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

light blush rose color, and the fabric was a buttery soft satin. Unfortunately for Davis, they did not feel as buttery soft on her feet, pinching and squeezing her feet and creating a pain she had never before experienced. She began to try to walk, an uncomfortable and uneven wobble until she slowly and steadily found her feet. The walking experiment was the only time Cox seemed nice to Davis. Cox held out her hand for support, observing Davis, making sure she didn’t fall and encouraging her to take it slow and take a break if needed. After Davis found a comfortable enough stride, she told Cox she was ready to go to the room. The friendly version of Cox was gone when she harshly replied, “Wives’ Common Room Number Two, that’s the official name. Before we go, we need to put on your jewelry.”

Thankfully, Cox let Davis sit for the next part when her hair was trimmed, combed, and styled. A silver tiara adorned with tiny diamonds and emeralds finished her hairstyle. Then, Cox applied makeup, the first makeup Davis ever wore. And while it seemed like it wasn’t much, only a little light blush color on her cheeks, eyelids, and lips, Davis felt like she didn’t even recognize herself. Then, Cox slipped a diamond bracelet on Davis’s left wrist, a dainty silver charm bracelet, the charms with initials E and D, on her right wrist, and a large diamond and emerald necklace around her neck. The diamond was a square cut, and if Davis had to guess, about two inches, all ways, length, width, and height. Around the entire diamond were emeralds. The necklace was so heavy, Davis felt like she couldn’t even walk with her head held high. Lastly, Cox clipped diamond and emerald ear cuffs that lined her entire earlobe. Like all women, Davis had unpierced ears, ear piercings being an illegal procedure to have in the United State, along with tattoos or any other piercings. That was one law easily upheld, considering the lack of personal businesses, thought Davis as she became more and more aware of the absurdity of the items adorning her.

After a loud, audible sigh, Cox held out her hand to show she rather not be helping Davis dress or walk. Davis took it as a sign to get to her feet. It took her a few minutes to get accustomed to the pain and walk again, but Cox was impatient, telling her to hurry, and Davis felt rushed, so she said she was okay to go, even though she didn’t feel that was true. After Davis left the room they were in, and they turned down the hall, they passed a bustling kitchen. That surprised Davis because she thought the nutrition biscuits were all made in factories. She wondered who the food they were preparing could be for but then realized she knew without a doubt who would be feasting that night.

After a short walk past the kitchen door, they went through another door into the Palace that Davis had expected. It was as if after passing through that door, they entered luxury that was beyond compare to anything Davis had ever seen. It was leaving Kansas and entering Oz. All the walls were spotless, clean white. The crown molding looked as if painted with real gold, and the embossing was an intricate pattern of flowers and vines. Davis thought she saw an E monogram within the flowers. There were beautiful fresco paintings on the ceilings; Davis couldn’t take in all of the images as Cox was walking too fast and there was too much to see. However, at a quick glance, most looked like they were some type of homage to President Everett. Davis saw the dome ceiling’s cap from the inside; the tip she previously saw while driving up did not do it any justice. It was a large modern stained-glass top. Large and small triangles in shades of blues, ranging from an icy almost-white to cobalt, formed an intricate geometric pattern. Large windows at the front of the house, which they now passed by to go up the grand staircase, let in plenty of light with their thick brocade curtains pulled back. Davis thought “curtains” seemed too modest of a word for those window coverings. They were more like art; she couldn’t tell if they were black or dark blue but had exquisite gold thread that created patterns of flowers and vines reminiscent of the crown molding. And yes, Davis saw it well now. A large E monogram in the middle of the pattern looked as if everything began and ended with the President’s initial. Even though there was plenty of light, as they started up the center on the grand marble staircase, Davis noticed on the outside of every other step on each side was a little pedestal sticking off to the side. On that pedestal sat a tall candelabra, at least five feet tall, the base of which held what looked like a crane about to take flight. The birds’ wing outstretched and held four long golden taper candles in hidden holders at the top.

“Those are beautiful candle holders,” said Davis, trying to break the tension and venturing to speak for the first time since they left the room.

“Fake. Well, not the gold, that’s real. The candles are; they’re electric. Fire risk and all,” Cox replied briskly.

Davis decided not to speak again and just took in the sights as they ascended the long staircase. The steps were marble, with hints of inky blue and black marbling through the light gray rock. Inlaid gold paint was at the edges of each step, and alternating with the steps holding candlesticks was the gold monogrammed E that was becoming more and more prevalent everywhere Davis looked. The Palace was beautiful, but it just oozed vanity, lust, and greed to Davis, although she wasn’t sure if Everett’s passion was for power or himself.

Finally, they entered the common room for the