Silent

Chapter 8

The dinner goes along swimmingly after that. For the first course the older ones talk about business and I try to pay attention although Shane keeps going on about his inheritance, his diplomas, his carrier, he's really doing enough talking for the both of us. Meanwhile Tyler sulks quietly until I give him my ever so popular smile and wave which seems to cheer him up.

Then second and third course the adults begin on politics. Shane moves to his childhood and more achievements. Tyler stays silent still but makes a little progress. Fourth course is about when I stop eating. The adults start to quiet down a bit but Shane still talks, now about the many exotic pets he's had. Tyler, eager to try again, asks me "When did you graduate." And after I try a little one-sided charades he, apologizes for annoying me, goes back to sulking, and Desert comes.

The older couples resume their chatting again about recent events. Shane begins on more meaningful things like life questions then marriage. Tyler has now begun glaring icy daggers at Shane. I almost fall asleep snapping out of it just as my head is about to fall into my bowl, and at some point my father mentions that I graduated today, from "The Aiken Private Girls Academy for the Mute" and now I have chocolate pudding on my dress and two shocked brothers apologizing and trying to mop it up with wet napkins. I am literally blacking out, I barely realize what's going on I am so tired; glancing at a huge clock hanging on the wall I see that it is 10:12.

I excuse myself from the table and my parents look like they understand. I walk quickly trying to ease the discomfort of the cold wet dress sticking to my legs. I get to my room, change into the first nightgown I grab when I reach into the drawer, and brush my teeth. I don't bother doing anything else, I'm too tired. Crawling into my, oh so comfortable bed, the warmth is so welcoming. I roll onto my side and notice as it sinks and molds around me that it's a memory foam mattress, with a smile on my face I fall sleep.

Sunlight suddenly fills the darkness and turns my eyelids red. I shield my eyes and slowly open them. The two maids are back, Rebecca is standing by the window straightening the curtains she just opened and Sarah is setting a tea cup and a saucer of biscuits on my side table, they both look excited. I look at the digital clock sitting by the cup of tea. Its 8:30am, I haven't slept in this late in six years.

"Sorry Miss. Desiree we were told to come and wake you up to help you get ready for your interview." Rebecca says in her soft voice. They both go about tidying things up from the night before, but I can see that something is on their mind that's slowly making it harder for them to concentrate until they pick up the dress lying on the closet floor. "Those boys certainly ruined this dress didn't they?" Sarah says looking skeptically over the huge stains.

I try to remember last night when I see the dress. I was so tired it all just seems fuzzy now but I remember everything being really frustrating and weird like I was in a nightmare. *You heard about that?* I question and the maids look at me like the answer is so obvious it's almost funny.

"Everybody does miss; your father won't stop talking about it. Before that dinner your parents had spent forever trying to get the Morris' to seal the deal as investors. That's why they had, had to go so far as to try and set you up with one of the Morris boys... well you know all about that part-" she says and my blood boils but I try to contain myself, I don't want her to know that I had never been told this, so that she'll go on.

"-Well anyways, after their sons behaved like that, they were so apologetic that they didn't know what else to do to make it up to you and your parents, so they accepted the deal." She says happily and I fake the best smile I can, still so mad. "This is the biggest investment deal they've made all year, they gave everyone a raise because of it, and it's all because of you!" Rebecca adds.

It's good that they are directing their excitement more to each other than me because if they really paid close attention they would probably notice that, I am not happy one bit. This is way worse than them trying to make me be friends with the daughters of potential investors, it's unacceptable, and they didn't even tell me their plan this time. I'm so irritated that I actually, for a moment, think about skipping the interview altogether, but rationalize my decision. I can't skip the interview but I do have to talk with my parents as soon as I get the chance. *Where are my parents?* I question them after finally getting their attention.

"They've already left for work Miss. Desiree." Sarah informs me. "They have from 12:00 to 2:30 free today though and they arranged for a luncheon with you at 1:00 that should give you plenty of time after your interview." She quickly adds. *Thank you* I say instinctively although my mind was somewhere else as soon as she finished her sentence.

At 1:00 I'll just tell them that I know what they were trying to do last night and I don't want them to try to set me up with anyone anymore, particularly if it is because of business. "The interview is at 10:45 Miss. Desiree, and it's almost nine." Rebecca tells me and I reluctantly jump out of my cozy bed. Only then seeing that it wasn't a nightgown I had put on last night, it was a zip up bathrobe and it's on backwards. When they see this they attempt to suppress their laughter but quickly burst.

Only a half an hour later they have completely fixed me up, my hair is in a neat French bun and I have on a very clean grey skirt suit, a pair of tan stockings, and simple black heals. I look in the mirror and freak out when I see my mother in place of my reflection. The maids laugh again, I find it both insulting and flattering how amusing I am to them.

We leave the room, they follow me in the same way they did the night before all the way out the door, and they only stop when the, family limousine, chauffeur is opening the door for me, sliding in, he closes it behind me again. I wave goodbye and quickly look down to the long resume sitting in my lap. I have to immediately start reading it over to make sure I remember the details, in case I am asked any questions concerning it.