Marigold by Heather Manheim (best books for 8th graders .TXT) 📕

between her and Quinn. She decided to change the subject so that she could speak, if not about feelings, something else, at least. “Where are the kids at?”

“They’re in school. Ringo and Josie are teaching them a music lesson.”

“Oh, so do you guys need any help in here?”

Ana responded, “No, thank you. Can we get you something?”

“You know what? I’m starving! So, yes, I’d love something. But don’t worry about it. I’ll get it and clean up after myself.”

Ana nodded and said if she needed anything else to let her know. When Davis replied she did not, Ana and Quinn continued cleaning while Davis prepared herself a snack. It made for an awkward silence. Davis, feeling very self-conscious about it, tried to hurry and finish up so she could get out of there. As that was going unsuccessfully, she quickly made up a lunch tray to take back to her room. Quinn expressed that she hoped that Davis would join them for dinner, but no pressure, of course.

~

Davis had every intention of joining them for dinner. However, on the way back to her room, Ringo stopped her. He told her that they had arranged to transport her back to the city the next morning, and they should perhaps go over a story for Davis to protect her best when she got back into the fold of things.

After Davis and Ringo had a conversation, they decided Audrey would drop Davis off near one of their revolving stops early in the morning and that she would be hooded. It was best for a Security Guard to find her that way and with her hands tied. Ringo assured her that he would fasten it lightly and regret it, but that he wanted her story believable. Davis had to sell the tale they kidnapped her but did not know why nor did she understand why she had been suddenly let go. Perhaps she could at some point surmise that people had taken her in a stance against the government, but they were uneducated fools, not knowing what to do with her once they had her, and she became too much trouble. Davis had to keep it vague and slim on details. Sooner than later, she would have a medical exam. It would prove they did not assault her in any way, and she would receive her Marigold Injection. Ringo told her that while the brain control chemical wouldn’t be effective right away, it would only take a few injections until Davis was up to government requirements again. He also let her know that the transition back to the chemicals would not be nearly so difficult, and she shouldn’t be sick or too ill, at least. He said there might be some confusion, dizziness, and general feelings of not being well. But, not a violent illness like before. He assured Davis she shouldn’t worry about being scanned by a drone or any slips of the tongue. Those things could be explained as things she overheard, and perhaps, she had been a little brainwashed by her kidnappers, had a case of Stockholm syndrome, as it were. The government wouldn’t expect she’d be entirely in her right mind after such an ordeal. All Davis had to do was keep saying how much she loved President Everett, and eventually, that would be the truth for her again.

Ringo then went onto a more sensitive subject. He parroted what Namaguchi had explained earlier. It would be too tempting for President Everett not to marry Davis. Davis needed to accept before she went back that she would be marrying the President, who was also her stepfather, and the reason her mother was vacant from her life. Davis couldn’t help thinking that Ringo delivered this information almost a bit sternly. Not that anything Ringo said could be described as “stern.” However, it was almost like he was trying to subconsciously implant the thought of Is this REALLY what you’re going to do…marry THAT charlatan?

Davis thanked Ringo and then walked back to her room to finally eat her lunch. It was then she realized, though, her appetite was gone. Davis also realized she couldn’t go to dinner with these people who had been nice to her and expect everything to feel ordinary. No use in getting any closer to them, Davis thought. It was easier to stay in her room until it was time to leave the next morning to go back to the city and her old life.

September 16, 2056 –

Davis’s Evening

Davis had every intention of not leaving her room again that night. But then, she got hungry. Very hungry. She ate everything she had brought in earlier on the lunch tray but was still ravenous. She looked at the clock and saw it was just after 10 p.m. and realized everybody should be asleep or at least in their rooms. After tonight, she also realized it would be nutrition biscuits for the rest of her life, so why not enjoy one more salad, she thought.

After Davis left her room and made her way to the kitchen, she figured she would clean up her lunch items quickly and then make another quick tray to take back to her room for the rest of the evening and a quick breakfast tomorrow. But Davis was surprised to see Quinn in the kitchen, eating. It was too late for her to turn around because Quinn saw her, also. But Quinn’s bluntness shocked Davis. “Have you ever had wine?” asked Quinn with a smile. “I think you need a drink.”

Alcohol was outlawed. What could Quinn be talking about? Davis thought. Quinn explained it was not seriously prohibited, only denied to “common folks.” She told Davis that the upper echelon could get anything they wanted. It may take some phone calls, some money exchanging hands—and since money was only held by the governmental elite anymore, they were the only ones that got wine or other “forbidden” goods. There were ways in which the top folks