Sweet Viruses

Chapter 3

Gabe
I pull into the mansion and wave at the camera. The gates immediately let me in and I drive my truck around to the back courts where I find Mash playing soccer with Isaac. He laughs, trips Isaac, and kicks the ball a little too hard and it goes soaring into the garden. A few second later there is a loud splash indicating he landed it right in the fountain. He and Isaac look at each other and laugh hysterically. The butler, Mall, who was standing by, starts to take off in the direction of the crash mumbling "I'll get it sires". I hop out of my truck and start to walk to them as they pick up the snowy white towels and wipe off their sweat and dirt. "Nice shot", I say chuckling as I approached the two. "Hey man!", Isaac replies, clapping me on the back, "You just missed an epic soccer game". Just I was about to respond Mash's step-mother comes trotting across the courts to us with an expensive bejeweled dress on. "Yes, well you shouldn't have been playing anything other than video games with your shoulder Mr!", she says, pointing to Mash who bows his head disgracefully. "Never mind that, both of you go shower and get ready", she says shooing the other two off toward the mansion, "and I have your suit", she informs me, gently commanding me to follow her and prepare for the dread of the next few hours. "Yes Katrina", I say obeying her by starting to shuffle my feet after her.
"Are you almost done sir?", Mall asks from outside the "model room", as Mash and I like to call it. "Well I don't really wear suits that much", I respond as I hold up the tie, puzzled how I'm going to figure this out. I hear high heels clicking on the marble floor outside the door. "Do you have your pants on?", I hear a familiar voice from outside say. "Ummm yes", I respond. A second later Peace opens the door and starts toward me. "Woah Peace! I didn't say anything about my shirt!" I yell at her as I scoop up the white crisp shirt from the velvet chair. She gives me a look that says "Seriously?". I put on the shirt and start to fumble with the buttons. She flicks my hands away and starts to quickly work at the buttons. I am amazed for a moment at how fast she's able to move her hands, but she stops my pondering by pulling an envelope out of her fancy purse. "Take this", she whispers as she secretly shoves it into my hands. "What is this?", I ask confused as I start to open it. A moment later I'm sure my eyes got as wide as tennis balls and my jaw dropped. I had never seen so many hundred dollar bills in my poor boy life. "What in the world do I do with this?!". "There's going to be an announcement at the party about a new law they are passing. All of the taxes are going to be raised extremely high and all males that can't pay above the age of fourteen are going to be deployed to fight the mutants. Take this and use it for the taxes and the taxes only. It will get you through the next few months and that's more than enough. They are planning on giving up the borders on november sixth and turning the world to every man for himself, I can't see you or Mash or Isaac shipped off just to be killed for nothing. Do you understand?". I pause for a moment thinking about what Peace just told me. I knew my answer as soon as I look up at her. She looks so beautiful and I love her (in a big sister sort of way), but she looks so concerned that she is on the verge of crying. "Of course, I'll make sure that I only use it for the taxes", Peace gives a sigh of relief as soon as I finish. She gives me a brief hug and wipes away a tear that escaped her eye. She continues to put on my tie like nothing happened and then leaves. I shove the envelope in my pocket and grab my jacket before following her.
****
I climb out of the limo after Mash, Peace, and Isaac. A bunch of people take our picture as we pass. After we enter the town hall a tall man walks up to the four of us. He is wearing a suit that is somehow more expensive than anyone else's. His pepper gray hair is slicked back and he greets us with a big smile. "Hello Peace and Mash!", he looks at them like old friends. He then turns to Isaac and shakes his hand. "You must be Isaac, nice to finally meet you". Isaac respectively nods his head as he moves onto Mash and I. "Well now Mash, when I said you could bring a plus one, I meant a beautiful girl or something", he jokes as he shakes Mash's hand. Mash blushes for a moment before responding. "Sorry Mayor, but I thought I'd bring my best friend instead. This is Gabe", says as he gestures to me. "Well it's nice to meet you, Gabe", he says kindly as he shakes my hand. I follow Isaac's example and nod my head before he leaves to talk to Mash's father and stepmother. After talking to the mayor we are free to go into the council room and get some food.
"Well you should know that I'm seriously disappointed right now because the only reason I agreed to come to this with you was for the food and the only good thing they have is strawberries. Where's all the meat? I only see salad", I whisper to Mash as we go through the long line of different types of salad. "It's comforting to know that you care about me suffering alone", he whispers back to me. We both give a small laugh as we continue. "Besides, you should learn how these things work. America is on the verge of breaking down because of a virus our state has produced and you expect there to be good food? The mayor is freaking out right now. I wonder where in the world they're getting their manpower from", Mash says. Suddenly I remember the conversation I had with Peace before we came here. She apparently hadn't told Mash about the deployment movement. "Since when did you become a businessman? I've never heard you talk about politics before", I ask trying to avoid the conversation. "I've been to lots of these sorts of things. The usual thing to talk about is politics. Might as well act like I care about what my dad and Kat are doing. Plus Peace and Isaac are trying to teach me to be more involved and proper. They think that it's good to look nice for our parents and it gains us bonus points with the media if we know what we're talking about", he answers and we sit at a table with placeholders that have our names on them. We sit quietly for a while talking to the few people that come to discuss the matters that Peace and Mash's parent's are dealing with. Peace deals with most questions, but they like to involve Mash too, hoping that he's immature enough to give away any important details.
After a while the mayor makes his way to the stage up front. He walks over to the podium with the Pennsylvania state flag on the front. A cameraman walks around at the foot of the stage as he talks. "We have some very important issues we are going to discuss tonight concerning the new matter of the so called mutants. This is a project that Pennsylvania was developing, but recently had gone askew. This meeting has been called today to discuss the future plans of this project. We are going to start with the patrol project which we are calling the deployment movement", several people look taken back by this message. "Please welcome our State Senate Paul Jackson". Mash's father journeys onto the stage and waves at the crowd with a big smile. He gets to the podium and calms the crowd down. "Thank you Mayor and thank you all for that warm welcome. So let's get down to business. First of all there's the issue of manpower against these creatures. Like the mayor said, we are planning an organisation called the deployment movement. This is a movement that is raising taxes for all families with males above the age of fourteen. If these families cannot pay the required amount of money the males will be deployed to war against the mutants. We are trying to collect all able bodies to fight for our country". Many people start to whisper among the tables and Mash suddenly sits up in his chair and looks uncomfortable. As soon as his father had said that they would be deployed he looks at me. I had never seen so much fear in anyone before. "No", he says in disbelief. Peace notices his struggle so before he makes a scene she stands up, grabs him by the arm, and pulls him out of the room. Isaac and I look at each other, not sure weather to follow them or not. Isaac makes up his mind and shakes his head slowly at me. So we sit there and listen to the rest of it. "This plan will be carried out as long as we can keep the mutants under control. However, be prepared because if our calculations are correct, then we only have a few months before we switch to using the army to just hunt the creatures instead of controlling them in one area. Thank you and good day", Paul finishes with that and leaves the stage. The entire crowd bursts into conversation and mutiny. Reporters appear from everywhere and flood the foot of the stage.
Isaac and I get up and leave before anything too serious happens. We come upon a very angry Mash and Peace who is trying to calm him down. "But how could dad do this?!", he yells at her, "He knows that Gabe couldn't afford that, it's outrageous!!". "But he warned me. He gave me money to give to Isaac and Gabe", she replies calmly. "Okay then, but what about all those other innocent people! Boys who are my age getting shipped off to a fight they have already lost. This isn't fair! Dad can't find any way to justify this one!". "It keeps us safe okay?! That's all that matters to him at this point. Maybe we should start to think that way too. Whatever it takes to keep the people we love safe", Peace is clearly sad when she states the fact that it is every man for himself. Something is obviously wrong when Peace's compassion is put to the test. "Maybe it's time we go", Isaac interjects as he watches Mall approach us. "Mr. Jackson has requested that I bring the four of you home safely. I do believe that now is the time to do so", Mall tells us. Without arguing we quietly leave with him. We step out of the front doors and that's when it all starts. Reporters swarm us and we almost can't move. "Please move", Mall pushes the crowd, but gently tells all of them to move. Isaac shoves one man away from Peace that had clearly gotten too close. We struggle against the crowd and do our best to keep the furious Mash away from the questions about the deployment movement. Camera's flash everywhere and there are several news reporters talking into big cameras. We finally make it to the limo and climb in. All of us sit there for a while in the awkward silence. I look beside me at Mash who is clenching his fists. He is breathing heavy and staring straight out the window.
****
It seems like forever before we reach the mansion again. We all get out and I start to head for the model room so I can get out of this uncomfortable suit. After I change and give my suit back to Mall I start to look for Mash. I head to the elevator and run into Peace and Isaac who are laughing and talking. "Where are you two going?", I ask. "Hey Gabe, we're just going to movie room. We're gonna watch a horror movie! You wanna join?", Peace said excitedly. I didn't really want to sit for two hours by myself watching a horror movie during their date so I declined the offer. "Thanks though", I say politely as I pass. I continue and finally make it to the lower level and make my way to Mash's room. As I pass the chandelier that always scares me I think of how I know this place like the back of my hand. It seems weird, but even though this place seems like it could be bigger than the state of Pennsylvania itself I've managed to memorize it all in the three years that I've known Mash. To this week, really I think to myself.
I almost make it to Mash's door before he busts out it wearing a tshirt and shorts. His ipod is in his hands and he puts his earbuds in. "What's going on?", I ask. "Just going for a run", he quickly answers before walking past me. I follow him to the patio overlooking the back courts. "Well do you care if I join?", I ask before we reach the steps leading down to the drive. He stops for a moment and scans me. "Seriously? You've got jeans on and I won't be long. Surely you can find something to do while I'm gone. Why don't you go talk to my sister again about how your life's in danger and you shouldn't tell me", he rants before taking off down the driveway. I watch him until he reaches the road then I head back inside gloomily.
A while later I find myself back outside in the pool. I couldn't think of any better way to waste time other than swim laps. I finally decide that I'm finished so I climb out of the massive pool. Suddenly feeling a little thirsty, I grab a soda from the snack bar by the patio. Not having anything better to do, I start to walk through the garden. It's always so peaceful here. I slowly travel, taking in the beautifully cut sculptures and hedges. I find Kat's quiet spot where she usually spends her evenings. Tonight she's busy with the banquet so I make myself comfy in the hammock. I can see why she likes it out here so much. You can watch the sunset and swing. I rock slowly and the wind gently blows in my face. The sky is a beautiful blue and pink. I close my eyes, imagining what it's going to be like when the government releases the mutants and nobody can have luxuries like this anymore. "I should probably get back home", I say to try and convince myself to leave the hammock. I finally swing myself out of the hammock and leave the garden.
After I've changed back into my clothes I head out to my truck. Mash still hasn't returned from his run. He must be really mad at me and Peace. I think to myself as I get in the truck and get ready to leave. I pull out of the drive and leave the mansion. I continue driving for a while before I find Mash sitting on the white fence of one of Melody's friends. I think her name is Andrea Brown. He sits with his back toward the road. The horse seems to be comfortable around him like he's done this several times before. It's a beautiful scene really, The sunset in the distance, a boy sitting on the fence, a horse grazing in the field. It all feels so peaceful until I realize why Mash is acting this way. I've only seen him in these sort of peaceful moments when he's scared. He's scared something will happen to anyone that he cares about. He's scared for this apocalypse that we are supposed to be preparing for. I understand why he's scared. I don't want to admit it, but I'm actually terrified out of my mind for the future. I drive past and Mash doesn't move a muscle, except to reach out to the horse that is approaching him. I decide to leave him to think.
I pull into the driveway of my house and find my brothers in an intense game of football. My sister-in-law and sister are cheering them both on from the sidelines. I see my mom come outside with a glass of chocolate milk and hand it to my sister-in-law, Carrie. Just because she's about to have a baby means that she gets all the special treatment in the world. If I asked mom to get me a glass of water, she'd thump me and tell me to get it myself. I hop out of the truck and my two brothers tell me to come play with them. I'm a little skeptical at first, but then I run to join them. I throw my keys at Sabrina, my sister, and join the boys. My dad comes out a few minutes later and charges at us. He jumps on Lucas and Kyle joins the fight. I laugh as I watch them struggle, but then they all freeze. Lucas turns his head and looks me in the eyes. "Why aren't you joining little bro?", he asks with a devilish smile. "No", I repeat while backing up slowly. They start slowly walking toward me. Then I turn and take off. They all start chasing me around the yard. Just before Kyle jumps on me I scream, "I knew this was a trap!"