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

wives. Davis’s first emotion was a shock. The outfits. Even with Davis’s dress, she was unprepared to see a whole group of women without plain tunics and jodhpurs. Everyone was in a beautiful, intricate gown. Davis guessed hers was the most elaborate, but a sea of silk and tulle surrounded her in purples, pinks, blues, and greens—all royally appointed shades. Intricate lacework on some, embroidery in gold and silver on others. Large ballgowns, like hers, with large hoop skirts underneath. They were bustled and bowed intricately. Lavish diamonds, gems, gold, and platinum embellished the ladies. They were literally dripping in tiaras, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Although her mind had changed a lot on President Everett over the last few weeks, she could barely believe that President Everett, who talked of having a world where everyone had equality, was adorning his wives this way. Every one of them in old-fashioned, elaborate, and expensive dresses. The word “dresses” was distilling it down, “torture devices” seemed more accurate to Davis. This corset, heels, and fiercely-shaped bodices had thick wires and stiff fabric, holding things into a “perfect” shape.

Davis recognized Lisa, Rebecca, Jessica, Sunshine, Tiffany, and Amanda and just tried to focus on them so she could steady her thoughts and balance. Everyone hurriedly tried to get out the standard greeting of “We are the people, and the people are we.” Because of that and the multitude of layers of fabric everywhere, Davis almost didn’t see President Everett centered between the women. They were sitting and sort of forming a semi-circle around him, as he sat in the middle and back of the odd group. When it was apparent Davis realized he was there, they all turned their necks to look at him adoringly.

Everett spoke first in his relaxed, calm demeanor that could almost make an icy heart melt. “Welcome, Davis. We need to give you a new name.” Davis noted to herself that Everett did not say, “We are the people, and the people are we,” as everyone else had. But that’s not why Davis interrupted him. However, when she did, she heard a gasp from Cox and noticed looks of shock on all the wives. “Can I request Amelia?”

Everett closed his eyes for a moment, then paused as if he spoke to a young child who did not understand something. “I’m sorry, that’s not possible. I’ve already picked Delilah, and all of your monograms have been done in D already.” The way he looked at Davis made her realize this was the final word. He continued, not letting her get a word in, “Delilah, I was planning on having dinner with you tonight. But it won’t be possible now. I have to address some other issues. We will get married tomorrow; your dress, jewelry, and shoes are selected; your soon-to-be sister wives and Cox will help you get ready tomorrow.”

He sounded determined but not cold and calculating. There was a strange warmness to him, and Davis had to admit he had a je ne sais quoi, a certain something that made him appealing. It went beyond his handsomeness; it seemed like when he looked at you with his chestnut-brown eyes, he was looking into your heart and saying I know you, and I care. It felt like a peaceful, loving quality surrounded him, and Davis saw how people got so effortlessly snowed over by him. Even Davis quickly waved away the short-lived condemnation that she received from him when she had requested Amelia to be her name. She almost immediately found herself thinking it was a simple mistake or maybe even her fault. As he got up and walked out the door, he lightly touched Davis on the arm and, and even though she was ashamed of herself for it, it made her stomach do a little flip.

When Davis turned back to the room, several thoughts were going through her head all at the same time. Mainly that she was getting married tomorrow, so she would have to act quickly. She was promptly distracted when Tiffany turned around and picked up a little monkey that was hiding behind her skirt and had been tugging on the hem to get attention.

“This is one of our capuchin monkeys, Parker. He’s very friendly.”

Davis took a look at the diminutive monkey. His cute cream-colored face had a darker crown of fur on the top of his head. His beady little black eyes were not malicious but made him seem almost as if he had stepped out of a cartoon. A little pink nose twitched as if he were trying to figure out a difficult problem. Davis held out her finger to Parker, and he took it in his slender blackish-brown fingers. Davis felt comforted by the warm, subtle grip and went to pat the back of his head with her other hand. Parker gave off a short but sharp sounding squeak, which made Davis jump back slightly, but all Parker was trying to do was climb over to Davis’s arms. He seemed disappointed that she had stepped away. As soon as she realized, she stepped back and again held her arm out. Parker tentatively took it and then clambered over to her with caution. However, once he was in her arms, Parker gave a friendly sounding little squeak and reached up, playing with the ends of Davis’s hair for a minute.

She quickly realized she didn’t know what to do with the monkey in her arms. Besides Parker being cute, there wasn’t much she could do, nor was there anything to say to Parker. She decided to turn her attention back to the ladies. “So, it is nice to see you all again. Can you maybe show me where I’ll be sleeping, and if it’s okay, a little tour of our different rooms?”

“Of course,” Lisa replied with a friendly smile.

Tiffany took Parker back and said she would put him in the zoo’s capuchin cage and be back shortly. She then added, “On afterthought, I’ll carry him with