosted by my closest friend," she replied, with grandeur. "Come Alexandria, we mustn't keep Aunt Helen waiting, it is unbecoming if we are tardy."

"Yes mother," She replied, and followed her mother out the door, when Mr Smith called out.

"Madam Thomas, shall I drop you off?"

Madam Thomas, and her daughter halted. Alexa was speechless. Such a kind young man, thought Madam Thomas.

"Yes, Mr Smith, you may drop us off, isn't that right mother? Or should we drag our beautiful gowns through dirt?"

Unbelievable, this girl. Madam Thomas, scoffed at Alexa before agreeing to be dropped off at the gathering by Richard Smith, the man who just joined the army by recommendation of Madam Thomas's husband.

  The suburban community was only making its mark on history when another war broke out, forcing America to pull their stakes out and rise against it. The small Ford Sedan just made its debut as well.

Richard drove them, as instructed by Madam Thomas to a luxurious mansion, surrounded by greener than green grass, trees and a pale pathway. Alexa not wanting to be held back, stepped out first, and walked toward it, drawn.

"This child never listens," she muttered, and caught up with her. Alexa turned back but the Ford and the Mr Smith had gone.

"Come on, Alexandria," her mother, said and dragged her by the arm up to the house.

Inside a chandelier light the whole space. Everyone was.... Mostly everyone seemed to be chatting about politics. And there stood the hostess, Aunt Helen. Why she was radiant this evening as well.

After an hour of talking to people, she excused herself and sat by a couch in another room. "My feet seems to be killing me."

Kicking her heels to the side, she propped her leg up, and stared at the ceiling. When did Helen fix Michelangelo's painting into a ceiling. This made her smile. Or laugh. A small chuckle escaped her.

Creak of the door, and that was enough to startle her into a sitting position. "Finally... What in the world is woman doing here?"

This made her immediately turn her smile upside down. "I am sorry, why shouldn't I be here, after all that... I should get some rest don't you?"

Ignored. He ignored her and sat opposite her, and stared somewhere far. And after quite some time he slept.