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

that President Everett just pulled whatever bits from different religions, cultures, and philosophies he thought sounded the best. It occurred to her that not that long ago, she never would have imagined that in a million years.

~

One day—and she could hardly tell one day from another—Davis got a new set of hospital clothing and a beautiful creamy rose-colored silk robe with lace edging. Duffy came in and told her that day, she would be introduced to President Everett. The robe was a gift from him, and he wished for her to wear it. Apparently, he felt as if the color would complement her honeyed-brown eyes and hair. Duffy whispered a reminder for her not to be surprised if Everett gave her an official marriage proposal. It would be an odd introduction in more than one way anyhow, taking place with thick glass isolation walls between them and only a communication tablet to talk. What a lovely courtship thought, Davis.

There was a conflict in Davis’s mind. She had no desire to dress up like some odd hospital doll for President Everett so that he could give his proposal. However, she knew she had to play the game for a while longer, convince President Everett that she was all in, and her “kidnapping” had not changed her or her thoughts toward him or the government. And the robe was soft and lovely. It wouldn’t be too bad to wear while she played this unsavory game, she thought.

There was a bigger surprise for Davis when Namaguchi walked into the hospital. Davis suddenly felt very self-conscious in that silly robe. He went to his side of the window, picked up the communication tablet, and motioned for her to do the same. Namaguchi typed out a hello and introduced himself, adding, “We are the people, and the people are we” at the end. Davis almost smiled and waved to him as she was still getting used to the unusual circumstances. She quickly remembered she shouldn’t know who Namaguchi was, outside of the fact she had a general sense he was a government official. She typed back the standard greeting and introduced herself. Then Namaguchi typed out that the President was sorry he couldn’t attend in person; his health and well-being was of utmost concern. Then Davis read the next message: “Despite President Everett not being here, he would like to extend a proposal to you to be his wife.”

~

After Namaguchi left with Davis’s consent for marriage, she lay down on the bed and sighed a deep and heavy sigh. It sounded as if she was letting out the troubles of the whole world with that sigh. Brookshire was trying to make silly faces on the other side of the glass, but she just wasn’t in the mood. She went to the glass, tears in her eyes, and put her hand gently on her side of the glass. Brookshire stopped acting silly and put his hand upon his side of the glass, opposite of hers. For a moment, it was enough to have his hand opposite hers. Davis thought she saw a look in Brookshire’s eye, a glint that she’d never seen before, but it vanished so quickly, she wasn’t even sure it had been there at all.

A little while later, Duffy explained to Davis in hushed tones that Everett had sent Namaguchi at the last minute, and Namaguchi was sorry to have put Davis through that. Apparently, President Everett was working on making sure that Davis would never run into Ruby at the Everett Palace. Duffy then told her that another surprise was coming: she would meet the other wives in the group she was supposed to live with at the Palace eventually. They were to arrive after dinner. The last thing Davis wanted to do was meet these women. She imagined them to be robotic-like drones to do Everett’s bidding. Davis knew it was required to do it, though; it’s not like she could leave the infirmary. “Do I have to wear the robe for them, too?” she asked Duffy sarcastically.

~

She must have dozed off because the next thing she knew, Duffy was shaking her awake and telling her that the wives were there. Duffy helped Davis quickly straighten her hair out, which was a bit wild and tangled from sleeping on it. Duffy brought her a washcloth to wipe her face and warned Davis before she lightly slapped her cheeks to give them a little blush and life. Davis was ready to meet the wives, whether she felt like it or not.

The wives filed in; they all wore the same outfit, the presidential wife cream-colored tunic and jodhpurs, seams done in golden thread, and pretty and sleek brown boots, far more stylish than the typical brown shoe given to everyone else. But, other than that, Davis was surprised. They looked friendly like in another life she could have been cozy pals with them. There was no trace of a hypnotic, vacant look in the eyes Davis expected she’d see. Each held up a notepad, the top sheet proclaiming their names.

Lisa was the shortest; she had brown hair with auburn highlights. A kind smile and friendly eyes looked over the pad where she had included the “We are the people, and the people are we” greeting under her name. Lisa had also written that they would communicate via paper pads since not all of them could use the communication tablet all at once. Rebecca had honeyed-blonde hair like Davis and welcoming blue eyes; she had included a picture of a carrot with a smiling face under her name. It was cute but struck Davis as odd. How would Rebecca know what a carrot was? She thought. As far as Davis knew, those shouldn’t be something that was a part of Rebecca’s life. Jessica had darker brown hair and a bit of a mischievous look in her eye. Tiffany surprised Davis the most because her hair was long, almost waist-long. It was smooth and brown,