Theresa's Choice

Part 1

Theresa May Johnson was a tan, short, and black haired girl who lived in the community of St. John. The community of St. John was a secluded division of land isolated from the main city, but it nonetheless held its own urbanized territory well. Bordered by thick white concrete walls, the territory of St. John's was a sweeping green landscape with modern housing and facilities. The layout of the community was very remarkable and organized as well: all the residential areas were concentrated in one place, the commercial buildings in one place, and so on. At the heart of the heart of it all was the Council's Hall, a vast black and white building in the centre of the town. The community was headed by the Council, a group of five people annually voted. Each year, the five members seclude themselves from society in the building and carry out laws and legislations in private. All rulings made by the Council, however, were absolute and enforced forcibly by St. John's police force. There was nothing to fear, though, since changes rarely happen in St. John's. The residents of St. John's were happy with their secluded lives, many of whom were born and raised in St. John's since birth. In fact, there hasn't been a new family moving in at St. John's for over fifty years. Over that span of time, all the residents then got to know everyone very well. There were less than nine hundred families, each limited to having only one child, living in the subdivision; the population was not very dense. The most intriguing facet about the people at St. John's, however, is, because of their lack of interaction with people outside their boarders, they fancy that they had became extremely self-sufficient. Their businesses, farms, resources, and enterprises all root from the residents themselves. All was well, however, and the people all lived happily.

On the morning of the first of September, a new family was moving in at St. John's. The people were abuzz since the Council had been notoriously denying other families entry before, and they clamoured to know why this family was given the chance to do so. The family, a couple and their son, would be moving into the house of old Mrs. Which adjacent to the house of the Johnsons, the family of Theresa May Johnson. Mrs. Which was the wealthiest woman in St. John's. Her residence was bigger than anyone else's and contained a supreme mansion four stories high. It was also interesting to note that an old woman of eighty five managed in the house alone; her husband had died three years ago. Quite recently, she contracted tuberculosis and gave in to death a few weeks ago. The community entered a state of mourning at the loss of Mrs. Which, for in life, she was very generous and kind though tough and salty at times. Just days ago, it was the talk of the town on who will inherit her estate. Rumour had it that it was decided by the Council that the estate be sold and the money will go to the town's treasury. She had no relatives left alive after all, so it was the best course of action to take. The people all seemed to agree with the Council and now waited to see who will be their new neighbours.

That Sunday morning, the Joneses moved in to Mrs. Which's estate. A parade of trucks ran along the streets of St. John signalling to the other residences of the arrival of the new family. The Johnsons who lived across where the Joneses would then live were in charge of welcoming the three of them into the community. It was around nine o'clock in the morning when the Joneses started their move into the house. The Johnsons would meet them later in the day and invite them to dinner.

Mr. Eldrich Jones, Mrs. Victoria Jones, and their son, Nicolas Jones lived a luxurious lifestyle in the city well outside St. John's borders for years, but were forced to move out for unknown reasons. They had looked for places to live in various other communities until they saw that Mrs. Which's estate was for sale. Apparently, the Council had accepted them, the residents later found out, because they were the only ones who could afford the estate. The others who also wanted to be part of the community were denied just because the only empty place left in the community was worth more than a million dollars.

This was nothing for the Joneses, though, and for the rest of the families in St. John's. None of the other houses could rival Mrs. Which's, but the rest were all luxurious in their own right. That luxury was one of the bonding ties of the families at St. John's. The Joneses would feel right at home. They spent the whole morning moving furniture and made sure that everything was just right for that moment. Mrs. Jones would make more drastic adjustments later in the year, once everything had been settled. Their arrival was the cause of joy for most people, except for Theresa May. She did not want to meet the new family; she did not want anything new or drastic to happen. She was perfectly happy in her own little world. Also, what had contributed to her huge dislike for the Joneses was her first encounter with the boy, Nicolas.

Tessa, whose room's window had a view that showed the Joneses' house, caught a glimpse of Nicolas, and she found him most disagreeable. Dressed in a black leather jacket and dark toned clothes with his black hair styled in a chaotic yet organized manner, Nicolas was the personification of Tessa's idea of the worst type of human. She judged that he must be most arrogant and prideful and took for granted his family's wealth. Thus, he must be a troublemaker, and Tessa did not want to be associated with such. Her disdain was magnified when her parents told her to get ready to meet the Joneses, and she had to be nice, kind, and presentable. Knowing that she had no choice but to follow, she got out a high cut white dress and began to get ready.

Her parents, Mr. Edward Johnson and Mrs. Vivienne Johnson, were very stern and strict with their daughter though they had their moments of fun and enjoyment. In contrast to their strict ways with their daughter, they were lax and carefree with others and mingled freely with their neighbours. The Johnsons' residence became synonymous with parties and social gatherings. The two perfectly exemplified the life of the people here in St. John's, and it was because of this fact that Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were tasked to welcome the newcomers.

At around two in the afternoon, the Johnsons made their way to the Joneses' residence. The crew members in charge of the moving had lessened in number, only a few of the movers were left in the house. Most of their belongings were already settled inside. The married Joneses graciously received their guests in their lavish drawing room filled with many paintings from the renaissance, regal ornaments, and a large marble mantelpiece, and they were happy to have such lovely neighbours. Nicolas Jones, however, made no appearance, much to Tessa's pleasure. The adults engaged in cordial conversation, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones asked Tessa about the school, St. John's Academy. Nicolas would be going there too, she was told, and they hoped that he and Tessa would be good friends. Tessa merely nodded and smiled, wishing for the visit to end.

After half an hour of talking, the invitation had been made for the Joneses to come over for dinner that day. Mr. and Mrs. Jones were delighted and immediately accepted; at seven o'clock, they would be there. The Johnsons began to take their leave and, after saying goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, they walked back to their house.

Mr.and Mrs. Jones went up to their son's room and knocked at his door. After two minutes, no reply was heard so they got the spare key to his room and opened the door. They saw him on his bed dozing off. They walked inside and rapped their son awake to inform him of the dinner with the Johnsons. Nicolas only grunted in dismay, his pale face disgruntled and annoyed. His parents left him then, and he went to get ready. He got out of bed and slowly walked to the bathroom with his black hair standing up in certain places.