Nancy
"It's not me you should be thanking,"
Ador
Cautious
strokes slipped a comb through Nancy’s hair.
Ador passed it over her scalp and down to where Nancy’s hair ended at
her shoulders. The chore was tedious to
her so it often was skipped which let the knots and tangles tighten. But Ador’s movements were slow and strong
making the job seem easy. The comb and
the make-up they used earlier was from the collective resources of
north-central Spanish Colectivo
Independiente(CI) wealth: various tools and supplies were used or checked
out from here. ‘Here’ was a gutted air-port hanger on the northern fringe of
their make-shift town of Water. Pyramids
of duct tape towered on top of long plastic tables next to more plastic tables
with power tools and basic necessities on them.
Toiletries were abundant as well which was why the two girls had come in
the first place. They had showered in
the massive covered system behind the hanger then refilled their baskets with
toilet paper, toothpaste, and clean t-shirts.
Some girls were there putting on make-up for the rave and Ador knew some
so they stopped for a while.
When
Ador began combing again at the top of her scalp Nancy said, “Thanks for
everything, I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“It’s
not me you should be thanking. Thank
Matin because he was the one who stuck his neck out for you at the
elevator. And he made a case for you to
our CI region host for food for you. You
know,” she stopped combing. “I think he’s into you,” Ador said as slowly and
cautiously as her strokes had been.
“Oh,
you think?” Nancy turned and said confrontationally. Ador scruntched her face at her old friend
and frowned. Nancy turned back around to
face forward and said, “Sorry, I’m really flattered. I am he’s smart and funny.
He’s brave.”
“He’s
close to your age,” Ador added. Nancy nodded in agreement. Ador snorted a laugh
and started combing again.
“But
I’m with Grant,” Nancy said.
“Ah
so the name comes out. Look you even
said that this Grant guy is like twice your age and far away. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.”
The
slip of his name was not intentional but hearing herself say it gave Nancy a
sort of confidence only a engaged woman might have. “Ador, I’m not just hanging
out with him, he’s my future husband.” Nancy pulled out the ring from her
pocket and waved it up at Ador. Nancy
suddenly felt like childish again and scared.
“When you see yourself at the end of it all do you see yourself with
someone you’ve loved for one, ten, or forty years?” Nancy asked.
“I
don’t care; love of one year is as strong as fifty,” Ador answered
quickly. “But see, if you marry this guy
you might only get a few good years out of him before his memory starts to
slip.”
“Shut
it!” Nancy snapped. And they were quiet for a while.
“Alright,
it sounds like you two are serious. I
just can’t plan for long relationships like you do. Not the life I lead here in
Water.” The life Ador led was very
hectic. She was a leader of sorts for a
small group and the group was always moving.
The town of Water was nomadic and moved every few months. “Matin is not
really into you anyway. I think he and Tanish are hooking up.”
“I
wondered where I got that.” Nancy said lightly.
“What?”
“That
scheming.” Nancy said. Before Ador could
defend herself she said, “I did some scheming of my own back in Newtopia when I
got back from Spain.” Ador said nothing but began combing again. “You really
have to hear this,” Nancy said excitedly thinking of her friend Crystal.
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