The Assumption (The Hypothesis of Giants Series, Book One)

Chapter Three: The Block Party

The thermometer read 105 degrees, and it was by far the hottest day of the summer. Children were bursting open fire hydrants to soak in the cool, crisp water as the sun streamed down on them from above, its golden ball gloating and piercing their skin with its ever-present rays. Old Mr. Harold was rocking on the front porch of his house painted in honor of the Independence Day of the Last Straw. The colors of orange and indigo adorned the walls of his duck-shaped house, whilst the day before it had been painted the shade of red. No one on Wishbone Avenue knew how he was capable of painting the house so quickly, especially at his age. He now was looking content and fanning himself with a decorated fan with the words "The IDEAL has Spoken" sketched over the parchment in black scripted ink. He was awaiting the parade that would begin exactly at an hour past the Awakened Hour. Everyone on Wishbone Avenue would soon join him on their front porches, fans held high in hand, as the hour was approaching. The heat couldn't jeopardize the parade since the IDEAL declared it so. And everyone wanted to emulate the IDEAL. Old Mr. Harold gazed at his next door neighbor's house, which was a white two-story house with red shutters. He thought the Alvarez household just needed a shade of blue to start a controversy in the town, as red, white and blue were the old and forbidden colors of the United States of America. He wondered why his neighbors weren't out of their house yet. He was rocking back and forth on his patio swing, contemplating giving them a call to make sure that they remembered what day it was. But of course everyone remembered what day it was.

***

The indigo dress was too tight, as Aurora had predicted, yet her mother was resolute on making her fit into the garment. She forced her daughter to suck in all the air she could muster in order to zip it up. It clung to her body like a corset, and Aurora feared if she sat down the entire dress would rip in two. She had not gotten much sleep the night before, having heard the conch shell sound again during the Sacred Hour. She thought it best to not tell her parents. They would most likely have the same reaction, and she didn't want to end up in the Candlewick loony bin since once again she appeared to be the only one who had heard it.

Her mother pranced out in a dandelion-patterned sundress that hugged her shapely hips and backside and a large white brimmed beach bonnet that was tilted ever so slightly to the side over her ebony curls. Aurora followed suit with her own orange bonnet set on top of her thick wavy hair that was sticking to the back of her neck. She wanted to tie it up in a ponytail, but her mother insisted that it be kept down.

"Don't you want to represent the Alvarez family beauty? You look so much better with your hair down. Everyone always says that. They say, 'Norma, your daughter looks like a goddess with her hair down.'"

"Yeah," Aurora thought. "Then they would add 'Frump Girl' to the end of the sentence."

Mother and daughter Alvarez stood out like sore thumbs dressed for a garden party, as the rest of the neighbors were dressed in shorts and t-shirts for the barbecue festivities. Everything was decorated with indigo and orange, from balloons, to tablecloths to even the flags hanging from each of the houses on Wishbone Avenue.

Old Mr. Harold stood up from his porch swing and bowed to the two women as they passed him. "I was afraid you would both miss the parade this morning."

"Never, Mr. Harold." Aurora's mother smiled her obsequious grin as if she was meant for politics. "And what a beautiful parade it was. The children looked so adorable marching this morning. I remember when my Aurora used to be in the parade."

"You couldn't miss Aurora." Mr. Harold laughed until he hiccupped. "Is Mr. Alvarez down by the barbeque?"

"He is down at the courthouse on Inspector Herald's orders. Apparently there is a case of the utmost importance to discuss, even on holiday. He'll come around later this afternoon."