George Karim

6

Chapter Six

I was awakened by knocking at my door and George inviting me down for a meal with the rest of the crew. As I was making my way down to the kitchen I caught a glimpse of my appearance in the many mirrors hanging in the stairwell. I stand at the maximum height of five feet and proportionally had a small petite body. My hair is dark and smooth with vague waves for strands. My chocolate-colored skin glows but the dark circles under my eyes contradict my unblemished surface.
I walk into the kitchen to see Lockwood and Lucy sitting at the table each doing their own activities. George is finishing the last touches to his dish. He wears a multi-colored red, pok-a-dot, apron that brings a smile of amusement to my face. I sit down next to Lucy.
“Whatcha writing?”, I inquire.
“Just some thoughts.”
“Why are you writing it on the table?”
“Erm… Has he not explained this yet?”
“no”
“This is what we call the thinking cloth. Is a very useful tool during a case, and occasionally helpful to write notes to each other.”
I peer at the one she had just been writing which read Lockwood needs to stop being such a prat. George chimes in as he sits across from Lucy.
“Also good for exchanging insults when ones gone sour.”
“I see” is all that I say.
For the remainder of the meal, I sat observing the three. The way they exchange insults and laugh with all together gives the feeling of a family. I, however, am just a total stranger who got dropped off at their door.
I hadn’t noticed Lockwood had left to answer the phone until he came back.
“We’ve got an interview with a client who has a gripping case for us.”
George and Lucy had inquired what I presume are the standard questions of who, what, when, and where. There was only one question I had.
“Does that include all of us?”, I say making a circular motion with my index finger.
The looks they gave one another was a clear enough answer. Just because I was welcomed doesn’t mean I can play with the big kids. Lockwood goes to break the awkward silence, but George interrupts.
“Gods no”, he scoffs. “Ouch.”
Lucy had kicked him under the table. Lockwood intervein's the two’s bickering.
“It’s not that we are trying to leave you out, Flores. But, to be frank, you are untrained. Coming with would not only put you in danger, it would-”
“It makes you a liability that could be avoided altogether.”, George butts in again.
I’m starting to think he doesn’t like me very much.
“I understand.”, I say hoping to avoid any more conflict. I leave the kitchen quickly after. I stand at the end of the stairwell unintentionally eavesdropping on their conversation.
“George can you stop being a prick to her.”
“It’s all true. We have had to save her twice now. Why on earth would we let her? She’ll only get in the way.”
“Luce, he’s not wrong. She needs to be properly prepared. Besides, I have to tell you both something. … I’ve made a bet with Barnes. If she doesn’t pass second grade in two months, he’ll shut us down.”
“Jesus Lockwood, that’s impossible. It takes at least a year to finish just the first grade.”
“What are we going to do with her? We don’t even know what she’s capable of, and that’s if she has good talent at all.”
I left to the attic not wishing to hear anything else. I decided to sleep the rest of the night. God knows when the last time I had a decent sleep.