I shook my head. “Oh, the way people talk when they don’t know anything.”
Jerome laughed, then grew sober. “So tell me more,” he said.

Chapter Five

Stella

Riley only took the tiniest bit of everything.

I swallowed back my self-consciousness as I spooned a generous amount of Katie’s delicious sweet potato casserole onto my plate. It was laden with spices and marshmallows—a total, heavenly treat. That’s why, when we had it, I made sure to eat a lot.

Where do I start, where do I begin
Thinkin’ of words like “How you’ve been?”
I suddenly bumped into you for a moment
And I tell myself “Don’t freak out guy, just hold it.”

I feel the sweat beginning tp come
Making me feel dumb
What are you doing here,
What more can I bear?

So I remember how it all began
About a girl whose name was Anne:

It started in Seattle a two years ago
On a the night of darkness and cold
We were sitting nice n’ snug in a caffee.
I’ll remember all my life that day.

They tell us when to eat
When to sleep, when to speak
As if we were dogs
Instead of adults!
Well, we’ll show our results

Be seen and not be heard
Don’t say a single word
War well soon announce
On this death house.

Opressed, no rest
The young are formed of stress
When will we see light
Or will we have to fight?

Be seen and not be heard
Don't utter a single word
War will soon announce
On this death house

Poetry reading during shop hours was forbidden, but I broke the rule gleefully. I breathed in the old, musty pages of my book, wondering how anyone could prohibit such enjoyment in literature.

It was snowing outside. Just the look of it made me grateful for the coal burner under the counter, to warm my feet inside their black stockings and shiny shoes.

Promise me you'll never leave
And yet, you have to go
Either way, I know I'll grieve
Either way, tears will flow

Promise me you'll never leave
And yet, you have to go
Pack your bags, and then deceive
And leave me in the snow

Promise me you'll never leave
And yet, you have to go
I can't pretend to be naïve
You'll be hurt, I know

My dear, I know I'm selfish
I pray the pain is numb
And though soon I will perish
You were always the one

There's something about the blue jays outside the window
That makes me think of you, and how you aren't here

And it makes me wonder how you're doing out there
I hope that you aren't terribly cold, but your coat is pretty warm

The blue jays flew away, and now I miss you quite a bit more
You said you'd be back on Sunday, but that seems like an eternity away

And now there's nothing to listen to but empty shouts
And my small, cold hands only find one another

Dawn breaks Night’s long reign
Of sky and sea and in every plain

The Moon is the Queen
Her crown on her head
Shining in the darkness
While children sleep in bed.

The Stars are her squires and knights
Who fight valiantly through the night
And protect the little children
As they sleep tight

So the Sun comes up, its rays so bright
To awake the flowers and birds in their flight

Oh children, oh children, wake up sleepy heads
Slip on your clothes
And get up from bed.

Beth sat and stared at the wall in silence, pondering life and death. No one had wished her a happy birthday in the previous day, but that barely bothered her. She had gone far out of her way to make sure that important dates in her life were wiped from any and all records. Her adoptive father had helped her so that she practically didn’t exist at all. Of course, if anyone had looked into her they would have seen the gaps, but no one did.

“Welcome to Manticore- prepare to be brought close to death. This is the place where we save the world, so we can’t have any weak links. From now on your only goal in life is to assist us as we break you so that we can remake you as a better member of the team.”
A hand went up in the back of the small room and Andy voiced everyone’s thoughts, “You’re trying to be funny, right? ‘Cause you’re kind of confusing us with your serious face.”
“Or perhaps you are confusing yourself with your biased assumptions? I am not the kind of person who is funny.”