Doves and Lovelies

The Talent Trials

(POV: Clara)

"What do you mean," I asked without hesitation.

Judy ran her hand through her hair and huffed, "I don't understand what the big deal is. If they only used their brains and put everything together, they would see that the poor man lost his family. His wife died from the coughing sickness two months ago. And since he lost RJ three years ago, I think it was just too much for him."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I couldn't. I promised daddy that I would not tell anyone. Believe me. That reporter said he killed himself because of them. It's not true."

"Won't your dad find out you told me all of this?"

"If you keep quiet about it, he won't know. So, do not open your mouth and tell anyone. I wanted to tell you because you had to go through all of that earlier. Usually, I always do what daddy tells me to, but this time I just couldn't."

I waited for her to continue, and instead, she pulled out a folded-up sheet of paper from the back of her pants. Once she unfolded it, I recognized the content immediately.

"A Talent Trial entry form... Are you entering this year?" I asked.

Judy folded the paper and slipped it back into her pants. "I am, and it'll be my first time. Are you entering?"

"It's up to my parents."

"I forgot that you have a large family. You know that if you pass, you're only allowed to choose three of them to become Lovelies with you."

"I can't do that to them. There are ten of us, and my mom's pregnant with her seventh child."

Judy tapped her finger against her chin and suggested, "The only way all of you could successfully go together... no, that's impossible." She laughed so hard she wiped tears from her eyes. "Sorry. This would take a miracle, but a prince or princess would have to select someone in your family for marriage. Plus, I'd be extremely jealous if that happened!"

"That will never happen," I responded. "I can't believe you got my hopes up for nothing. I know that multiple people from one family can enter, but if any of us fails, I don't know what we'll do."

"They'll stay as Desirables. It is not the end of the world.

"Yes, it is. I know. My dad took it only once, and now he is stuck. He can't retake it because if he did, he would have –"

"Dropped to a Gray," she interrupted.

"You don't have to keep reminding me, Judy. I am aware of the rules," I said before I crossed the street and walked toward a nearby restaurant.

She followed me and asked, "Where are you going?"

I ignored her and stopped at the menu displayed on the front door.

Judy cleared her throat to drag my attention from the appetizers. "So, who's able to enter this year if your family agrees to it?"

"Come look at this menu, Judy. Their food looks wonderful. I must stop by one day when the city smell is not so rancid. I cannot eat anywhere without getting sick, but the food here is so cheap! You should have lunch with me. We can have a girls' day," I rambled. I hated talking about my private life. Everyone always judged my parents for having so many kids. No other family in our district had over four. Sometimes I felt like a burden to them.

"Clara! Will you pay attention? I'm serious here," she snapped and stomped her foot on the sidewalk.

I turned away from the menu and held up my hands in front of me. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. There are four of us that can enter this year. Adaline is eighteen, and Michael is twenty-one. I'm twenty-five, while William is twenty-six."