CHAINS OF OUR BLOOD

Schools Over!

People who are free values it, people who are not, fight for it, but people who are shackled with pretend freedom will go on their lives without questioning it, or will want fight for it but get stuck and frustrated, never knowing how...

I was right when I thought Miss Minchin will not pair me with Meredith. And I was preparing myself to be paired with some idiot puppet who will do as I say but to my delight, my new partner turned out to be Monica. Good. I surprised myself. This is the first time that I actually am looking forward to spending time with someone.

"Who's your partner Mer?"

"Drummond"

Haha! Drummond, Big Drum, he is the biggest jerk in the whole school. He's a son of an oil tycoon and thinks he's all that. But he simply isn't all that, he isn't even some of that, he is a buffoon. Thus the name Big Drum. Too bad Meredith, you draw on a short stick.

"I am sure he'll do exactly as you tell him Mer."

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The little witchling thinks this is funny. Hah! I'll give her something to laugh at.

"He better, come Faith, our driver shall drop you off. Your parents have a meeting with mother tonight."

It is one of the subjects we don't readily mention, maybe even not at all. But she is pushing it too far. I'm not in the mood to play or silly game of "Who loses it first"

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Hell, I wasn't ready for that kind of a jab. I almost showed emotion, but I kept it in stride.

"Oh well, I will be going home to an empty house again. "

I will not let her know how much that hurts. These meetings are the only times mum leaves me, she doesn't really leave me alone as I am left in the hands of a very capable butler, Joseph, and a household full of staff on my beck and call, not to mention the  tight security scouring the perimeter at night. I just hate the reason of that meetings. I saw Monica heading towards the driveway with Roark.

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"Monica! Wait up!"

I was finally free of today's dose of high school drama, I couldn't wait to get home and introduce Roark to dad. Roark showed interest in getting to know my dad since he said that uncle talks about him with fondness. And in his opinion, anyone whom his father thinks is alright is also alright with him. Roark and I headed for my car when I heard Thruja call out.

"Yes, how may I help you Thruja? "

She actually giggled  "You really do sound more like a princess than I ever will be."

"That's a sad truth Faith"

Go away Edith, no one wants your opinion. I almost blurted it out. But my father raised me better.

"Thank you, I will take that as a compliment. But then again, how may I be of help?"

I decided to just shrug off Edith and focus on Thruja. It can be exhausting just talking to her. Not Thruja, I meant Edith.

"Miss Minchin paired us, we might as well start with that project since my parents not at home. We need to pick a work of James Baldwin to report in class, I don't know any of his works. Do you?"

Oh, I actually like his works, I have no personal favorites, but his works are good. They make you think.

"Yes, I do. It took me years to be able to read. That's why I devour every book dad gives me. He happens to have an entire collection of his work in our library. "

"Your father supports gays? That is atrocious Ika! I think Grandfather was right in wanting to take you from him. I don't know how Father ever thought your father is fit to raise you."

"Reading books made by gays does not make my father show his support for gays, Edith."

I really shouldn't be surprised with Edith's opinion but seriously, what's wrong with being gay? They are humans too. I meet this kind of attitude back in 5th grade, at Lafayette Elementary. We had a gay teacher, and he was made fun of. As I was ignorant of what gay meant. I asked him why he was sad when gay means happy, so he should not be wearing a long face. He sadly lost his job because of some conservative parents in Chevy but dad helped him travel to France and he now has a pastry shop, a successful one at that. So...

"Good to hear tha..."

"Let me finish what I had to say, reading a gay writer's work is not enough statement to say my dad supports them. He finances modern contemporary gay writers. And even lets them stay over our place in back in Chevy Chase if they are in such a pinch. "

"What? You associate with homos..."

Seriously, what's up with the homophobia? I thought only men have that. Obviously the Wife drilled this silly belief into her too

"What is so wrong with being a homosexual Meredith? I might be one, you know?"

Oh my, Roark. Meredith should really go and kill herself now. I can't believe she would be too self-absorbed to ever notice Roark was feeling this way. I see now. Rainbows, the people I know who gives off that aura are mostly gays. Meredith is so callous.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing Roark, right Mer? So do you have a driver Monica? Or shall I call mine?"

I think not even Faith can defuse the tension just now, but it is worth the try.

"I don't have a driver, but I drive. Roark wants to come to meet dad, do you want to come, Edith?"

"Yes, I would be delighted."

I really shouldn't feel sorry for Edith, she landed herself in this muck. But I could see it hurt Roark, and I let myself feel a little bit around her aura, just a little sniff, and a ready wall of handkerchief for safety measure, just in case it smelt too rotten to bear. I saw pain too. And people who could still feel pain are not too dark in my opinion. So I shall help her, just this time. 

"How ever did your father afford this car Ika?"

Damn, I am already regretting helping her. Is is too late to dump her on the road?

"Uncle Davey gave Wednesday to me, last year when I passed my Driver's Ed."

"Father gave you a Porsche? This is preposterous!"

"Meredith, please?"

I am really contemplating on dumping her. This girl is a pain in the ass.