Straws

Chapter 1

Clear. A simple word but can be used in many different situations. My head needs to be clear. My future seems to be unclear. Yet, as I open my eyes in the water, all my doubts and worries become clear and I am able to let go for just a moment. I bring myself to the surface of the pool, the smell of lilacs and chlorine filling my nostrils. Grabbing onto the edge, I bring myself out of the water. I reseal the filter solution before leaving it on the ledge in the bucket.

"What else can I help you with today? I know you have a lot to get done before the ceremony," I ask while giving my towel a squeeze, releasing all the water it captured from my hair. Lola looks around before motioning to the gates.

"You can give Pip another carrot," Lola confirms her decision as she looks at the pile of carrots they have in the bucket behind her," It was a good week for carrots.

"I'm not surprised. The weather was pretty convenient for once," I add as Pip, her goat, latches onto another carrot with his teeth, pulling it from my restraint. When he has it in his possession, I step back and press the button on the side of his gate, putting up the second wall that lies above the first one. These goats could be escape artists. They love to jump so they have two up unless it's feeding time.

I hear Lola sigh," You should get home, ya know. I'm sure you have some things to get in order before the ceremony too," She smiles.

"You know my family doesn't take it seriously. All we do is go to the ceremony, get a stupid card, and go home to open it. I don't get why they just don't send it to the house," I slip my makeshift sundress over my makeshift bathing suit. Lola drops her sponge in her bucket and looks at me.

"It is the biggest night out entering adulthood. They like to have a ceremony to honor us. I don't think it's that useless. You shouldn't look so down upon it. It could change your life for the better. We all know you would love that," She points out. She's right, I don't like where I seem to be heading in life, but the odds of me getting a lucky invitation is so ridiculous that I should start accepting that I am taking over for my parent's business now. They already have me making some of their products, it won't be much of a difference from where I am. In our society we aren't the lucky ones.

"I just don't want to get my hopes up. It seems like the system is rigged to have the richest of every territory get richer," There is a pause," But you are right. I should get going. I would rather not deal with an explosion from my mother," I roll my eyes, and Lola smiles.

"See you there," She waves as I exit the door. I press the door button to shut it as I leave. The metal barn shines with the morning light reflecting on it and I can see the pool shimmering through the glass. It is a really nice day outside. This week has had extra nice weather to begin with. Considering we had rain for almost a month straight, the sunshine is a nice surprise compared to what we've been getting.

I come to Lola's house once a week to help her with the animals and her chores. Her parents expect a lot from her and she doesn't have any siblings. I always offer up my sister but her parents already feel like they can't handle Lola and my parents always had something to say about that. Her family is on the wealthier half of the territory, but we went to the same school so we've been best friends for years. As I make my way down the pebble path from her house, I come across her mother planting new flowers.

"Hello, Corazon," She says without turning her head," You can try to sneak by me, but it will never work," She laughs and I force one," Off to go get ready for the big ceremony tonight?"She questions. I stop in my tracks. There is no avoiding this conversation.

"Yup. It's a big night," I nod and she finally turns to me.

"A big one indeed," She carefully examines what I'm wearing and I can see the suppressed disgust on her face. Coming from a seamstress, that hurts a little bit but it's all I have," Do you have something nice to wear tonight?"Her eyes lift up to meet mine.