What We Trade Our Hearing For (a North and South Story)

11. Elephants as Big as Whales

"Your name is on everything you do, well, so is mine

Your life made a turn for you and gave you time

And through your uneven footsteps you found tolerance and cleanliness

And I found you

Your name appears at such an alarming rate in this town I can't escape it

(I'm sure you agree with that statement)"

-PlayRadioPlay!

Maggie

The news demanded her attention all morning. She'd slept little, concerns about the city she'd come to appreciate running around her mind. After finally pulling herself out of bed, exhausted, she decided to try to distract herself by replying to her cousin's latest email. Grabbing her laptop, she left her room in search of coffee before settling on the couch in front of the TV. She absentmindedly re-read Eden's email before attempting a response.

I'm sorry I haven't replied sooner, things have just been a little busy here. Sholto looks like he's growing up to be a gorgeous dog! I can't wait to meet him when I'm able to visit next. I miss you all. I wish I could find the words to describe what has been going on down here, but maybe you'll have seen it on the news. It seems we've garnered national attention at this point.

She paused, hearing the newscaster mention The Mill and the festival. They then moved on to discussing the Ghosts and their boycott. That's where she spent the rest of the morning, watching updates on the Ghosting, before they changed feeds and she saw Becca and Nick walk out of the box office. Becca looked upset, and Nick stoic as usual. He didn't stop to answer the reporters' questions, for which Maggie found herself oddly grateful. She was afraid of what he would say.

Standing up, she decided to go see Nick and Becca, more for her own reassurance than to provide any comfort to them. Sitting around, watching from afar made her feel so useless. Walking into their apartment, she saw she wasn't the only one that had decided to visit. Butch, Nick's friend the bar owner, was there as well.

"You said there would be no repercussions!" Butch slammed his hands on the table in front of Nick, who was already looking angry. "It hasn't even been a week and already my bar has been blacklisted for being involved. I told you I wanted no part in your games, Higgins."

Regretting her decision to visit her friend, Maggie slipped quietly over to where Becca was huddled on the couch, her eyes already red from crying. Nick stood up, toe to toe with Butch but a head taller. "Well it's too late for that, ain't it? You're in this as much as anyone, and you'd have to take sides eventually. Or are you more upset that you were forced to choose our side over the owners?"

Nick's words struck a nerve, making the smaller man scowl in response. "I've got a family to take care of, I can't afford to be taking sides," he stepped back, dropping back into his chair at the table. Nick sat back down as well, most of the anger gone from his face. "You know my wife's sick, don't you?" Butch continued, speaking more softly now. "The stress of all this seems like too much for her. How long will it last?"

This obviously tugged at Nick's heartstrings, taking all signs of the previous bravado out of his expression. "Listen, I'll put the word out, maybe we can pull together and make up for the loss. At least until we see this thing through." Maggie wondered to herself if that would be enough since the lost patrons associated with the owners surely spent more money at the bar than a group of poor boycotters would. Judging by the look on Butch's face, he was thinking the same thing but didn't voice his opinion. Instead, he stood up, deciding that there was no point in continuing the conversation at that moment.