“MINES COME!” Isabel screamed at me over her phone.
“Have mercy on my ears, Izz.” I laughed.
“OH MY GOOD GOD.” I could hear her through the phone ripping open the letter. “OKAY OKAY.” Silence, as she scanned the letter.
“ IT’S THE MAYORS SON.”
Of course it would be someone so important. Isabel’s family was wealthy and high up and her natural good looks also helped.
Mine wasn’t.
“Isabel! That’s perfect!” I tried to match her happiness. My letter was not here yet. It was probably going to be here soon. I couldn’t conceal my dread
“Have you got yours yet?” She said.
“Not yet, Izzy.” I said, whispering.
“Call me when you do, ok? My dad needs me quickly.”
“Bye, Izzy.” I said. But she was already gone, probably to show her father the letter. I sat at the kitchen table, staring at the door. Waiting for the letter. Waiting for my future.
“Mother!” I yelled. The letter was in my hands, my hands were trembling.
“Good god, woman. Calm down.” Xander said, trying to ease me. My mother and father ran into the kitchen.
“Open it.” Xander urged.
“Okay, Xander.” The horseshoe shape closing the letter was red wax with two C’s back to back to eachother, the official stamp for The Crowd. I prised it open and pulled out the letter. I passed it over to my mother to read to the family.
‘“Dear Mrs Matthews,
This letter will hold on the next page your Pair, darling, the person you will be living within a year or so, when you reach the legal age of eighteen and to marry. We hope the choice we made is to your agreement and liking. Your test results helped us certify the best choice was made, thank you for your participation.
In the Crowds name,
Caeline Black.’”
I laughed at the word darling, seeing as she had called me it about a thousand times. My mother turned over the page, achingly slowly. She glanced at me and I nodded to tell her to continue
‘”Your match is Daniel Starker.”’ Daniel, Daniel. My mother handed me the letter. The photo of the boy was on the top left side of the correspondence. A tall, black haired boy with bright blue eyes like glass. He wasn’t the most good looking person but he wasn’t terrible. He was decent.
“Starker’s son?” My father said. “His father is my manager. Good kid , he is.”
“That’s great!” My mother smiled, jumping up and down.
Daniel.
I don’t know why I felt so disappointed. Because I was hoping for someone else.
“This is very good! This is amazing!” My father pushed off from his chair. He grabbed me and twirled me about. “Well done, sweetheart.” I smiled. I was happy that they were happy. My mother was jumping up and down clutching her cross. And my father was screaming of joy. Xander was waving about his book, certainly unknowing of who Daniel was. But just wanting to dance about. I laughed. This was good. I had to tell Isabel
