Invincible.

Chapter II: The Ceremony

Twelve years later...

"Aymie, hurry up we only have two hours!" .

It was my best friend Dianna throwing a pillow at my still asleep head. It was the day we had planned to go dress shopping. The Occupation Ceremony was next week, and Dianna and I had saved our money since we were ten to get the perfect dress.

"Hurry up! We don' have much time."

I sat up groaning. Neither of us were morning people, but when Dianna gets a chance to go shopping which she doesn't get often, she wakes up earlier than the earliest sparrow.

I looked out my window and the sun was barely over the horizon. It was deep in to the summer and even the early mornings were humid, yet I still forced myself to get ready.

Dianna insisted to get to the store even before it opened. The Occupation Ceremony Outlet was only open a week per year, the week before the ceremony. It's filled with nothing, but fancy clothes and shoes just for the ceremony. If we waited a few days before we got our dresses, few good ones would be left.

After about ten minutes, I was up out of my house walking along the dirt road to the Occupation Ceremony Outlet. Dianna was skipping with excitement, while I, still half asleep, was trudging alongside her. Yes, I was excited, but it took to much energy to look excited. It was Recreationday, when I usually sleep in.

I know every inch of this street. We had exactly eleven more buildings until we got to the store. Past the Recreational Theatre, where I have done acting lessons for Twelve years now. The Bakery and Grocery building, where my mother works. The Wicksville Elementary and Secondary School, with The Ceremonial Graduation School (High School) next door. The largest building in town was growing new bright flowers in every window, Wicksville Town Hall and Government building. The Wicksville Inn was currently getting new siding and roof.

I waved to Mr. Handson up on his ladder. Dianna and I passed a few more stores before we reached our destination.

There it was, the largest store in town The Occupation Ceremony Outlet. Even the outside seemed to sparkle. The window right side of the door had beautiful gowns and dresses shimmering with silver and blue sparkles. Each dress was paired with matching high heels and jewelry. The left window was filled with tuxedoes and shoes for the guys.

Dianna and I were jumping up and down with excitement, for the first time in our lives we felt luxurious!

But the store opened at 7:30, and it was still 7:21. When you are really excited time feels as if it doubles. One minute feels like two and so forth.

Finally the light came on inside the building, the sign was changed to open, and we ran inside as fast as we could.

Dianna and I shopped for the next hour and forty five minutes. I had finally found a dress that fit and that I was satisfied with its appearance. All the dresses were navy and silver, our town's colors. The officials and senators run the ceremony, and do not want a single individual to stand out, so all of us have to wear similar colors.

My dress came down a little past my knees. It was solid navy blue with silver straps and a silver waistband.

But Dianna's dress was gorgeous! It was also navy blue, but over top it was covered with sparking silver lace. The straps were navy and so was the waistband. Beautiful.

We also each bought a pair of high heels. We had a choice between a silver and navy pair. I choose the silver and Dianna got the navy.