The Color of Knowledge

Chapter Nine (pt. 4)

"The trick is not to water the plants too much. Too much water can be just as bad as not enough. Balancing a plants' water is like having a healthy diet," said Noah.

Ivy had caught the end of his speech and coughed lightly, making her presence known.

"Just a little longer," Spencer pleaded.

"Five minutes," said Ivy.

She turned to survey the room once more. In the middle, surrounding a wooden table with an unfinished puzzle on top, Ivy spotted Terri and his twin brother Topher wrapped up in conversation with an elderly woman. She had to be a resident of the nursing home considering she wore the gray clothes of signature.

Ivy inched closer to hear a little of their conversation.

"Mom, you can be treated better in the hospital. They have better resources there," said Terri.

"No, no, no," said the elderly woman. "If my time has come, it has come."

"Can't we at least try and fight this?" asked Topher.

The elderly woman took a minute to reply, as she could not stop coughing long enough to get a word out. "My dear sons," she said, taking both of their hands in her own. "I am ready." She said those three words so simply and carefully, Ivy felt embarrassed to have been eavesdropping. She tried to inch back to where Spencer was, but knocked over a potted plant on her way. The whole room fell silent, as if to knock over a potted plant was in the same realm of committing murder. Topher and his brother looked to the source and their eyebrows rose identical heights.

"Ivy?" the two said in unison.

"Hey, I was just on my way out."

The excitement of the crime died down and everyone went back to what they had been doing. Terri and Topher stood to meet Ivy.

"I'm so sorry about what has happened," said Terri. "I don't know if it matters to you, but Alex doesn't know you are to be exiled yet."

"He doesn't matter—I mean, it doesn't matter if he knows or not."

Terri nodded.

"How many people do know?" Ivy whispered.

"Not many," said Topher. "I only told Terri here because I trust he can keep it a secret."

"Thank you. I don't want the whole society there at my descent." An awkward silence ensued which led Ivy to ask a question she already knew the answer to. "So that's your mother over there?" She referred to the elderly woman looking over at the group with curious eyes.

"Yes," said Topher.

"She's feeling a little under the weather at the moment," said Terri.

"That's sad to hear."

"It only started once we moved her in here about two weeks ago. We figured they could take care of her here than we could at home."

"I guess we were wrong," said Terri.

"That's strange," Ivy whispered.

"What was that?"

"I said I hope she feels better. It was nice seeing you guys," she said as she turned to collect Spencer.

"Same here," the two said simultaneously.

After saying their final goodbyes to Tima and Noah, Ivy and Spencer left the social room.

"You'll have to sign out," said the older Ivy behind the front desk. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, we're fine." Ivy grabbed a pen to sign Spencer and herself out when something caught her eye further up the list on names. "How often does the President visit?" she asked.

"About once a week nowadays. He's been coming more frequently these past few months."

"That sounds cool," said Ivy, mustering a smile.

"He's great with the senior citizens. He even brought in more plants. Something about giving them hope, he always says."

Ivy grabbed Spencer's arm after signing their names and left rather swiftly.

"Ivy, you're hurting me. Let go."

Ivy looked down and released Spencer's arm in shock. "I'm sorry."

"You get all weird whenever someone mentions the President. Don't let it happen again."

"I'm sorry."

The two made their way back home in silence. The whole way, Ivy reflected upon the day's events. Why had Nadia been acting so strange? Why was President Khamar making frequent trips to the nursing home? What was that awful smell?

"Surprise!"

The sudden outcry made Ivy jump. Her parents stood in the foyer with huge grins plastered across their faces.

"Surprise, what?"

"We made your favorite food for dinner. Meatloaf!"

Silence ensued. Ivy looked around wide-eyed, one eyebrow raised. "My favorite food is steak."

As soon as those words pierced the air, it was as though the balloon lifting her parents' spirits had been pierced as well. Their shoulders slumped and smiles disappeared.

"I'll still eat it, though," said Ivy. She tried and failed to muster a smile again. "We could just have steak tomorrow or something."

She made her way upstairs with Spencer in tow.

"We can't ever win," Ivy heard her mother sigh behind her.

Ivy sat on the edge of her bed deep in thought. "K.J. still hasn't been to school yet?" she suddenly asked Spencer who had followed her in.

"Nope. It's almost like he's not enrolled anymore. Like he was never there. The teachers don't even talk about him. It's like he never existed. I mean—"

"Wait!" Ivy jumped up and started to pace the room. "I wish I had kept a record of myself," she whispered.

"What are you saying?" Spencer asked, one eye bigger than the other in confusion.

Ivy moved to the door. "Nothing. It's time to eat, I think."

Spencer did not persist, which Ivy was thankful for. As the Stone family sat down to eat dinner, Ivy could hardly concentrate. All she could think about was what Principal Moore had told her. He had given her a clue.

"So what did you two do today?" Mr. Stone asked as Ivy stabbed at her meatloaf.

Before she even thought to answer, Spencer cut in.

"We visited Ivy's job and then Tima in the nursing home."

"What was Tima doing in the—" Mrs. Stone started but was interrupted by Spencer.

"That doesn't matter. The point is we met Tima's boss Noah. He's pretty great. He even taught me the correct way to water plants. Bet you didn't know there was a science to it, did you? I wrote it down somewhere. I don't know what I did with the piece of paper right now, but I'll find it."

"That sounds interesting," said Mr. Stone. He flashed his wife a quick glance, receiving a nod in return.

"Spencer, remember that talk we had about strangers?" Mrs. Stone asked. "I know we live in a small area, but you can never be too careful. Don't ever be afraid to tell us if someone does something inappropriate to you, okay?"

Everyone stopped eating. Ivy knew what this was about, for she had received the same talk her mother was referring to.

"Noah isn't like that, mom. He's a good guy. Wouldn't hurt a fly."

"I guess I'll trust your judgment, Ivy, until I can meet him for myself."

"You can meet him the next time I visit Tima," said Spencer, winking at Ivy. "I'm really interested in plants now."

The remainder of dinner consisted of small talk. No one wanted to mention how tomorrow would be Ivy's last full day with them. It was never brought up. Ivy herself, had only one thing on her mind, but she had to wait until everyone went to sleep in order to act.