The first course, which I assume is supposed to be some kind of appetizer looks delicious. I can't quite figure out what it is, but I start to eat anyway. My mother begins to eat and watch the other people around us. Instead of watching, I listen, keeping my eyes on the meal. This conversation seems to take place between a girl and her father. Only mothers usually go to the ceremony with their daughters. Something must have happened to her mom.
"Daddy?" She whispers
"Hmm?" He says
"Daddy what if something goes wrong tonight? What if my necklace was lost? Or maybe the other girls will all go before me."
She seems worried.
Not all the other girls can go before you.
I think.
It goes alphabetically starting with the first letter of your last name.
I want to tell her. I don't let myself. By the time I look up, the girl has excused herself from the table, most likely to visit the restroom and check her hair.
God. Why is everyone so obsessed over their hair tonight?
I want to tell her she looks beautiful. However I can not see her face, she has her back turned to me. From what I can see she has dark hazel hair and a vibrant green dress. It really works weigh her hair. The dress is shorter than mine, and only goes down to her knees until in fades into a see-through silky layer. Her father inputs my thought process by tapping me on the shoulder.
"Excuse me? Miss? My daughter is extremely nervous tonight."
By this point my mothers head has turned to face us.
"Oh." I laugh a little " So am I. And most likely all of the other girls here."
I put on a fake smile.
"Yes, well" he continues "Her mother couldn't be here tonight. She is a scientists in Arain, and work ran late. Would you mind trying to calm my daughter down? I'm trying to calm her, nothing is working."
He lied. He wasn't saying anything at all. I decide out of curiosity to help anyway. Just then the main course arrives. Steak. A delicacy all over the world. Beef has become so rare because of The War. It is cooked medium rare all the way through with a loaded baked potato for a side and some corn. We are served water to drink. I devour the last bites of steak as the girl walks back to the table and sits down. She has beautiful, smooth caramel skin and deep brown eyes, her hazel hair shining in the light of the chandelier. She looks at steak like it is the only meal she will ever eat. The price of a small steak is so much, only people from the G.M.E.P (Government Meaning Educational Program a.k.a people who work for the leader of Clarist) could even dream of eating a steak this amazing. I start to eat the corn and potato as she looks up at me.
"Crazy isn't it? Just last week I was in elementary school. Now I'm here."
She says. I finish chewing.
"Yeah. Wow. By the way I'm Kyra."
"Ally" she says
"Well Ally, if it's any consolation, nothing can go wrong tonight. The government would never allow it."
Nothing can go wrong the voice in my head repeats.
She takes a deep breath. So do I.
"I can't wait to see the dessert." I say.
She nods, as if something is holding her mouth shut. As if on que, the dessert cart arrives and our plates are taken away. A pice of dark chocolate cake is served to me on a silver platter and my water is refilled. The cake is so beautiful I don't dare touch it. I take out my mothers pocket shelf to take a picture. So carefully, this cake was made, and I am going to destroy it. I eat it, feeling a bit guilty. Amazing. Then the lights dim, and the large black screen comes to life.
