The Special

Chapter 8- Annnouncement Day

A/N: thank you again so much for reading my stories! I enjoy writing for you guys. I hope you enjoy it. Enough said here we go:! One more note, I can't decide! What should Mady Train for? If you would like to put your opinion in, I will go with whichever has the highest number! Thanks! Dori_Girl03

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The next morning I wake to Rosa shaking me awake.

"Madylyn. Mady! Wake up! Today is the Announcement! We need to get you ready!! Mady!" She urgently says into my ear.

I roll over, unwilling to give up my warm bed.

"Oh. Ok." I relentlessly says, rubbing my eyes.

"Get in and out of the shower and we will get you dressed."

And I register the door closing.

I head into the bathroom and come out 8 minutes later wrapped in a homemade dress.

Rosa doesn't come for several minutes and that's when a thought sparks my brain.

"Rosa? I'm ready for you." I speak into the intercom beside my bed.

"Alright. Be right up. Do me a favor and tie your hair up out of the way for me." Comes the crackly response.

5 minutes later, with my hair in a messy bun, Rosa comes in and is securing the belt around my waist.

"There. Go look."

Without second thought I run to the mirror and find myself complimenting muskeg on how good it looks on me.

"Oh thank you! I look magnificent!" I exclaim as I run over, and hug her.

"Don't thank me. Thank Lynn." Rosa says with a small smile but still takes my hug.

She glances at the clock, and her eyes widen.

"Oh my goodness! We have to get your hair done. 15 minutes until the Announcement!"

She bustles me into the bathroom, and quickly starts drying my hair. After a while of doing this, she stops yes my hair back into a messy bun, and picks up magazine.

I just sit there awkwardly for 5 minutes until she picks the dryer up again.

She dries the outside of my bun, then pulls it out of the bun. And dries it a bit.

The result is a beautiful mass of wavy hair.

I hardly recognize myself.

"You like?" Rosa asks.

"Like it? I LOVE it!!!" I exclaim jumping around.

I admire myself from all angles for a few minutes with Rosa watching me, then she tells me it's time.

"Come along. It's Announcement time. You'll get breakfast after." She says.

I follow her down the hallway, and into the elevator, which the trip seems to take a 100 years.

We finally arrive with butterflies flying behind me.

I'm not decided. I'm split. What am I gonna do?

We arrive at the Town Hall, where I find, seemingly, the entire town there.

I give a small smile to Francine, and Elena, but really I am focused on finding my family in the crowd. I scan and scan but don't find them.

And then it's impossible, because the Mayor steps in front of us three, obscuring my view.

I go back to fidgeting.

The Mayor goes through all the things last night, how things works and rules and yadda yadda.

Finally it is our turn, she introduces us one by one.

"Elena Scarton. Will be training for....."

The crowd holds their breath and I roll my eyes since I already know.

"Looks, toward the goal of a model. With, Angel Michelson.!"

She looks over at Elena who is standing, and smiling at the crowd. She is wearing a casual, light pink,Maxi skirt with a crisp blouse. She has a matching pink bow in her hair.

"Next, Francine Muleton. Will be training for Smarts. With a goal of, a lab scientist!"

She stands up and waves to the crowd.

"And last but certainly not least, Madylyn Branche. Training toward Talent, with Robin Ness. And working toward.." She breaks off frowning and squinting at the paper.

"Am I reading this right?" She whispers to me leaning the paper so I can see. It says in bold, Undecided.

Oh no. Since I was tied, I'm officially undecided.

I nod slowly, feeling the heat rush to my checks.

"Um, Madylyn Branche is undecided, so she will decide between field hockey and lacrosse very soon. Thank you everybody."

And that exact moment I spot my parents, and brothers. I make eye contact with Tate. He is frowning as if he is confused at why I don't just pick. He knows lacrosse is life, but I've been watching Peter's hockey games and am starting to understand. I raise my eyebrows at him as an answer.

He looks away.

Everyone files out, and I take a few strange glances.

All three of us, plus the mayor go into a meeting room.

Everyone bombards me with question.

"Your Undecided?! How's that possible?" Elena asks, but half yells.

"Isn't that against the rules? What?!" Francine asks like se doesn't believe it.

"Please calm down. Yes, we've never seen this type of thing before, but we can deal with it. Madylyn, you have 48 hours to decide. Do whatever it takes to decide. Research, question, talk with Robin. this time on Friday we will listen to your decision. Thank you for coming. Good luck!" Says the Mayor.

I get three more strange looks from each of the others before I head up to my room again.

What am I going to do?