The Selection of Lindy Williams

Chapter 5

I hardly slept for the next four days. People were in and out of my house constantly, the phone rang so much that my mom pulled the cord right out of the wall. Officials came and measured me, verified my application had been true, examined, ridiculed, and prepared me. They brought forms to sign and rules to follow. Guards sat outside my house.

Their questions were prodding. Where is your father? How did he die? Can you prove this statement is true? Have you ever had relations with a man? Can you swear to this?

It went on, endlessly. I was tired of all the commotion, but my mother ate it up. She was so eager you would think she was the one who had been chosen. And the check only got her more excited.

By the time the next Friday came I was ready to leave. Even though I was leaving everything I knew, I could at least hope for some space and quiet now and then.

There was a parade through downtown New Seattle to send me off. Trucks and floats coasted down the street like paper boats in a stream. Flowers were thrown at my feet as i was driven in on a convertible. Roses and lilies piled up beneath me, but most common where rhododendrons, the province flower.

I wore the uniform of the Selected sendoff, a white blouse tucked into glowing white pants. Both provided for me, and already more expensive than anything I'd ever worn. The final touch. was a sprig of rhododendrons woven into my twist. A soft lavender, a color Charisma always said complimented my caramel colored hair.

As I reached the platform erected in the center of town I was welcomed by cheers. Walking up to the podium warranted another sea of flowers before I was finally greeted by the mayor of New Seattle.

"Miss Williams, a pleasure," he said cordially, before introducing me to the crowd. I shook his hand and smiled politely before we turned toward the people of New Seattle. "May I present, Miss Lindy Williams, our Selected!"

The crowd went wild. Overnight I had gone from a Six sleeping in a raggy bed to a Three with crowds of adoring fans chewing me on.

"Thank you Mr Mayer" I smiled politely, then I turned to the crowd. "I want to thank you all for your support. Heading into this unfamiliar world I will find solace in the fact that my home is behind me. You give me the courage to expand my horizons, and I pray you continue to expand yours. I may have been nothing but a poor, hungry Six, but now I'm heading toward my future. All you little girls who are Sixes and Sevens, never doubt for a minute what you can do. Your caste is but a number, not a definition."

With that I gave one last grateful smile to the crowd. I could tell my statement angered some, but others were on their feet cheering louder than before.

And with that I was led away towards a sleek black car. My mother stood beside the door in tears. Charisma instantly rushed to me, squeezing me tight. I was so thankful they let her see me off even though she wasn't technically family.

"You're higher than me now Lind!" she sniffled, emotional to say goodbye.

That was enough to get me worked up too and I felt tears start to well in my eyes.

"Oh Char, I'll be back before you know it." I choked out.

"What are you talking about, you're perfect. He's going to live you from the moment he sees you."

We both laughed at that, something we'd said so frequently but never truly believed.

"I'll write every chance I get" I promised, "and make sure my moms okay? You know I worry."

"Oh Lindy, everything is going to be perfect for you. I'be got everything under control here."

We have each other one more longing hug before I moved on to my mother.

"Oh Lindy, I told you! We've been waiting for this." she smiled at me with pride.

"I won't let you down Ma, I promise." Tears began to fall now.

She grabbed my face in her hands and looked into my eyes.

"We've been ready for this, I know you won't."

She kissed me on the forehead and I gave her a tender hug, then they ushered me into the car.

I watched my only family wave at me as we drove away from everything I'd ever known.