A girl and her camera

Chapter seventeen

Not many chapters to go after this one! Hope you enjoy...

As Martha went to school the next morning, she felt like a completely different girl. As she walked, with a new-found confidence, she was aware of the looks she was getting from others. They seemed to wonder 'What happened to Martha?'. Well, Martha went into Samuel's bedroom the day before a girl, and then came out of it a woman. That, she felt, was a huge change in ones personality. And to Hanna, it was definitely a fine one.

When classes began and ended, Martha and Hanna found themselves, once again, inside the class/editing room. But this time, they weren't working. Their latest edition of 'The truth' had gone out just yesterday, after Hanna had gotten the information from both Martha, and her aunt Violetta's letters. It only seemed that the editing room was the one place where Hanna and Martha could talk, and not be glared at or listened in on by Eve's little slaves.

"So," Martha began the conversation, eager to know. "How did your last date with Bart go?"

"Brilliantly, as always." Hanna sighed, dreamily. "And guess what? Papa has actually invited him over for dinner tonight! Can you believe it? And since he said yes, this must mean that he's serious about this. Just as serious as I am, I hope."

"I'm sure he is," Martha added, "Will your mama and sister be there?"

"But of course," Hanna muttered, sarcastically. "Mama insisted and Eve requested to be there as well. Probably to see poor Bart squirm under my mama's scruteny."

"I understand Eve not liking it, but what could your mother possibly have against Bart?"

"Nothing! Personally, I think Eve was to blame for that. She probably talked the whole idea into mama's head. I swear to god Martha, Eve will stop at nothing to make my life miserable! It's not that I care, I'm just, well....confused. Why start now? She's ignored me for the past fifteen years. What could've brought it on?"

Martha hadn't the faintest idea. Understanding a person like Evelyn Gheiretz was like trying to understand Greek Runes. Only people who knew it extremely well could read it. And it seemed that nobody really knew Eve. Not even her own family.

"No idea," Martha shrugged, "Eve is a unique creature, I guess. So how is Bart holding up for tonight?"

"If he's nervous, he certainly isn't showing it." Hanna said, "He's been as cool as a cucumber today; I'm impressed, really. If he were any of Eve's suitors, they'd be quaking in their shoes at the thought of meeting my parents. But Bart? Well, if he's willing to put on a brave face for this dinner, then this must mean he's serious about this."

"He certainly seems serious about it." Martha said, "Hanna, from the day he met you, he'd been anticipating a companionship between you two. Even if you couldn't see it, I could."

Martha remembered that moment, as clear as crystal. It was just two days after her and Hanna had formed their own friendship when they'd first seen Bart Addlar. He was then but a scrawny, acne-plagued thirteen year old; a lot like how all young boys were at that age. And when his eyes settled on the meek, equally scrawny, rope-plaited Hanna, he didn't see the self-concious, bookworm everybody else saw. In fact to Martha, it was as if he'd seen an angel. And so, briefly forgetting his unfortunate stunt into puberty, he took it upon himself to make her aqquantance, if it was the last thing he did.

And now, who would've guessed that things were going to turn out like this? Now, Bart was courting Hanna like a gentleman from a black-and-white romance picture. And to what seemed to him to still be pure luck, Hanna liked him right back. At last! The girl he'd been so hopelessly chasing for the past three years was returning his affections.